Oh Look!

From my office balcony this wet morning, I spotted a man and his toddler walking hand in hand down the back alley.

He was looking straight ahead. His daughter kept on slowing down, looking up at the buildings, at the back alley behind her and all around. The father was egging her on to keep his pace.

Age and routine takes the fun out of seeing. May we all wake up each day with a child's eyes.

At your service

This afternoon, I saw my colleague and two temporary staff come into the office after packing lunch, carrying styrofoam boxes in plastic bags. A few minutes later, before I stepped out for my own lunch, I decided to do something about my frustrations, and called for everyone's attention. I requested that if there was a need to pack lunch, then if it could be done using the re-usable plastic food boxes that have been accumulating in the utensil cupboard.

"Can they still be used? They're so old!" my colleague said. I told her I use them all the time, and they're clean.

She said that packing food in old plastic wasn't any more better than packing it in styrofoam. She didn't elaborate on why. Perhaps it was the questionable heat-releasing-toxins-from-plastic argument? Isn't it alright to pack hot food in plastic that shows a 'microwaveable' sign?

Regardless, I didn't probe into her statement and asked straight out, if everyone could switch to just taking out the empty containers, or if there was an issue with it, then I could buy proper lunchboxes for everyone from the supermarket, and if anyone found washing up to be a bother, then I would do the washing for them.

Everyone just kept quiet. It was as if I offended them.

I apologized for the strange request. "I'm just an environmental Nazi like that, you know how I am..." I gushed.

Silence.

"...Well, if you prefer styrofoam, then of course I can't really stop you," I added.

My colleague said, "Well, you've said your piece then." And went back to typing.

A little stunned, I turned to the temp staff. The two girls looked at each other, and one of them said, "I think we're okay like this."

I said okay, and quietly walked out to meet my friend for lunch.

I know it is not my place to change mindsets, but I still couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with anger and defeat. Urbanites are bombarded by the media about eco-everything, so I am certain that they were not ignorant of the intentions I was trying to convey. I did not vent and I did not preach. I offered an option and offered to absorb as much of the efforts involved in the change. And yet there it was... the (dare I say, Malaysian) flat-out attitude of not caring, not even a dedicating a second of consideration of the consequences of their actions as consumers.

It is, however, difficult to not offend anyone in that situation. No matter how sensitive one can be in tackling environmental awareness, you're always going to be painted out to be someone who goes out of their way to seem better than everyone else.

People always tell me, "It's good to have people like you around," and to be honest, I really don't like that. I don't want to be another person's excuse to slack off on doing the right thing. I don't want people telling me that I inspire them if they personally don't prove to themselves that I do.

I'm not a crusader, and I am not your social superior. I am a worker ant and I am executing my duties on autopilot.

Now, can you help me lift this branch up? It's mighty heavy!

What is Duh-vana?

"People have sought knowledge and to be wise
Climbing hills for better meditation
Say people are bits in a bowl of rice
Or like drops of water in an ocean
The world's full of worries, so don't add yours
Your own troubles are enough for yourself
Noone cares what happens behind closed doors
Noone else needs to think deeply and dwelve
Do not seek eternal enlightenment
Just let it all loose and let it all free
Do not pick at it; do not argument
Leave questions unanswered as they should be
When your head starts to float, you feel lighter
Then you'ld have reached the stage of Duh-vana."

- Albert Ng, April 2002.

Once upon a time, my friend wrote this sonnet as a light-hearted tribute to my own quest for enlightenment. Re-visiting it almost a decade later, it bears more significance than it ever did!

Welcome to my new journey towards Duh-vana.

Puppy for adoption: Rocky

A huge thank you to my friend Eugene for emailing this to me.

I found an injured puppy at Batu Caves on April 3, 2010. Rocky’s right paw had been run over by a motorcycle a week earlier. The accident severed a nerve and caused a bad wound that exposed his flesh. He was in danger of getting a serious infection. A kind shopkeeper at Batu Caves tried his best to care for Rocky and clean his wound, but he really needed proper medical attention.

