My 2008 Review

Here are the memorable things that has happened to me in 2008:



1. I was selected to attend the SCCS conference in Cambridge University.

2. I was being given an internship to study in Oxford University for a month.

3. I went to Japan with Haslina for a one week Science Programme

4. I am officially a jobless adult :D

5. I went for an expedition in Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak

6. A man proposed marriage to me continuously, good for my ego :D

7. I had my first sakura mochi

8. I stayed in a foregin country all by myself for one month, without my family or friends

9. I made many new friends

10. I went for the ornithology workshop

11. I bought my first sleeping bag

12. I moved out and now live by myself

13. I appreciate my parents more now than ever

14. I finished my car loan

15. My first scientific paper with Dr C was published

huh that's all i could think of right now..

LOVE

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

2009 are you ready?

Happy New Year! May 2009 be a meaningful and peaceful year.


Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

What have I been doing lately??

Hi Peeps

Sorry for no updates. I have a big news to share with you.. I've moved out of the family house and am now busy with the new place. It's a tiny place with a small place to cook and a bathroom.. but i am slowly falling in love with the place.. Nice to have a place where you can do whatever you want.. real satisfying..

So my dear modos, jodos, koms, dodos, and all other dos.. i need a house-warming present from you all.. a small photo frame or scented candle or a nice small decorative items would be highly appreciated..

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Displaced Family

Two weeks ago I took Profs Savi and Nimal and Dr C for lunch to express my appreciation for their friendship. As we were still early we decided to stop by one of the mangrove forests as Prof Savi is highly interested in the mangrove forests of Brunei. It was mid day and i was telling Profs that it would be quite impossible to see any proboscis monkeys now as the weather was pretty hot. Well i spoke too soon because when we turned, we saw a family of them near the forest fringe feeding. The feeling was a good one as I realise the monkeys could still survive in a small pocket of mangroves. Now that's not what i want to share with you today..

Yesterday I went back to the same place with Dr C. It was a dull day and the sky looked angry.. As we looked around the mangrove forests we didn't see any proboscis monkeys, so i walked to the end of the bridge hoping to take some shots of the Sonneratia fruits. Well i did but the greatest surprise was 50m from me at the most disturbed part of the mangrove was a lone female mangrove proboscis!! She was a old female, with shaggy fur. When i spotted her, she was sitting on dead logs putting a plastic bag into her mouth!!! She spit it out of course but the sight was a sad one.. Here's a monkey, being displaced from the harem, and because the mangrove was so small, she was being pushed out to the forest edge.. If only the mangrove had been a bigger one, she might not have to be a scavenger, hunting for food on the mud flats..

We met a kind-hearted man in the car park who told us to drive further and we would see more of the monkeys. True to his word. We did.. see the pictures below..



There was a harem of 6 sitting on the railing of the monsoon drain. They are evidently habituated as we were so closed to the male and he didn't even bother to move a finger. He was just looking at us and our big lenses and couldn't care a hood. I guess this is a good sight as it showed people staying in the area do not disturbed them much.. After about 20min, then the male slowly moved towards the family and they disappeared into the mangrove.

After lunch, Rosli joined us for a walk along the path where the proboscis were seen. I was very sad to see that there was a huge monsoon drain (where the monkeys were sitting) separating the mangroves, and as the forests were opened up, most of the areas were disturbed. I don't know what's the drain for. May be to control flooding?? But so many examples have shoown us that human, basically is a selfish race. We will do everything we can for our gain, but how about the poor wildlife?? Development is a must, but there are other ways engineers can think of, alternatives that would give the least impact to the environment.

Because at the end of the day, human is the one that suffers because of this indiscretion..

What am I going to do in December??

When i was a teacher,my happiest time of the year was december. I would have plans with friends as to where to go for a long needed vacation. Now that i am a student, there's no such luxury. And the funny thing is i don't feel that i need one. May be that's what happened when you are doing something you love. Ok let me list out my december itinerary.

1 to 11 December - Try to finish up Sungai Ingei Budget and Research Proposal; Finish up DNA extraction of Sundamys muelleri from Dist 4.

13 to 20 December - Ornithology Workshop in Tasek Merimbun

21 December - Sleep

22 - 24 December - hoping to go with friends to KK, but chances might be slim as work is pilling up..

25 - 31 December - Finish DNA extraction of Tupaia minor

All work and no play make BB a gila gal..

