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老人Happy的地方

星期天，上了時常在關仔角納涼時見到的“賭輪”（賭博郵輪）見識見識。乘客人口統計：男的女的個占一半，80%以上年過五十，99.9%是華人。

吃了免費午餐，在賭臺上搏殺了一個多小時的輸輸贏贏又輸輸后，有點納悶，畢竟場內通風不是很好，就到甲板上吹風、拍照。甲板上兩對十幾來歲的小情侶，卿卿我我，摟摟抱抱，完全漠視他人的注視，六十塊上船觀賞真人鐵達尼號，真的值回票價。

在船上碰到了以前家樓下的老安迪，問她跟誰來？她說是自己駕車偷偷到碼頭上船的，而卻跟兒子媳婦說下坡底探朋友。賭船的魔力可不小，連老人都可以為了它欺瞞打妄語。另外一個Uncle，在連輸幾場后，口口聲聲說賭博真的是賭不過的而放棄了，但沒消幾分鐘，又看到他在另一桌繼續出錢出力，阿Q精神真的被黃炎子孫廣泛的使用。

到晚上要回家下船的狹窄階梯上，看見兩位老姨很吃力的下著去，朋友給她扶了一把，較胖的那位向較瘦你那位說，這位年青人不錯，懂得照顧老人，哪知那位瘦的卻在后面拋來一句：我最不削這些年輕人不務正業的上賭船賭錢了！拜托安迪，我們上船是只是來見識，有分寸的玩一玩而已，不像你，沒幾天就往賭船鑽，要想想孩子賺錢辛苦，給你多少家用都不夠貼船油錢。說穿了，還不是她當我們是對手，擔心我們會分薄她中幾十千Jackpot的機會。

原來，這里是另一處老人Happy的地方，不過要記得身上必須留下幾塊錢來搭Taxi回家。

Pulau Aman 安曼島的馬來風光

If you're longing for a not too crowded, not too quiet place for a retreat, you may consider going to the "Island of Peace" -- Pulau Aman.

"Pulau Aman" -- the name that was planted in my mind since my teenage years. I used to cross Penang-Butterworth by ferry. When the ferry was departing, the captain would announce "Pulau XXX akan bertolak sekarang". The ferries were named after some of the famous islands in Malaysia, like "Pulau Tioman", "Pulau Redang", "Pulau Langkawi", "Pulau Talang-talang", "Pulau Kapas" and one of them was "Pulau Aman".

Kok Sheng, Hatta and myself made a trip to Pulau Aman last Saturday. We headed there off Batu Kawan by passenger boat at Batu Musang Jetty about 11.30am. The fair for a return trip is RM 6. The journey takes only about 10 minutes. Our sole purpose was to satisfy ourselves with the famous "Mee Udang" (Prawn Noodles).

Pulau Aman is an idyllic Malay fishing village with population of about 250, mostly elderly folks and children. You won't see a single car on this island. There are only 3 motorcycles! Ha! No worry for the traffic pollution. One thing worth a mention, this island is the only area with 0% criminal rate in the state of Penang. It's said to be the most simple and safest island in Malaysia.

There is a school providing education to the pupils with great convenience. Other than the beautiful traditional Malay houses, there is a government clinic, a sundry shop, a community hall, a mosque that takes care of the needs of the islanders. There are also few chalets available for renting to the tourists.

We wandered around the island and taking photos for about one and a hour hours and decided to have the must-try delicacy - Mee Udang. We had been recommended to have it in "Restauran Terapung" (Floating Restaurant) by the villager. Not bad, we satiated our stomach with Mee Udang and the coconut milk which cost RM6 and RM4 respectively.

In addition, you can buy the freshly harvested Udang Lipas (Mantis Prawn) and other fresh catches from the fishermen near the restaurant & get the restaurant cook/steam them for you. I didn't do that as I thought it was a less merciful thing to make some living creatures become a dish on the table.-

There are some local entrepreneurs promoting and selling the locally made products like “Kerepek Sukun” that made from "Buah Sukun" (Breadfruit), Pisang goreng, homemade Belacan and body lotion.