With the help of several caring people, as well as Project Second Chance (an animal rescue and welfare initiative to neuter/spay stray dogs and cats and find homes for them) and Rocky’s own fierce will to overcome his misfortune, Rocky has been successfully treated by a private vet and has recovered well. He is an active, healthy, alert, and affectionate puppy. The wound is almost fully healed and closed over. Once healed, he will not need any special/extra medical attention and will be just the same as any normal, healthy puppy. Rocky is able to walk and even run just fine, except he won't be able to run as quickly as he would had been able to normally due to the severed nerve in his right paw. He will likely also have a little groove on the top of the right paw after full recovery.

Now, I am trying to find him a good home as I cannot keep him and the last resort would be to return him to the shopkeeper at Batu Caves. However, this is not the best option since Rocky will be just one of a pack of stray dogs that live there and the shopkeeper may not be able to provide him proper care. Rocky will not have a real home or caregiver there and would be vulnerable to being caught by dog catchers as he is so friendly and trusting. At Batu Caves, he could also be bullied by other stray dogs and may not have the size yet to protect himself and hold his own against bigger dogs.

Rocky is approximately 8 months old and probably is a Rottweiler mix. His medical history is as follows:

1) Dewormed in early April and mid-May. Can be dewormed every six months from now on

2) Vaccinated on 17 April, 2010, against: distemper virus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus types I and II, leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, and leptospira canicola

3) He has never had parvovirus

4) He does not have any history of communicable diseases that would make it impossible for him to live with other pets

5) He was neutered on May 25, 2010

If you or anyone you know might be interested in opening your heart and home to brave little Rocky, please do let me know at eugene.t.lee@aya.yale.edu or 012-316-0954. And please feel free to forward this to those of your contacts who may want to adopt a puppy or might be able to assist in finding him a good home. I have to decide what to do with him by this weekend as the funds for him are running low. It would be a shame to have to return him to Batu Caves.

Puppy for adoption: Rara

Thank you to my friend Theresa Chian for posting up this notice.

Rara was rescued from outside a factory in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong on 29 May, 2010. He was trying to run across the street and was at risk of being run over.

Rara is a 4-5 month old puppy with an adorable "Beagle face and ears". He is rather skinny now but loves to eat and play. Rara is super-friendly to human and dogs, knows the 'sit' command and will obediently do his business on grassy patch. He has been dewormed, free from tick fever and is a Parvo survivor.

He was tested positive for Parvo virus and has undergone treatment at a Private Vet in Puchong. He may still be shedding the remaining virus for the next 2 weeks but Doc said he is "safe" and more than ready to go to a fosterer's or adopter's home. Parvo virus will not affect human and vaccinated dogs but human handlers are advise to maintain good hygiene. Rara will receive his 1st vaccination jab after he has finish the shedding process.

Rara is currently boarding at the Vet's in Bandar Puteri, Puchong until he finds a home. Please call Teresa 017 330 7244 for more info or for viewing.

Klang pound mummy dog & puppies up for adoption

Hey Everyone,

Passing on an email. if anyone is interested, please call Eching (bless her tireless efforts). Her number is mentioned below.

Thanks a mill for the support and please pass on to anyone who may be interested.

In appreciation of y'all,
Davina


Dear Friends,

Would appreciate if you can forward these pictures to your friends who may be interested in adopting.

These are the pups rescued from Klang dog pound and need to go to good homes asap.

Thanks for helping our furry friends.
Eching
016 209 3155

1) 1st 6 pics of mummy dog & puppies ( 2mths) .. All have been dewormed and vaiccinated & spayed







2) Girl 5mths old.....Dewormed ,vaccinated and spayed


3) Mimi 5mths old ----small breed dewormed vaccinated and spayed

An anti-sharksfin thank you note to a newlywed

Dearest Angeline,

I could have sent this to you as a personal message, but my friends deserve to know what a bold and incredible person you are.