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

Why?

I am sad,no i am actually depressed. Why can't we realise that regardless of religion, skin colour, language barrier, wealth, and all the superficial things, we are the same species??? Why must there be hate and despise among people, to such an extent that people are willing to kill their own kind?? Why??

I believe in reincarnation. I believe we are in this world for reasons, and one of them is to learn life lessons. If in this life time i hate a particular race of people, and I do my very best to harm and torture them, then i believe in my next lifetime, i will be a member of the 'despicable' race and i will have to suffer what i did to others before. I will only be able to progress from the torture once i know the fault of my way.

Why can't we all wake up from the fog that clouds our mind? why can't we see the beauty in others? why must we be only focusing on the negative aspect of a person? Who are we to judge? We are not God and everyone makes mistakes. But if we can forgive and forget, then the God inside each one of us is smiling through our eyes.

Funny. The more technologically advance we are, the more narrow minded we get. Funny huh??

Dear readers, please join me and pray for those who had sacrificed in this race against humanity..

Yes i am very depressed.

I forgot

yea i was reminded by Dr C to include stubbornness and scarcastic as part of my main characters.

I am stubborn, extremely. But i prefer to interpret being stubborn as being determined. Because i am determined, i am doing what i want to do now. If i am not determined, i won't be pursuing my PhD. If i am not determined, i would have succumbed to the surrounding environment and not be pursuing my dreams. So yes I am very stubborn but that is also why people always admire my determination.. see!!

Being sarcastic is so natural for me.. Can't help it la.. When there are so many irritating people and things around us, the only way to entertain ourselves and to stay sane is to be sarcastic towards others and most importantly towards oneself.

All for self preserverance..

To my friends who are supposed to be studying now but instead are reading this post: happy examination and good luck!!!

p/s: Hanie: this post is dedicated to you.. hugs

Who am I??

Do you remember when you were in primary and secondary schools, how you always worry about people's opinion of you? Or may be you still are now.. I was reading through my old diaries, and it made me wonder.. how much have i changed over the years..

I can't remember much about how i was before, but there are 2 things i distinctly remember, and i must say i am still like that now. Are you ready for this relevation?? well people close to me will know this very well.. I am highly impatient and my facial expression will tell you exactly how i feel about things..

I believe i am a loyal person, towards my family and friends. of course my loyalty only extends to those people who i think fits to be loved..

Some people have told me i am cold and distant. Some have told me i am loving and warm.. They are both right.. It's easy for me to make friends, but not easy for me to trust. So if you have earned my trust, then i will be the nicest person you have ever met.. But once the trust is betrayed, i won't forgive.. ya sorry i am that kind of extremist.. i am pretty sure those bombing people belongs to my group.. ha ha ha

Most people will see me as reliable and trustworthy.. that's not entirely right. I am those things because i don't want anything to get screwed up and create more troubles.. is that dependable?? i wonder..

Being reliable is very stressful sometimes.. everyone comes tell you their problems, but who can you tell?? that's when you need a rock.. and thank God i have mine.. thank you..

Yes my impatience.. I know this will be my downfall.. i am trying to change but that takes time.. and i am so impatient for that day to happen.. see how highly 'patient' i am!!!!! And yes i know PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE!!!!!

So if you are my friend, do drop by my chatbox and tell me what kind of person you think i am.. that'll be fun. and hey may be we can have a group debate on that?? what do you think?? on??

Me and My List

I love list. I am a list person. I love to have a list of things to do, and I love to give people list of things they have to do. I am a list person.

I have given lists to the expedition leader, the field manager, to myself, and i am going to give lists to the second boss of Brunei HOB, to my task officers. Oh i love lists.. Do you??


Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

me the logistic manager?? what??? are you sure???

Brunei will be hosting the first Brunei HOB expedition in Sungai Ingei, Ulu Belait in 2009/2010. Dr Charles is the overall leader of the expedition, and has appointed me as the logistic manager. When he first approached me for the job, my reaction was what the heck does a logistic manager do?? what is logistic??? WHAT???? For the next few days, i was expressing doubts whether i could really handle the job or not. I don't want to mess up the expedition and apparently this job plays a vital role in its success..