We departed the island in the late afternoon and moved ahead for other activities in the evening -- "A date with Nyonya Kuih" and D'Home Charity Dinner cum PCK performance. This marked the much enjoyable and fulfilled day for me. Thanks pals!

生產災難 ─ 羊水栓塞 (Amniotic Fluid Embolism)

我朋友她今年33歲，初为人母。八月十五临盆，真如她所愿，可以在中秋月圆日添个丁。因为这天，也是她嫁为人妇的一周年喜庆。原本喜氣洋洋，但卻在生產下小孩子后，一聲不響的離開了。就連守護在她身邊的先生，一句道別的話也來不及說。在ICU里依靠life support生存的小孩也在她出殯那天，牽著媽媽的手走了。 正當大家在厲聲苛責院方疏忽的時候，剖解報告出來了，是一種罕見的婦科急疹，把她們兩母女給帶走。除了祝愿她們得到永遠的安息，也想把一些關于此重症的資料，給大家了解一下：

羊水栓塞 (Amniotic Fluid Embolism)

羊水栓塞是一种在分娩过程中因羊水物质进入母体血液循环，引起出现肺栓塞、休克等一系列严重并发症的产科危重症，也会造成心肺的衰竭，死亡率是SARS的十二至十五倍。虽然医疗进步，但碰到羊水栓塞这个产科的急症，戏剧性的病程变化，前一分鐘還好好的談笑風生，下一分鐘就好像吸不到空氣般呼吸困難，一下子就抽慉、心肺衰竭，在数分钟内即夺走宝贵的生命，也令人措手不及。让原本的喜事变成丧事，往往将医病双方卷入冲突的漩涡。

究竟羊水栓塞是什么？大甲光田医院妇产科廖修德医师表示，这是一种非常少见的产科急症，起因于羊水、胎儿细胞、胎发、胎脂或其他碎片进入母体的血液循环中，引起严重的类似过敏反应，产生血液栓塞，造成心肺衰竭或大量出血。羊水栓塞的发病率低但病死率高，發生率約在八千分之一左右。

廖修德医师进一步指出，羊水在子宫内围绕在胎儿的周围，完整的保护在羊膜内，但如果羊膜和胎盘破裂后，子宫或子宫颈的血管有了破损，羊水就有机会大量进入母体的血液循环；当到达肺部后，会诱发肺动脉血管收缩，产生高血压和右心室血压上升，进而引起缺氧、心肌和肺部微血管的伤害；另外有一半的病人，会产生消耗性的凝血功能病变，造成产妇突然大出血而休克死亡。

羊水栓塞一旦发生，母体死亡率高达80%，因为突然的心跳停止或是随后的呼吸困难和多重器官衰竭，有时甚至连抢救都来不及。羊水栓塞不但死亡率很高，幸存者往往会留下永久性的神经伤害，例如中风或植物人的可能。至于胎儿端视处理的时间长短，如果在母体发生症状后，能及时将胎儿产出，那么宝宝还有多一些存活的机会，然而不幸的是，约有一半的宝宝仍可能因缺氧而留下永久性的神经后遗症。

現在認為可能羊水進入的多寡並不是很重要，而是媽媽對胎兒羊水的反應，因為有百分之四十以上的媽媽有過敏体質，而且整個病程跟藥物過敏休克反應很像──進展迅速且無法預測。所以現在有一種趨勢將「羊水栓塞」改稱為「羊水過敏症候群」。

老一辈常以“生得过，鸡酒香，生不过，四块板”用来形容生产过程的凶险。医学技术再进步，仍然有它无法克服的难题。廖修德医师强调，面对羊水栓塞这种危险的产科急症，除了让民众能对它多点了解外，生产过程中亦要随时注意蛛丝马迹，因为每个产妇都有可能是羊水栓塞的候选人，当然急救的速度和医术一定是必要的。

那麼知道原因後，是不是可以有效預防呢？很可惜的是以前認為很重要的因素──催生，現在反而認為在子宮收縮愈強時，羊水反倒不容易進入媽媽血液中造成反應，所以目前沒有任何可以預測會導致羊水栓塞的指標來做預防。

