Raptors Watch – Annual Event by MNS

Vomited the night earlier and I guess I should be very much dehydrated. Well, that’s another story…

My cell group leader is one of those who think the idea of bird watching is exciting. Not for me, actually. However, I guess everything has its own first time.

On board with me was Chow Pong, the infamous environmentalist (He never admits that he is). There we go for the raptors watch in Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson.

Many cars. Seriously... Thinking back, I should have taken a picture of that to show you.

We took a tour to the mangrove. I was not completely thrilled if you ask me.

Understand this. I used to stay in “kampong” where snakes, reptiles, king fishers or other exotic animals like owls are normal to me. We see them almost every day. My aunt used to stay by the beach where my mom would brought the four of us there for picnic and when the season is right, we would be catching “lala” or in the more correct term, “siput”. The best part is of course the dinner!

Coming back to the tour, I found it really fascinating! A lot of things become clear to me. I always wonder why the concrete platform looks so weird with small stones on it especially when they are just next to the beach. I thought it may be the course of the water that pushes to the shore that eroded the initial structure of it. Well, now I know better that it is not! Living things are on it and I have been stepping on them for whatever reasons…

Our guide to the mangrove

Not dung ok! They are the sand balls the crabs made

roots

Found a heart shaped stone!

Look at the root! Look at the root!

We went up to the light house. I was really looking forward to it. Actual fact is that I went there just to see the light house within close distance. (I was in Port Dickson for more than 2 months and I never got the chance to do so. Shame on me.) Going up to the hill was a little exhausting. Thanks to the lack of physical excises. Yes, I did manage to go up there but it was nothing like I imagine. Expected too much out of it… As for the raptors, they were not out yet.

As we were in the café chilling, all of them began to wonder in the sky in group! It was a great view. U gotta see it to know what I am trying to word here.

Uncle CP scratching his head like the monkeys

*click to enlarge to see the flock of birds*

This is not a green event. I can assure you. If you think animal lovers are equally passionate about preserving the natural environment, you may be wrong. Same thing applies, you may be wrong if you think environmentalists are equally passionate about animals.

That aside, when I said that it is not a green event, I mean to say that there are no or little measures taken to ensure that materials involved and used in this event are environmentally friendly. Nop, I am not talking Catherine terms (Some of you may know how critical I am when it comes to the carbon footprint). I think any layman can tell that the packagings used are not environmentally friendly. The irony. We can never get everyone to be aware of the impact they created. The fact that they are coming forward to the event and showing support to MNS is quite a good start. At least, they are not emitting carbon in the shopping mall or sleeping with air conditioner on for more than 10 hours. That’s my two cents worth.

Now, it just gives the energy to do something. I shall make this another blog post.

Other pictures:-

Uncle CP

Oh yeah, you can participate in the survey. Look for more info at http://www.mygardenbirdwatch.com/

Why You Should Use Glass Straws

I had blogged about the reasons why you should use reusable straws.

Refreshing your memory why we should use (our) glass straws:-

1. Our glass straws are handmade. * Don't you like handmade stuff? T_T *

2. Imported from best producer (Glass Dharma) with quality material.

Buying imported stuffs are always not eco friendly. Bear in mind that there is no local manufacturer at the moment that make glass straws. In fact, we are searching for interested manufacturer right now. If you know any, let us know. If you like our idea, let us know too!

3. Glass doesn’t leak toxins into your beverages.

Colourful ain't it? Try to imagine the amount of toxic you suck using them...

I like barli panas (Hot barley) and I always order that to go with my food. The waiter/waitress always comes back to me with steaming hot barley drink and the plastic straw. Irritated but this is already a common practice amongst Malaysians. We don't see them giving you straws when you order teh o panas (Hot tea) but barli panas... Strange isn't it? *_*

Anyhow, that wasn't the point. When you suck your hot drinks or simply putting the plastic straws in the hot drinks, you are putting yourself in danger of drinking toxins that leaked into your hot drinks!

4. Glass straws are dishwasher safe making them easy to clean and sterilize. *winked*

5. Glass Dharma straws are guaranteed for life against breakage.

6. Glass straws won’t end up in our oceans as part of of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch /Landfills / Ocean. *Save our extinct turtle!* BTW, I am currently involved in Walk for Turtles. Ask me if you wanna know more.

7. One glass straw replaces thousands of plastic straws. (How many times will you use a straw the rest of your life?)

Let's try to do the calculation here. Let's say you eat out three times a day and whenever you order drinks to serve with it, you have a straw with it.

