A fishy outing to Apalachee Bay, Gulf of Mexico

View of St. Marks river (CM Lau)

There is something really fishy about this outing. A couple from our host community Tony and Renee decided to take us boating in Apalachee Bay, Gulf of Mexico. We’re clueless about the trip initially - unsure if we’re just going sightseeing or doing something else.

It turned out to be an exciting trip! Not only we went sightseeing, but we had geographical and biological lessons about the St. Marks and Wakulla rivers. The 2 rivers have different pH with Wakulla being more acidic, meet before flowing out of river mouth where freshwater and saltwater mix. Due to the difference in water density, it created a unique ecosystem which comprised of organisms from both freshwater and seawater.

12-inch black rock bass caught (Tony Murray)

Pelican resting on a red buoy (CM Lau)

We spotted pelicans, vultures, bald eagle (which is used on the US emblem) along our journey from the river out to Apalachee Bay. Once we arrived to the fishing spot, first cast returns empty hand but a 11-inch rock bass was caught within seconds of the next cast. That really kicked off our trip. With the first catch hauled in, we continued to get many fishes - mostly rock bass as well as white grunt (Haemulon plumieri) and trigger fish (Balistidae). Smaller rock bass and the trigger fish were released to allow them to go through reproduction phase. Now, this is something I admire - the sustainable practice of recreational fishing which is something lacking in Malaysia.

 

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) (CM Lau)

While on the way back, we were escorted by unexpected guests. Who? A small pod of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)! These beautiful marine mammals (yes, in case you didn’t know they are NOT fish) followed us for a good 15 minutes. What a start to our fellowship!





Imam collecting water samples for red tide testing (Tony Murray)

Fish aside, we took the opportunity to collect some water samples to be sent for red tide analysis. This collection is somewhat also known as citizen science, where volunteers help to collect opportunistic samples whenever they go out to the sea. Large data sets give more accurate analysis, but more collections are limited by funds and manpower!



Southern style fish along with chips and 'Hush Puppies' (CM Lau)

We made full use of the fish we caught, sending it to a restaurant nearby to be cooked into the Southern style – fried and blackened. Not just that, the restaurant if well known for their hush puppies. Not the hush puppies dog or even the shoe brand but they are delicious corn balls! I like to think that I am a southerner, because the southern style really fits my taste, hot and spicy! Good food usually seals the deal for the day!  So what’s so fishy about this trip? Really, it’s just the fish.

Oh, the catch of the day? It’s our host couple’s 28th wedding anniversary!


Catch of the day: Tony and Renee took us out boating despite it's their 28th wedding anniversary!

 


Touched down! @ Tallahassee

He ran from the wings, skipped past a defender and he jumped and…touch down! He scores for Florida State University! Listen to the noise of the home crowd. *Cheers and jeers and claps*

Touched down in Tallahassee (by Koren Taylor)

Ok, that’s not how the commentary goes. I just made that up. Nope, unfortunately we didn’t get to watch the game. It was sold out!

New landmark of Tallahassee

But yup, it’s all about football! That is the pride of Tallahassee. The day we arrived is the home game between the arch rivals of Florida State Seminoles and Miami. Huge crowd gathered in town, there’s traffic jam and a lot of tailgating. Opps sorry, tailgating that I meant here is about a party at the tailgate of vehicles before the football game. It's an American thing. Not about a vehicle driving too close to another vehicle in front.

Doak Campbell Stadium, home of the Seminoles Football

These are the first few cultural lessons I had during my brief ride from the airport to our hotel. Along the way we passed by the Florida State University stadium, which is huge! It accommodates up to 85k people! Now, this got me excited to be among the spectators in that stadium watching live college football game. Will be patiently waiting for the opportunity to go the home game while I am here.

Like a migratory bird...

I always wonder how it feels like to be migratory birds. I have always admired the energy of migration birds, their ability to navigate to their preferred location, far far away. Nature is great isn’t? Migratory birds fly in a flock, a strategy of utilizing their energy efficiently, migrating between north and south to escape unsuitable weather and to search for food. Depending on species, the distance that they cover is usually really long. Due to the long exhaustive journey, they need to stop at several locations before reaching their final destination. After the effort of travelling away, they would fly all the way back to where they came from.

I would liken my journey to the United States to the migration of these migratory birds. I now sort of understand the feeling of flying long hours with several stops in between. Departing from Malaysia with a bunch of enthusiastic professional fellows, it took us 25 hours, transiting for several hours in two stops before arriving Washington D.C. After several days of ‘rest', we are off again to different cities within the United States. In a way, we are escaping from unsuitable weather (it’s hazy now in Malaysia!), but not searching for food. We are instead seeking a rare lifetime experience, in land far far away from home. The journey doesn't end here, it has only begun.

Under the wings

Ready to take off!

White Poison Chapter 1 - How "they" became poison in UM

This article is my personal view, and are based on my own reading, judgement, and personal communication with related parties.

People keep saying - USM has started, UUM started, UTHM also started why UM can't follow them?

USM started the "white coffin" campaign back 2008 when students managed to get their VC to ban the product.