既然無法發現導致羊水栓塞的危險因子，那麼早期診斷、早期治療是不是有幫助呢？接近九成的媽媽只來得及做心肺復甦術。若急救成功，還得面臨缺氧、心臟無力、全身性血液無法凝固等問題。六成的媽媽因此失去生命，存活的媽媽只有不到百分之八腦部沒有受損。可見媽媽為了一個新生命的誕生是冒著多大的生命危險。這也是要對母親永懷感恩之心的原因之一。

When You Miss Someone

思念，苦也甜。想一个人，虽然枯涩酸楚, 但心里也会充满幸福的感觉，因为有人值得我们去思念。当你拥有思念，你就能在苦中品尝到只有自己能体会的甜。 如果心里连一个值得去思念的人都没有，那是多么的孤单平静，平静得可以让自己沉睡。。。

被一个人思念也是件幸福的事，因为有人心里装着我们。如果一个人在任何人的心里没有地位，没有人会在任何时间和地点把他记起、想起，那也挺可悲的。

最苦的思念就是你在苦苦地牵挂着对方，而对方不知道你在挂念着他。或者即使知道，却没有心动的感觉。单一的思念，与其让它折磨得你身心交瘁，不如在他背后悄悄地关心、默默祝福他。

但如果，在你傻傻思念对方的同时，他也在痴痴思念着你，两个大人变小孩，那当是人世间幸福无比的事情了。

有一种思念超越空间，却可以把脑海里的那个人看得清晰 -- 老花眼镜后眼角的皱纹，感觉她的呼吸、甚至她身上的体温。不管时空的距离，思念却越变浓厚。当双手无法去握及她的时候，思念却是他心灵上永远的拥有。

而我，即使生活再忙再累，思念已经变成了一种习惯。

你是幸福的！

国军趴地 吋吋闻

六龟新发村新开部落31人被活埋，国军为寻找罹难者遗体，连鼻子都用上了，为防止疏漏，士兵排成一列趴在石上一吋吋地闻，遇有异味再开挖，令人感动。

到台湾的第二天，在乘搭往台南去的高铁站便利店里看到了当地报章的这么一个头条 ，深深的感动了我，还没被填上早餐的肚子顿然却不觉得怎么饿了。站在拯救前线的士兵，真正的发挥了无缘大慈、同体大悲的精神。愿意用自己的身躯舍己救人，彰现人性的美和无私的爱。我不得不对这些不知名的士兵们肃然起敬！

宝岛此次的天灾夺去了不少宝贵的生命和财物，愿88灾风灾黎们努力振作，勇敢地继续活下去，不要放弃，伤痛会能够随着时间的过去得以抚平，生命还有明天，一片的绿水山河重现在指待间。

也感恩家里也有一名伟大的士兵，我借此向你致于最崇高的敬礼！

涟漪

此刻
都市是喧闹的
列车是拥挤的
行人是盲忙游走的
红绿灯是不停换转的
而
爱与不爱却是纠缠的

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图：Penang Road Miyako Izakaya 新都日本料理二楼窗外的街口。

The World Heritage

Jubliee Clock Tower,
George Town, Penang, Malaysia

I have always curiously wanted to see how things were like 10, 20, or even 100 years ago. Be it a person, architecture, transportation, landscaping or anything that we use in our daily life. One does not live long enough to witness changes that take place every single second in the eternity of time.

I have taken some photos of the heritages in George Town that have existed some hundreds years ago. I would share them here from time to time. The first one on the list is the Jubliee Clock Tower.

This Clocktower was built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This Moorish style clocktower at the junction of Lebuh Light and Lebuh Pantai is 60 feet tall, one foot for each year of Victoria's reign. It was built as a gift by a distinguished local Chinese millionaires (his name was engraved on face of the tower) -- Cheah Chen Eok Esq (Note: Esq.= modern use of Mr.). There were opinions that his intention was to flaunt his wealth in the eyes of the British administrators. Queen Victoria never visited Penang, nor did she ever live long enough to see her clocktower completed. The Queen had died before the tower was completed in 1902.