3 straws X 7 days = 21 straws a week

21 straws X 4 weeks = 84 straws a month

84 straws X 12 months = 1008 straws a year!

Let's say I live till the age of 65 and I am 23 now * I'm turning 23. Birthday coming soon.* **HINT**HINT**

65 - 23 = 42 years of lives to live

42 years X 1008 straws = 42336 straws!!

With that,

1. I can make 4 chairs like these (10,000 for each) :-

Chair No #1 for my future hubby

Chair No #1 for my myself

Chair No #1 for my first child

Chair No #1 for my second child

2. I can decorate my living hall with this:-

3. Made some weapons

4. Or I can wear them on my hair

Horrifying isn't it? I think I just freak myself out *_*

8. Using your glass drinking straw adds a feeling of beauty to your day (Ng, 2010)

I have no idea what beauty feelings he means but I need to tell you this. If you have not tasted drink using the glass straws, you will not know how it feels. It is the solid feel on your lips... I tend to drink more using the straws. Funny ehy? You can pinjam mine to do some testing given that you brush your teeth everyday. LOLZ.

More reasons and some boring facts:-

As of March 2008, McDonald’s serves an average of 52 million meals PER DAY! (Per their website) How many of those served do you think were given a plastic straw? I hope it is becoming obvious just how big of a problem these pesky little plastic straws can be. Remember, this is just from McDonalds!! Get the picture??

T here was a partial solution to our “plastics problem”. Now, granted, there are a lot more plastics in our world than just drinking straws, but bear with me a minute and let me put things in perspective … can start with reducing plastics by using reusable straws. J

More and more reasons for home/kids/family! These glass straws are so sturdy that you have to worry about young children breaking them. They are clear and easy to see that they really are clean. * Perfect if you are OCD'ish T_T * I highly recommend your family switches from plastic to glass straws.

Kids like straws, and it is actually good for their oral motor development and speech articulation to use them. Be a green parent, say NO to plastic straws. It is also not safe for your kids to bite it...

Glass Straws invade McDonald's!

I invaded McDonald by getting a group of like minded to bring our plates when ordering. We called it the Green Mob.

This entry is to tell you that I really had done that and still doing it!

I blogged about using reusable straws previously and it got attention from a friend of mine, Danny who is also interested in saving the environment. He thus ordered some from Glass Dharma and it was here 2 weeks ago!

I was so thrilled with them. I took a look at them every other day! *like my babies...*

We did a mob like event in McDonald again but this time, the focus is all on the lovely glass straws.

I will come back with pictures and details soon!

Pas-sion

I just remember that I had blogged about Project Ryders here before and that I am gonna describe each day of the 2 weeks with the enthusiastic others.

Now, I no longer see the relevance to it. I am going to make it better event and shift back the actual focus to ILS.

Project Ryders 2010 will take place and I can assure you that it is gonna be a blast for me and TalentEdge (The company which I currently work for). I am going to meet more people to communicate my ideas and get them to venture into it and hopefully to channel what I intended to them. I wanna talk to you if you like to cycle while doing charity work.

let's talk about passion. The word "passion" always pops up during Plugged since the first session. Not too long ago (like 4 hours ago), we had our fourth session. The turned up crowd was not great. I guessed it is most probably the result of the exam period or the semester break. Students are going back to hometown to study (which I doubt its effectiveness) and probably to stuck their head into the many books that they need to revise after the many sleepless nights in working on assignments.

My passion is human being in general and especially those who are in need. Thus, I am now basically a ambassador for ILS. Well, that is what I told my church members when I make a request to get them to take the donation cards.

Second passion is the environment. I used to hate the job of recycling. One of my parents' friend was working on their recycling project in church and I was asked to manage the rubbish every Sunday after mass. Hate it but I managed to get a hang of it until I realise the rationale. It took a while but at least I do. Bravo to Uncle Don! I am gonna do something about this passion. I mean.. something like a project.

Third passion is just... typical. I am into fashion but as you know, I don't really follow each and every one of them. Identity is very important to me and thus I wanna establish a clothing that caters for people at my size and figure. Just so you know (not sure why am I declaring this but never mind...), I have short upper body and short neck. You don't really see me with polo T or round neck shirt. I do not want to look like an elf.

Not sure if you understand anything I write here and not sure if anybody is gonna read this. BLAH!