When I was on the way to your wedding dinner on the second day of Chinese New Year, I was, to be frank, sh*tting myself about the prospect of eating sharksfin soup at your event and insulting you in the process. (The last time I turned down a bowl at a friend's sister's wedding, my friend badmouthed and shunned me for months.) But I was taken by complete surprise when I examined the menu and saw no sign of such a dish - in its place, an equally delicious if not more nutritious double-boiled herbal chicken stew.

As your mother was making her rounds around the 28 tables in the ballroom, I stopped her to ask about the exclusion of sharksfin and she mentioned it was at your special request, for ethical reasons. My insides imploded! I knew I had to personally thank you when I had the chance, and I'm glad I did.

I know I made it quite clear to you that I share your sentiments, but I wish to applaud you again for supporting such an important cause. It would be a lie for me to say that I was not disappointed to discover that your new husband Richard doesn't see your point of view. I find it tragic that people still manage to attach this strange concept of luxury to 'exotic' food items. (My idea of luxury is having my future generations being able to witness the ocean in the same glory that I have had the privilege of being exposed to in my own lifetime.) But in this case, I must commend him for being obliging enough to let you have your way! So thank you Richard! You are awesome. :D

What I would also wish to stress on is the fact that the level of prestige at the dinner remained TOTALLY UNAFFECTED by your choice. Everyone STILL made it to the event looking like a million dollars, everything STILL went according to schedule, everyone STILL gorged themselves silly on the scrumptious 8(?)-course meal, everyone STILL 'yam-seng'ed til they lost their voices, the flamenco band STILL rocked the house (I LOVED them!), everyone STILL had an amazing time, and I'm sure the evening for the newlyweds was still, and always will be, one to be wholeheartedly cherished til the end of time. It is so important to know that people *can* contribute to change without creating disharmony.

It was also an encouraging experience to be sitting at the same table as you the evening after for Aunty Leng Leng & Uncle Welly's anniversary dinner. For once, it was nice to have someone to share disturbing glances with when the bowl of sharksfin was served. And the excuses people come up with to make themselves feel better about eating it AND make people like us look anal, presumptuous and uber-sensitive... no offense to the parties involved, but such arrogance never fails to amuse me. True, I'm sure there are incidences of caught sharks being used in their entirety. But if the frequency of such cases was prominent enough to debunk the cause, then why is the rebuttal so insufficiently publicized? If I really want to resort to playing such a game: if I don't see concrete evidence of the shark at my table being 100% utliilzed, AND being acquired through population-sustainable means, then I sure as heck am not touching it. Like I said, there is absolutely no compromise for a clear conscience!

For your reference, I think I have come across a link that is related to the information relayed to us last night (read the last comment):
http://siuyeh.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/say-no-to-sharks-fin-soup/

In a thank you note that has ended up WAY longer than originally intended, I just wanted to express my appreciation for your efforts. You have touched me in more ways imaginable, and I don't exaggerate when I say that you have contributed to my opinion of Chinese New Year 2010 being one of the best and most exciting ones in years!

It is an honor to be your cousin, Angeline. Congratulations once again to you and Richard, and wishing you both happiness, success, health, wealth, and all things that cultivate peace and love in your heart and everyone around you!

Yours,
Davina

URGENT: Seeking help for imbalanced kitten

UPDATE: We have found an adopter - within half an hour of posting this note up...!
Angels walk among us! Thank you so much for helping us spread the word, and to my dear friends Rosheen and Ashaari for your wonderful offers to help out. Will be checking up on the fella over the next couple of weeks to make sure that he turns out alright.
Thank you all once again - this is so amazing! *Gleams*

Hey Everyone,

My roomie Crystal and I are in a bit of a predicament.

Crystal's colleague found this little buddy in their office parking lot. He was stumbling over himself and mewing madly, alone and in distress. Crystal has taken him to a doctor and the kitten seems to be born with an imbalance problem that he will most likely not grow out of.