In UM, the scenario is a bit different. I was (and currently still am) a student in UM from 2005. I stayed in 7th residential college, one of 9 colleges that has canteen rather than cafes. To us, "white poison" was not an issue. This is due to our canteen uses plates and no food packaging. Even when we need to pack food (due to class schedule, we might miss our meal time), we usually gave our OWN CONTAINERS to the mak cik canteen and they will pack into that container. So it was never a problem to us. Up til today.

So, how did "white poison" became poison? It all begin with cafes, found in the other 3 colleges and all faculties. It was never a serious problem (referring to the amount), until 12th college started to use polystyrene plates, in 2008. There are a lot of versions, from different parties, why the operators convert to use polystyrene. I summarise as below:-

1. Students steal the plates and bring them back to room

2. It's costly to bear the dish washing stewards

3. Not hygienic because of the improper cleaning of plates (complaints from students)

4. Covenient because it's disposable

Thus, when USM champion the "white coffin" campaign, UM is the other way round, sing more polystyrene than before. So, we are running on a different lane. So, I try to find out the problem. Here I summarise why people still prefer using polystyrene:-

1. Not enough space for eat-in during meal times, so, tapau (with white poison)

2. Convenient because don't have to wash (just throw, but infact students just leave it on table)

3. Don't have to carry own container everywhere they go

4. Lazy go back room to get own container

5. Lazy to wash own container

6. Not hygiene because of improper cleaning

7. Not aware of what white poison can do to the environment and health

Those are the reasons I managed to find out. We did a short survey, and found out that we use at least 1 white poison in every 20 seconds. During semester break (80% of students are back in hometown), we use 550 pieces of white poison in ONE MEAL SESSION (dinner) at one residential college. I'll let you do the calculation, when UM is full of students.

polystyrene will not decay even after storm, rain and etc.

we use so many white poison, until they are much longer than the Kancil

this is how much we use during semester break for just one dinner in one college

imagine 365 days in UM...

Baruk - Kebangkitan semangat padu

Bermula dengan sebuah kelahiran
Titik permulaan suatu lingkaran
"Lingkaran Hidup" suatu perjalanan
Tanpa sebarang hala tujuan
Tanpa mengenal maksud keperitan
Mahupun erti kegembiraan

Perjalanan bagaikan air mengalir
Mengalir mencari destinasi
Seperti "Rejang" yang terus mengalir
Biarpun jauh, tetap mencari
Mencari sesuatu erti
Kehidupan di dalam diri

Dalam pencarian bertemu jalinan
Membina suatu persahabatan
Bagaikan "Kalong" sebuah lingkaran
Yang mengikat setiap jalinan
Merapat setiap perhubungan
Mengerat setiap persahabatan

Keeratan memberi kekuatan
Tuk membina "Baruk" yang satu
Yang menyimpan sebuah kebangkitan
Kebangkitan semangat yang baru
Yang sentiasa akan dihidupkan
Setiap kali gong dipalu!

A Passion for Dance

Dancing have always been my passion, it's in my blood (i guess). I always have been doing dancing alone, so I could express my feelings thru my body. But things have changed after joining Tarian Kreatif. After dancing in Lingkaran Hidup, Rejang and Kalong, I've learnt a lot in life, met new and wonderful friends.

Dancing in a team, requires different skills. We may not be the best dancer, or even a good dancer, but if we dance with our hearts out, to tell audience a story, that's the best dance ever. Each character on stage carries a message, a spirit and a life. Thus, it requires effort and understanding in a team.

Though, I felt like retiring at this term, but my passion somewhat tells me that do not give up. Just dance and tell another story for another year. To my team mates, do not give up as well. How much effort you put in, will return you the equal results. But do not disappoint others, especially those who have been working hard to tell their own story. Let's strive together to write our Za'ba story on stage on the 17th March, in the hearts of the audience, so they'll remember for life!

Tarian Kreatif, Hidup Hidup Hidup!

Message to Obama

I can't believe myself, when I suddenly have the urge to write a short message to President Obama. I don't know how much it will help, but this is the least i can do, back here in Malaysia. If anyone, feels the same, and thinks this could be a way of solution, then pls, send something to him. Here's what I wrote:-

Dear Sir,

I'm just a young and environmentally concerned Malaysian wanting to ask you for a small favour, all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You've been a world figure ever since you've been elected as the President. You have the power to make changes. Honestly, I was inspired by you and your actions. That was what moved me to write this to you. You have been the inspiration to a lot of people around the world. You made everyone believe that change can happen if we want it. Therefore, I am pretty sure that you would inspire other leaders to make changes as well. You are the ONLY HOPE for a change across the world. Here, I would like to personally ask you for a favour - to attend COP15 in Copenhagen and get all the leaders of developed countries to agree on reducing the carbon emission and financing the developing countries.

You lived in Indonesia when you were young, and I’m sure you know very well how a major natural disaster makes people suffer. You have said before that you would want to “leave this world better than when you came in”. Thus, I hope deep down in my heart, that your presence at COP15 is for REAL, and really get the leaders to take ACTIONS. This world doesn’t belong to your generation or those before you and it also doesn’t belong to my generation. This world belongs to the future generations. So, I hope that you can make changes that we all believe in.

I don’t know how serious will you take my request because I’m a nobody, but I’m going to give a shot. Just like how you championed, “Change, yes we can!”. Thank you for taking your time to read this. I’ll be hoping for good news from you.

For Mother Earth,

Chai Ming Lau

Malaysia