One afternoon Dr C asked me to go down with him to FOS ground floor and meet someone important. There is the boss of Brunei HOB, and Dr C mentioned about me being the logistic manager, and my reluctance in accepting the job. The boss being a boss just say one sentence: "Oh don't worry she has the passion, she will do it!!" My feeling was like what has passion got to do with this??? but what else can i say?? hence you are now reading the entry of the logistic manager for the expedition..

A day in the life of a PhD student in UBD

My day in UBD usually starts around 0930..and the day will start with this person coming into my office looking happy and cheerful.. When i see this person's face i know ah more work...

So my dear supervisor will come into the room and start asking me things like: 'what's the budget like for the cat surveys?' 'How many cameras are we getting?' ' have you seen metis they all?' 'I am going to kill all the project students....' and blah blah blah the questions go on and on and on...

See my face?? so CB face right?? and see all the papers, files and books around me, on my table and my cabinets?? very busy one bah.. not like someone i know only goyang kaki all the time... he he he (who ah??) See Dr Charles face?? very serious discussion in session.. but hey who's foot was that??

More often than none, i have other visitors too apart from the man who loves to give me extra job.. My room is officially a complaint room, makan room, lepak room and most importantly gossip room... here cath is strutting her stuff but Dr C has no eyes to see her lo.. May be he thinks the cat budget is more interesting than Cath??? Ouch!!!

And sometimes a poor begger will come and sit next to my feet, looking forlorn and miserable. This bugger will usually say: 'BB i am hungry.' 'BB i need to zee Dr C.' 'BB can i use your printer??" So miserably sad huh??

In this picture, the begger pretends to be reading Belalong book but we know he's waiting for someone to bring him food... poor begger..

In a good days, the supervisor, the foot man and the begger will be engaged in interesting scientific discussions.. but usually end up with someone manjaing.. here the begger wanted to go toilet so he's practising..

Sometimes the clever man Andery will come into my room too but pity there's no pics of him.. he's all serious and focus not like the other people you saw in this post..

I am sure i'm pretty unpopular in this office block due to the noise these people make in my room.. imagine the correlation curve between the number of people in my room and the noise level????

Human Nature - Your Real Friends???

Would you leave your friend when he's in trouble?? Is a friend in need a friend indeed??

The whole story started when Cath and Hanie came to my room this morning bringing a bat to show off. Hanie being the 'Bat' girl caught a bat in her house.. yah i know she lives inside a cave bah..

I was so excited as this was my first close-up experience with a live bat!! So i kinda forced metis to hold the bat so i can take good photos of it.. Metis of course didn't dare to and we had to call Dr C.

The poor bat being trapped inside a sack..

Look how gentle Dr C handle his bat..

To cut the story short, after Dr C went away, I again forced Metis to hold the bat so i can take more pictures. You might wonder why don't i hold it myself? Very simple! Why bother to dirty your own hand when there are juniors around??? he he he.. Look at his face, so classic man!! He was so worried that he would get bitten by the bat, in the process of which kill it intentionally (oops!!)

The funniest thing was after wasting so much time hesitating whether to hold the bat or not, and debating with himself what was the best way to do that, Hanie took pity of him and offered him gloves to wear.. yo met, i am sure Dr C and Dr UG didn't use gloves one le?? See his panicky face..

There Met you have succeeded!! You managed to hold the bats for me to take photos.. Yay!!

Now comes the crunch! After I finished taking pictures, i told met he could now put the bat back into the sack. So very calmly he put his hand inside the pouch, thinking the bat would just release its grips and settled back into the sack. Little did he realise the bat's claws were stuck on his gloves so when he took his hand out from the sack, the bat came out with his hand.. Upon seeing the bat out of the sack, me and Cath ran away as fast as we could, leaving him stranded with the poor bat stuck on his glove!!! AND he panicked BIG time man!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..

The morale of this story is Met I think you might want to consider calling me and Cath your friends.. our instinct told us to protect ourselves and forget about you.. he he he

To be or not to be??

This is the title for today's post. To be happy or not to be happy? That is really a very personal choice isn't it?? Can i choose how to feel? Can i choose to be happy even when there're so many unhappy circumstances happening around me? Can i choose to be happy or just succumb to the negative situations around me?

I believe I can. I believe I can ignore those people who annoys me all the time. I believe I can ignore those negative people who tries their every best to give me their negative energy. I believe I am strong enough to ignore these people. I believe I can. Just give me time...


Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

Oh God please give me the strength i need to be strong and happy

If you are feeling down, this is for you..

I will always be there for you.. that's a promise..


Free Graphics - MySpace/Xanga/Friendster

Getting older??

Some people i know love to say they are getting old.. OMG!! What a negative thing to say.

Is it really so horrible to get old? I personally love getting older. For me getting older means:
1. i am now smarter
2. i have more life experiences to help me cope with situations
3. i have more friends than before
4. i have more people to love me
5. i have done so many exciting things before, and can look forward to many more!!

So what's wrong with getting old le?? Well everything is wrong if you think getting old means you forget more easily, you slip and fall more easily, and you don't look as good as before.

At the end of the day when we leave our body, God won't ask how we LOOK and how much WEALTH we have accumulated. God would ask what contributions have we made to the humankind? Spiritualism is always more important than physical being.

So what if i have put on weight now? I am happier and more relaxed than before. So what if my hair is now shorter than before?? Keeping longer hairs doesn't make me a better spirit. So what if i don't speak perfect english?? People around me can still understand me.. SO PLEASE MY LOVELY PEOPLE, DON'T EVER LOOK DOWN ON YOURSELF!!! God has created each and everyone of us and THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT!!!

Furthermore a negative person who keeps saying things to belittle him/herself, the person is actually repeating the same thought to his/her subconcious mind, and with time the subconscious mind will believe the negative thought and incorporate the thought into the person's life. For example, if i keep saying i am stupid then how can i be clever le?? I will believe the phase so much i won't do anything to improve my intellectual because i would say "Ah ya i am already so stupid le, why work so hard? No point one mah." See how the poisonous negativity affects our brain and actions?? TSK TSK TSK.. So scary one le..

SO people if ever there's someone around you who are so negative, GIVE THEM A SLAP then say SO WHAT??

So if you say to me again you are so old now, I WILL SLAP YOU AND ASK YOU SO WHAT?? Ok? Deal??

AND IF YOU KEEP TELLING ME THE OTHER GIRL IS PRETTIER THAN YOU, I WILL DOUBLE SLAP YOU AND ASK YOU SO WHAT??

So please be positive ok?? Age is just a number bah. I am young but i forget so many things because i lead a busy life. So you are more forgetful now because you have so many things happening, organize projects, managing a dept, handling so many monkeys (oi monkeys you know who you are), marking and lecturing.. see so many things i can't even list them all..

And if you think the other girl is prettier than you, where's your eyes le?? huh??

P.S. I AM NOT A COUNSELLOR.. he he he

Dato Hamdillah's Hari Raya Open House 2008

Busy Sunday!!

We went to Sungai Burung as planned. Woke up at 4am and went to Dr C's house at 445am. As expected Metis was late!! And we actually left Dr C's house and meet him at the junction!!! Ha Ha Ha now he knows when the old man said 5am it means 5am!!


Met Andery on the simpang of his house. Just found out his house is so closed to Sungai Burung. and because he didn't explain to Dr C where exactly he stayed all this while, he got scolded too.. he he he. Metis was so happy as this was one of the rare chances of Andery getting reprimand by a lecturer.. sick man la that metis-son..


We reached Sungai Burung at 6am and it was raining quite heavily and i thought oh SHIT don't tell me I woke up so early for nothing!!! But no worries everything was perfect, the sky turns nice and bright and we managed to spot quite few species of birds and mammals..


List of birds spotted/heard in Sungai Burung on 12 October 2008:


1. Blue throated bee-eater
2. Broad-billed Roller (Dollarbird)
3. Raffles's Malkoha
4. Red throated barbet
5. Red crowned barbet
6. Greater green leafbird
7. Black headed bulbul
8. Velvet fronted nuthatch (by Met & Andery)
9. Crimson breasted flowerpecker
10. Crimson sunbird
11.Crow billed drongo
12. Hill myna
13. Black hornbill
14. Coucal


List of mammals spotted:


1. Tupaia picta (ah yo so cute!! it was hopping on the ground le.. so cute)
2. Horsetailed squirrel (It's not my imagination ok!! the squirrel was feeding on large figs and
because the 3 gentlemen couldn't spot it immediately, Dr C said i imagined the whole lot!!
Apalah jealous people bah these 3)
3. Giant Squirrel (spotted by Met)


I was so relaxed because of the trip!! I am so happy!! I love birdwatching!!! I love seeing all the pretty birds and their funny coordinated colours!!! I just love nature!!!