The kitten is 2 weeks old and still needs to be trained how to pee and poo on his own (his mother abandoned him before she could teach him herself). He also needs to be fed with a syringe because he doesn't know how to drink from a milk bottle yet. He kinda crawls in circles and tends to claw out at whatever he can grasp, perhaps out of frustration that he can't find his footing. Both Crystal and I are working full-time so it's difficult to take care of him.The situation is urgent because Crystal is moving out in 2 weeks and is doubtful that she'd be able to bring him to her new place.

So I'm considering 3 options:

1) That we look for someone to adopt him
2) That we look for a foster home to at least commit to nurturing him until he's a bit more independent
3) (last resort!) That I seek out someone who can offer a residence that is accessible by LRT and allows me to liberally visit so that I may travel to and fro from work to attend to the kitten during his feeding/potty times etc.

We will help out as much as we can, and I have no problem footing any medical bills in the meantime.

If anyone can offer either one of these 3 options, that would be fantastic and we will give you chocolate or its (dietary) equivalent.

Our contact numbers are below.

Please spread the word!
The blog link to this article is: http://bit.ly/cYtUYJ

Thanks heaps for your support,
Crystal (016-6009667)
Davina (016-2329122)

Cat for adoption: Tigerlily

Hey All,

A friend had alerted me of this. This cat is currently being looked after by a lady called Rena.

"Her name is Tigerlily and she has already been spayed. Tigerlily was rescued from a drain in Taipan USJ when she was about 2 months. She was very dehydrated and skinny then. Now she is about 9 months old and has a unique color. Tigerlily is in fact a very affectionate cat and she likes to be touched. She loves attention and craves for it constantly. She is very much of an indoor cat as she doesn’t like to roam around the neighbourhood.

I wish that someone can adopt her and have her indoors. Currently I have already got 3 dogs at the car porch and 1 pet in the house. It is unlikely I can have her in the house as she and my other pet cannot get along.

I hope you will help to forward this to your friends who would be keen to adopt her."





If you're interested in adopting, please contact Rena at +6 012 2030123 or renachang@hotmail.com.

Please spread the word!

Thanks a mill for supporting animal welfare in Malaysia.

Davina

Open selling of turtle eggs in Kelantan

I spent last weekend in my friend's hometown in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. It was a gorgeous place, with loads of places to go, things to do and food to eat. But if there was any type of food that I had come across there and was vehemently against eating, it was this.

Marine turtle eggs are openly sold in wet markets alongside regular fresh produce. 3 pieces can fetch up to 12 Ringgit.

I've been told that it is illegal to raid turtle nests; however, it is NOT illegal to sell or eat turtle eggs, a loophole that allows the trade to continually flourish.

I was freaking out in the wet market and was laughed at by the egg sellers, completely oblivious to their contribution towards the imminent extinction of marine turtles.

If anyone knows of any appropriate organization, Malaysian or otherwise, which I can express my dissent to, please let me know.

In the meantime, please do your future generations a favor and do not buy turtle eggs. It's up to us as consumers to stop supporting this ridiculous practice of seeking out exotic delicacies.

Libido my arse, you'd have better luck with a pack of Smarties.

Thanks for reading,
Davina

Supercute stray puppies up for adoption

Hello Everyone,

I just received this via email. Bless the old dude for opening his heart to the tykes, who just happen to be a omgsquee adorable.

If anyone is up for taking any one of them please contact Eching at 016-2093155, and please spread the word.

Thanks heaps for the support!
Davina

Dear Friends,

There are 5 beautiful healthy stray pups for adoption around 2.5mths old . They have been dumped near a Chinese temple in Klang and an old man in his 70's Mr Soh (who is unemployed) has been kind enough to feed these 5 pups on a daily by collecting scrap food from nearby eateries. He has apprached me for help in rehoming the puppies

He fears that the local council will come and take them away and is seeking assistance in gettting the pups find a good and responsble home

Please help them find good homes. For more details or for veiwing please contact 016 2093155.

