Sunset

    I love sunrises and sunsets. In my travels when I was still working, looking at them kind of dissipates the exhaustion. It gave me peace, an outstanding break from work. 

Lovely sunset towards Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

     I could sit watching scenery like this without doing anything, without a word. It's therapeutic.

French Open 2023

     The final four both for men and women in the French Open have been decided. It's the semi-finals in the French Open today and tomorrow. It's exciting to see who will reach the finals.

The Top Four Men

The Top Four Women

 

     I am hoping the finals would be: Djokovic-Zverev and Sabalenka-Swiatek. And in the end, I am rooting for Djokovic and Swiatek. If Djokovic wins, he will have 23 grand slam wins putting him at the top of the race, ahead of perennial competitors Nadal and Federer.

     If it's going to be new champions, it's interesting and will bring the tennis world competition into a new level.

Language

     I watched the TV announcement of PhiVolcs Director over the looming eruption of Mayon Volcano giving advise and warning to the public, in English. How on earth you are understood by the masses? This is very common of all government officials to speak English when giving out messages to the public. Because the viewing public are not adept in the language, many others try to explain most of those messages with their own spin for their own interest, for their own benefit.

PhiVilcs director on TV

     I remember when I was new in Malaysia, there was not much English on TV, news were delivered in the local language. I didn't understand and that time I didn't appreciate it. I now understand the rationale. They cater to local viewing masses for effective communication. In such a way, they are able to deliver their messages direct to the masses and no one can manipulate the truth. They are more well informed with the correct information not tainted by politics.

Mayon Volcano

     The alert level for Mayon Volcano has been raised to three as eruption is looming. It can be recalled that the last time this volcano erupted was five years ago and we happened to be in Albay by accident. That was December 27, 2018 I think.

Sign that eruption may happen

     We were travelling back home for holiday when a typhoon stranded us at Bicol as ferry services had been cancelled. We had no choice but to stay in Bicol, and making the most of our time in Albay, Bicol, we went to see Mayon Volcano only to see the onset of an eruption. I managed to capture that moment without knowing it was the beginning of an eruption.

     When we went back to our hotel, the eruption was on the news. Only then we realized we were there when it started. Thus seeing the news reminded what we experienced five years ago.

Gardening

     Staying here in my rural birthplace drove me to do some gardening. I planted vegetables and flowering plants. As I look through the yard, seeing the plants surrounding our house, I am overwhelmed is an understatement. The joy they bring when I see them bloom is beyond what I can say in words.

They are growing