After the trip, the boys went back to Dr C's house for rest and preparation for afternoon outing. I went bought burgers for my parents, then home to rest and doll up..


So what's our plan for the afternoon le? HARI RAYA OPEN HOUSE! Dr C and myself were invited by Dato Hamdillah, and I extended the invitations to some of the lanjak volunteers. So we all met up, had lunch then off we went to his house..


I had great fun entertaining myself and whinning to Dr C that i want to go home and sleep.. ah i woke up at 4 am ok!! So i am entitled to whin!! So Cath and Met stop giving me the dirty looks!! no eyes to see ah..


It always feels good to hear praises, but I get very shy one le.. But thanks for your confidence in my ability.. he he he

Hurray Sungai Burung Tomorrow!!

I'm really looking forward to our bird watching trip tomorrow!! We are going to Sungai Burung, do some birdwatching, photographing and just chilling out..

Been there countless of time and everytime the place gives me surprises!!! My last trip there was this year June and i spotted a pair of Helmeted Hornbills!!! That was indeed lucky as the chances of sighting that species of hornbill is so rare!!!

Wonder what i will see tomorrow?? i would love to see nuthatch and barbets.. ya la i know so ambitious bah!!

BTW met and myself are supposed to meet in Dr Charles's place at 5 am.. huh will i be able to wake up on time, judging from my past history??? And metis the social moth le?? I really have doubts on his ability to wake up so early.. we'll see he he he..

Divine Intervention

Do you believe that there are unseen forces around us influencing our life? Have you ever wonder why some many things are happening to you? Have you ever wonder why does that stranger seem to be so familiar?

I believe in spirits, in angels and in divine intervention. I believe there's a reason for things to happen the way they are..

I used to wonder why i have to go through so many challenges before my aims could be achieved. I used to wonder why couldn't my life be like my friends, simple without complications. I used to wonder why i couldn't be just like my friends, get a job, get married, have children and voila that's it? Basically the question was why is my life so complicated?

Now i can slowly understand the reasons behind all the challenges i had/have to go through. By going through each challenge, by thinking of solutions to cope with each problem, i am more mature and better equipped to deal with other tougher situations. I am still learning of different ways in dealing with life situations, but i am happy to say i look forward to more challenges life is sending my way.

I believe in people being able to emit and absorb energies from the surrounding, be it organic ornot. I believe if you are positive, then people around you will get attracted to your energy and just want to be around you. I believe if you are positive, you will emit happy energy. Once you are happy, you will smile and be nice and considerate to others, and others will automatically respond positively towards you..

Likewise, a negative person emits unhappy energy, and be grumpy all the time. Who in their sane mind would want to approach people like that?

I used to be the one who takes things too seriously. I used to frown a lot. I used to be unhappy and get stressed out very easily. But now i feel i am happier, i laugh a lot and i can see the lighter side of things. Because I am now happier, i find people react to me positively and that makes me happier, and a positive cycle occur.

Most of all i believe in guardian angels. I am so lucky because i have so many angels around me that protect me, love me, give me joy and happiness. My parents and my sister moi are my guardian angels. They love me, protect me, care for me and will do anything to keep me happy and safe. They are my life as I am theirs. My other papa joe is my guardian angel too. He loves me and cares for me, and will also do everything within his power to protect me from harm. He's my mentor too. I want to be like him, full of life and zest. My friends are my little angels, they surround me giving me their loves and laughters. Thanks to my little angels like ying er, jenn, dagang, sarah, mei king, lian, haslina, faisal, salwa, rosli, kathy, hadi, faye, aishah, ham, metis, andery, cath, bon, syidah, jeff, azman... and so many others.

I am so blessed by God to have so many people who loves me..

Glitter Graphics - GlitterLive.com

Things i want to do on weekends..