PS if you know anyone who is interested in adopting please forward this email to them.

Thank you for helping our furry friends

Eching



Christy


Christy


Copper


Rusty


Sasha

The No Plastic Bag Bazaar 2009

Hey everyone,

My friend Janet is part of the organizing committee for this awesome event happening on Malaysia's National Day on August 31st. I unfortunately won't be able to attend this as I'll be organizing an event out of town that day, but to everyone else, this sure sounds like an awesome way to spend Merdeka Day - and it's all for a great cause!

The Recyclists are back!!

The No Plastic Bag Bazaar

"Shopaholics Go Green this National Day!!"

with ThreadsZoo

Aug 31, 2009
Venue - Noble Banquet, No 235, Jalan Bukit Bintang
Beneficiaries- Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) & Furry Friends Farm (FFF)

Enquiry: recyclists.malaysia@gmail.com

The Recyclists are back with the 2nd installment of the No Plastic Bag series of events! Our aim and greatest hope is educate and promote a greener lifestyle while raising funds in support of projects by the Furry Friends Farm (FFF) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

This one-of-a-kind National Day bazaar features activities such as:

* Pre-loved items up for grabs at a steal! (expect to find desirably affordable treasures form our very cool vendors)
* A variety of green products for you
* Celebrity-donated items for up for auction!
* Raffle draws

Let's celebrate a greener future this National Day in hope of a greener and more environmentally conscious humanity at Noble Banquet!

Our larger than life personalities and hosts for the day Nell Ng & TP Lim will bring down the house with their antics and performances by our celebrity friends!

Confirmed participation from our celebrity friends:

Amber Chia

Xandria ooi
Chelsia Ng
Edwin Sumun

Deborah Henry
Harith Iskander

Tony Loe

Yang Wei Han
Poesy Liang

Joyce Kirsten Wong
Junji Delfino

Niki Cheong

Ida Mariana

Elviral Arul

Zalina Lee

Sharizan Borhan

See you there!!

Links:

FaceBook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=90697473002&ref=mf

The Recyclists: http://therecyclists.blogspot.com/

ThreadsZoo: http://thethreadszoo.blogspot.com/

Furry Friends Farm: http://www.furryfriendsfarm2006.blogspot.com/

Malaysian Nature Societyhttp://www.mns.my/

On another note, Janet, the gorgeous nightingale she is, has just launched her portfolio website. Check it out here!

Love, peas & carrots.
Davina

One-eyed cat for adoption

Hi Everyone,

I came across this via email from a friend Angeline. This is a gorgeous cat who lost her eye to glaucoma. I would have snapped her up in a heartbeat if my dog wasn't so hostile.

Would anyone else be interested in adopting her? Email Kah Yein at chankahyein@gmail.com

Please spread the word!

Do browse through the rest of the AnimalCare website for adoption alerts and animal welfare updates:

Thanks loads for the support.

Davina
XOXOX

Dear Friends,

This is Angel, a female stray cat, estimated about less than two years old. AnimalCare just sponsored her glaucoma operation last week when her feeder approached us for help. Five days prior to that, the feeder had approached various animal welfare organisations, but none was willing to help her. Finally, she got my hp and called me. We quickly arranged for her operation and it was done the very next day. If we had waited any longer, the eye would have burst and that would have caused more complications. Please view here for history:

Only one eye, but still an Angel
Angel is up and about!
Angel's updates

Angel is a very mild-mannered and extremely gentle cat (just like a rabbit!). Her feeder cannot adopt her because she lives in an apartment and she already has one cat. The feeder plans to return her to the environment, but right now, Angel cannot seem to see very well. Her balance may also be handicapped due to the loss of one eye and this would affect her chances of survival if she is returned to the environment.

If you'd like to give Angel a home, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com

A cat is still a cat, whether Persian, Siamese, stray, two-eyed, one-eyed; it is still a living being with feelings and needs.