MySpace Tweaks MySpace Comments

1. Birdwatching in Sungai Burung

2. Photography in Luagan Lalak and other places

3. Birdwatching in Wasan

4. Fishing

5. Relaxation and photography in Batu Marang and Kota Batu - collect pictures of mangroves

6. A long drive to end of Labi road

7. Fishing / walking in Meragang Beach

8. Tasek Merimbun Visits

9. Long Mayan for Bornean Bristlehead

10. Walk along logging road early morning

11. Night-watch along peat swamp road

12. Discover new areas behing Earth Satellite

13. Walk in forest trails in Sungai Burung

14. Breeding areas of lesser adjutants

15. Rempayoh

16. Explore new areas in Bukit Patoi

This sunday I'm going to Wasan with Dr Charles and others (Metis & Andery??). It'll be fun.. Hope we'll see the purple heron and whitehead munia (which is not supposed to be here in Brunei!!!). then off to Dato's house for hari raya celebration with the others..

My Favourite Prayer

Glitter Text @ Glitterfy.com

I need to be petted?

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

Kinabatangan Trip 2006

BIOCOP members who were rich enough to make the trips.. huh??


A thin corrdior of riverine forest where most wildlife accumulate..

It's always a great feeling to see a healthy orangutan in the wild, feeding on figs here.

When we saw the elephant footprints on riverbank, we screamed (softly) with excitement!! We knew it was a matter of time to actually spot one in the wild..And there's our baby.. ah yo i can still remember my excitement now le.. can't wait to go back there.

Journey to the graceful river of Kinabatangan

Few years ago, a group of us from the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BIOCOP) decided to organise a study trip to the famed lower Kinabatangan river.

The Kinabatangan river is situated in the Sabah state of Malaysia, and it is the longest river in Sabah. The lower part of the Kinabatangan river has long been established to be a hotspot for biodiversity conservation, and in 1999 the 26,000 hectare Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary was declared Malaysia’s first Gift to the Earth. In 2001, the sanctuary was gazetted as a Bird Sanctuary, and work to gazette the area as a permanent wildlife sanctuary is currently underway.

To reach Kinabatangan, we took a plane from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. The flight took 40 minutes and we were all in high spirits! In the Sandakan airport, we met the owner of the Sukau Tomanggong Riverview Lodge, Jesse. Sukau Tomanggong Riverview lodge is a simple lodge catered for wildlife photographers or birdwatchers as they have good experienced guides armed with such skills.

From the airport, it took us approximately 2.5 hours to reach the small fishing village of Sukau. The last hour of the journey was horribly bumpy and dusty, and makes one wonder is it worth the trouble to visit Kinabatangan at all?

After the one hour torture, we reached the lodge feeling tired and extremely shaken, literally! Jessie suggested for us to rest for an hour before starting our first boat ride. The accommodation was very basic with 2 persons sharing a wooden chalet with its own attached bathroom. Across the very narrow road is the riverview lodge, which has a spectacular view of the towering Tomanggong limestone outcrop and its undisturbed forest across the river.
After a nice cold shower and much needed rest, we were introduced to our guide and boatman, Adi and Samsul. On this trip Adi and Samsul took us downstream the Kinabatangan river towards Sungai Rasong and the cool breeze from cruising along in the boat was a welcoming break from the stifling heat. The wildlife was just astonishing. In the first 30 minutes going downstream, we spotted two Rhinocerous hornbill feeding on figs, three Pied hornbill flying across the river, four Jerdon’s Baza perching at different trees, and a pair of Black hornbill. Adi and Samsul are really the best guides a person could ask for. They are extremely good in spotting wildlife. Whenever anyone of us spotted something, Samsul would cut off the engine and we’d drift past silently.

We were ecstatic that we spotted so much wildlife in such short time, but Adi told us the best is still to come. They took us to a narrow tributary called Sungai Rasang, and true to his word, there were more wildlife here than in the main river. That could be due to less tourist traffic in this side. We spotted a harem of proboscis monkeys with its alpha male, several families of pig tailed macaque. But personally for me the highlight was the arrays of birdlife! In that short narrow tributary alone, we observed 16 species displaying in their natural habitats. That was real humbling to my soul!

After two hours of constant marvels, we returned to the lodge for our evening meal and wait for the sun to set before heading out for our night trip. After sunset we headed out on the boat again towards the same stretch of river. It was a calming feeling to be speeding down the river in the dark, watching the bright starry sky. We slowed down the boat regularly to spot for possible wildlife. But as we all had a long day, not everyone enjoyed the ride.

The next day, we left for another boat ride, spotting more birds. This place is a must for birders out there. Here you don’t have to spend any energy trying to look for the birds, the birds are readily available everywhere you turned! We spent the whole morning bird-watching and marvelled at the amazing wildlife of the lower Kinabatangan river.