Please help Angel. Kindly forward this email.

Thank you.

Kind regards,
kahyein

2 female puppies up for adoption

Hey everyone,

My dear friend Annie was alerted by a friend about these puppies found at a park in Aman Suria, obviously abandoned. Do contact her if interested, otherwise please spread the word.

Thanks a mill for your support!

Davina

"Two young healthy female puppies were found on July 17, 9pm by a friend of mine.
I have pick them up the same night and currently being foster by an indonesia makcik that helps me to take care some of my strays in Damansara.

I am looking for a good home for these 2 lovely puppies. Will send them to the vet on Monday for deworming & full health checked. Please help me to spread words to get them adopted soon. They are already on puppy biscuit and naturally toilet trained! They will only cry if they need to pee or poo. Amazing puppies. So, get good people to love them. Call me 016-3719171. Thanks and God bless you all :)"

URGENT: Temporary home needed for dog + 3 pups

Hi Everyone,

I just received this via email and wondering if anyone can help out.

This is not an adoption notice: only temporary shelter is needed for this family of 4.

If you can offer a helping hand, please drop Shyam Priah a line at shyam@voize.my.

It would be great to spread the word too!

Thanks a mill,
Davina

"So here's the story. A stray dog was knocked over by a car so my dad's workers brought it back. I took it to the vet but the vet thought it was just a sprain and it will be ok soon with some antibiotics. Then before we could spay her, she got pregnant. But now her paw is so bad, she drags it on the ground when she walks. Another vet suspects the nerve could be severed, leaving her with no sensation (no pain) on her paw.

She's got 3 pups and she's weak and thin. I need a temp home for them for a month or a month and a half so she can gain some weight and nurse her pups better. I will provide a cage and will provide food and whatever necessary for the upkeep of the dogs for the said duration.

p/s - The mother and the pups have already been adopted."

Update: Puppies adopted!

Hi Guys,

Great news - all 3 puppies have been successfully adopted! It was an exhausting search but worthwhile to know that 3 more families are able to welcome a little more love into their lives from 3 new extraordinary friends. Thanks so much to everyone for supporting and helping out in our adoption campaign.

For those who missed out on the opportunity, my friend Natasha often rescues abandoned animals and is always on the lookout for loving homes for them. She's in fact currently looking for a home for a female black labrador. For more info you can visit her blog:

http://cleopatrathelabrador.blogspot.com

There's also another blog that regularly posts up pictures of abandoned animals up for adoption:

http://rescue2rehome.blogspot.com

Thanks for your support of animal welfare, every effort makes a huge difference :)

URGENT - Puppies for adoption!

Hi Everyone,

These puppies are up for urgent adoption!

- Three females, aged 6-7 weeks, all adorably floppy-eared.
- We're getting them vaccinated and de-wormed.

1. One is a rich chocolate colour with hints of caramel, legs are light brown. Docile and friendly.
2. One is white except for her head, which is black. She also has three large defined black spots on her back. Easygoing and playful, and she's just learning how to bark although right now it's just a squeak :P
3. The smallest one is an adventurer! Curious and gutsy, so gotta keep an eye out for her. Similiar fur pattern to 2, except that this one is oak brown and her spots are a bit more splotchy.

They were found abandoned in Bukit Damansara and are temporarily sheltered in my boyfriend Paul's house in Bangsar. Paul's leaving for Dubai next Thursday 16th August and won't be back til the end of the year, so we seriously hope we can find loving homes for them before he flies off.

Anyone who would like to welcome a little more sunshine into their lives, pls contact either Paul (016-6375161) or Davina (016-6650161).

Please spread the word! Thanks so much for your help & support.

Best regards,
Davina

duh-vana principle #5

Time will never change the fact that you are still you.

You may enter

Self portrait, Banyan Tree hotel, Bangkok.

duh-vana principle #4

To keep yourself in check, speak and see in third-person perspective.