After lunch, Adi and Samsul were highly excited and warned us to be ready for some big actions! We knew it must be the pygmy elephant! With heart pumping fast and adrenaline rushing through our veins, we got into the boat. Samsul steered the boat closer to the bank along the river and Adi told us to keep our ears and eyes opened wide! Immediately after he said that, we heard a loud roar! For me, that is the most magnificent sound I have ever heard in my life. I had always been waiting for this moment to see the pygmy elephant, but on the other hand, I was worried that the elephant might charge towards us since we were so closed to the bank! That’s life, so full of contradictions.

With much anticipation, the elephants finally showed their faces. We were all extremely excited and took tonnes of photographs. But one sad thing here is how inconsiderate some tour operators were. They drove the boat so closed to the bank and the elephants were scared off like that.

In the interval of three days stayed in Sukau, we spotted a wide range of wildlife. That should be a happy feeling right? Wrong. The only reason why wildlife was so readily spotted along the Kinabatangan river is a sad one. Much of the forests along the river had been replaced by oil palm plantations, leaving a narrow stretch of forest habitat corridor for the wildlife to live in, and that’s the sad truth behind the easily seen wildlife.
The problem of development and human encroachment into prime forests are constantly seen everywhere in the world. But Brunei is very lucky in the sense that we are not depending on forested goods as our main source of revenue, hence our forests are still relatively undisturbed. To keep the forests in such stage, we should put in more effort into forest conservation.

Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BIOCOP), Brunei Nature Society

Some of the older members of the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BIOCOP, BNS)
Some of the new BIOCOP members


Two years ago when I started doing my Ph.D. in Biology in UBD, Dr. Joseph Charles introduced me to three young second year UBD students. They were from the BSc. Biological Sciences and BSc. Education Programmes and they volunteered to help me in my fieldwork. These girls wereare tough and they survived well in the forests with the high humidity and the ever-present mosquitoes. Later on they introduced a few of their friends to my work and those are now my most trusted volunteers. Over time we have become the best of buddies.

A year later, a great opportunity came for us to spend few weeks in the Kuala Belalong Field Studiesy Centre helping out in the ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation) University programme. All the volunteers in my fieldwork and me were assigned to help out in different research projects. We worked in the forest most days from morning till late afternoon helping the lecturers in conducting and supervising university students from around the world. When night fell,s thatis wasis the time when we all foundwould find ourselves gathering togetheraccumulating in the labs and talkinged about everything under the sun.

One night after enduring many days of hard-hitting heavy fieldworks in the beautiful forests of Belalong, we were all feeling a bit down about the miserable state of the environment in Brunei Darussalam. Here we are, living in a country where most of the forests are still intact and in their pristine conditions, and not many people understands the beauty of it and appreciate the aesthetic values of our heritage. So we all felt pretty depressed ad helpless as to what willould be the future of Brunei’s grand forests. Then came Dr Charles the wise man! He said why don’t we the young Bruneian students start a program that teaches people about the value of our own forests.

We were thrilled about the idea of actually doing something positive about the environment! And all of us agreed to be involved in this programme, each playing a part in ensuring the programme will run well. After much discussion between us and Dr Charles, we came up with a name for this environmental programme. We called it the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BIOCOP), and decided to request the incorporate it as part of the BBrunei Nature Society (BNS) to incorporate it as one of its activities. , which tThehe President of Brunei Nature Society NS kindly agreed to take the programme under its wings and obtained approval from the Natural History Section of the Brunei Museum for this group to carry out various research projects in Brunei..

With Dr Charles as the advisor for the BIOCOP conservation programme, we began to identify potential started to work on various research projects of conservation value. We liaise ourselves with the Natural History Section, Brunei Museum so that we can help them to carry out scientific research in Brunei. ThroughWith the implementation of BIOCOP, we hope to inculcate conservation awareness to the general public on the importance of protecting and managingconserving Brunei’s wild flora and fauna.

There are two stages in the ConservationBIOCOP programmes. The first stage involves the collection of scientific data by volunteers, analyses of data and the sharing of scientific information withto relevant government agencies e.g. Brunei Museum. The second stage involves presentation of the collected data and information to different villages and schools to raise awareness on issues relevant to the area.

We have proposed a 10 years proposed programmejects as follows:

2007 – 2008
Wildlife biodiversity in kerangas forests in Brunei Darussalam

2009 – 2010
Wildlife biodiversity in peat swamp forests in Brunei Darussalam

2011 – 2012
Status of the lesser adjutant, an endangered stork species in
Brunei Darussalam

2013 – 2014
Status, distribution and abundance of tarsiers in Brunei Darussalam

2015 – 2016
Status of the proboscis monkey in Brunei Darussalam

So far we are actively involved in scientific activities conducted by UBD and the Brunei Museum. Some ofBelow are the various projects that we have conducted so far:

2005
• Setting up of BIOCOP under Brunei Nature Society
• Asia Europe Foundation University Programme (Small mammal trapping)

2006
• Egret surveys along Brunei Bay
• An educational trip to Kinabatangan and Mt Kinabalu (self-sponsored)
• Release programme organized by the Natural History Section, Brunei Museum
• Wildlife surveys using camera trapping in various Kerangas forests

2007
• Egret surveys along Brunei Bay
• Wildlife surveys using cage and camera trapping in various Kerangas forests
• An educational trip to Pulau Selirong
• Some of the volunteers participated in the Heart of Borneo Peat Swamp visit
• Release programme organized by the Natural History Section, Brunei Museum
• A workshop on Turtle Conservation in Brunei Fisheries Department
• Bushy – crested hornbills observation in Bukit Patoi, Temburong
• Bird sighting competition in Bang Nalud, Tutong
• Preparation for wildlife exhibition to be held mid 2009
• A conservation presentation given to UBD students and general public

2008
• Wildlife surveys using cage and camera trapping in various pristine and disturbed
Kerangas forests
• Some of the volunteers participated in the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary Expedition
in Sarawak
• Preparation for wildlife exhibition to be held mid 2009
• A conservation presentation given to UBD students and general public

Sungai Ingei Expedition Update

Right at this moment i think Dr Charles has finally made his decision as to whom he's bringing to Sungai Ingei as volunteers.. Hope there's no more changes as i have also made up the list of people sharing tents...

There are so many things to get for this expedition e.g. sleeping bags, tents, glow sticks, basket for wee wee (he he he), more leech socks ..... and so many more. Need to prepare a list of things for people to bring..

Am really excited, don't know why?? I mean we've just came back from Lanjak expedition 3 months ago, and now everyone is excited about going for another expedition.. I heard Andery has even got his new parang ordered.. that's super efficient!! Well I have also bought new leech socks which are longer than what i have, so i am also kiasu bah..

What a motivated bunch we are huh?

My Favourite Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let his presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Oxford Part 4 - Oxford Natural History Museum

This post is dedicated to Dr Charles who was in Oxford one full year for his commonwealth scholarship workng on crows (Charles, J. K. 2008). He has never set foot in this museum which is only 1o minutes walk from the Zoology Department, University of Oxford.


Entrance to the museum, admission free too. hurray!! Prof. Ben Sheldon whom i worked with insisted that i should visit this place as this is one of the best natural history museum in UK.

Students of Dr Charles should be familiar with this species Branchiostoma lanceolatum..oi old man no point talking and talking bah.. need to show how it looks like one le.. like long grain rice lo??

My favourite extinct species - the dodo bird. This bird was heavily featured in the storybook Alice in Wonderland as the author Lewis Carroll was a lecturer in the university. And the museum has a section dedicated to the author showing old manuscripts, photos of the real Alice, her relationship with the author etc.. must see for Alice's fans..

Real ammonites preserved for million of years

If you want to know how Aristotle looked like?? Anyone??

The museum is also famous for its intricate roof design..

Weird creatures. i would love to see this sheep species myself.. would i freak out?

Oxford Part 3 - Christchurch Cathedral

Entrance to the gift shop.. lovely door.. i think dr charles should keep this design in mind when he builds a house later.. no one can enter bah.. not even the strong men around him now..

The tomb of St 'Someone i forgot the name' who was buried inside the church..

This is the kind of window i want for my house..

Christchurch courtyard

Makan place for students staying in the christchurch dorms.. so artistic and surrounding the tables are paintings of historical people staying in the same place before. imagine having your meals and eyes staring at your back.. huh?

Prayer place for the general public

Official entrance to the Christchurch,,

Christchurch courtyard
Christchurch dorms