If you pay a carfeul attention, you will realise that the clocktower leans to one side. That's the legacy of all the bombs dropped around it during the World War II that destroyed the government buildings nearby.

母亲节，祝爸爸生日快乐！

The Heavenly Place - Sungai Lembing (III): Her Beauty

I am here to share some of the spectacular view of Sungai Lembing. You'll will fall in love by looking at this enchanting lady.

The scene reminds me of Cat Steven's: "Morning has broken, sunlilght from heaven"...

Distanced view of Bukit Charas - an island in the middle of the sea of clouds.

Mountains in layers, beautifully posed.

I wish to realise my childhood fantasy - To swim in the cloud.

On the way down the hill, see this natural painting of clouds, river, trees and villages.

The Heavenly Place - Sungai Lembing (II): Her Life

In the city, we always run to get somewhere, something or someone. But when at Sungai Lembing, the running will only ever get you to the same place. We must as well enjoy the slow pace lifestyle and be contented as the people living here. Now I understand the reason Pypy could made her third visit here, as I'm thinking to make the second one. It's a good place for retreat.

Although the town was left to its own, the town people proudly maintain it, keeping the shops going and the local Chinese associations alive (Ha! We took part in their line dancing practice). Whereas the Malay community lived a little further out of town. We saw few scattered Kampung houses a long the way driving to the town. I happened to stop by a Malay kampung asking for direction from a man. I was amazed that I met him again the next evening in the town and he recognized me and asking if I finally got my way! What a man!

We also had a question about what are most of the people here do for living? I finally got the answer from a local. Since the closure of mine in 1986, people are now depending on agriculture and fishing. The younger generation find it difficult to make a living and left to Kuantan and other towns to start fresh from there. Only the aged are left behind. Perhaps with the tourism, it could help to revive the town and give it a new direction.

The view of Sungai Lemving town. Simple and quiet.

The only petrol station in the town.

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 1920s)

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 1980s)

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 2009)

The pain of the people - the flood during the year end. Water level can go up as high as 6 meters. Picture showing one of the worse flood happened in 2001.

This picture is to show how the water can flood the town.

A Malay couples just having their wedding photoshot done.

There are a few suspended bridges connecting the villages across the Kenau River to the town.

Students after Saturday class posing in front of an old house made of zinc.

One of the entertainments for the people - playing snoker

The Heavenly Place - Sungai Lembing (I): About Her

I have wanted a holiday to Jakarta next month, but no sign of encouraging response from any of the potential travel mates. I have to either cancel or postpone it to a later date. As one door closes, another one opens. Ah Jin invited me to join their 3 days tour to Sungai Lembing, Pahang which is famous of enchanting view of sunrise sneaking up between the surrounding verdant hills.

Prior to the visit, I’ve had no idea about this place. I did some reading about this place and that assured me the visit was going to be informational, educational and exciting. Sungai Lembing is an old mining town, which once had the biggest tin mine on earth. This was 100 years ago during British colonial days, when Sungai Lembing was founded. During 80 years of mining activities it became the largest, longest and deepest underground tin mine in the world. The total tunnel length is 322 km, with a depth of between 610 m and 700 m.

The tin mine was discovered in 1888 by a London-based mining company. From 1891, the Pahang Consolidated Company Limited, (PCCL), which was under British control, had a 77-year lease to mine the area. PCCL managed the mine from 1906 until its liquidation in 1986 when world tin prices collapsed.

A museum highlighting the tin mining industry was opened in 2003. The museum is housed in an old bungalow once used by the mine manager. The museum houses a collection of mining artifacts. We did not have the time to make a visit to museum or the tunnel. That leaves me incompleteness about this trip.

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The series of old photos below was reproduced from the precious collection of an old resident. While wandering in the town alone, I happened to casually chat with him. He was generous enough to retrive from his archives and shared with me the past beauty of Sungai Lembing. He talked about those glorious days the town was enjoying and the declining days the town is facing. These undated photos are believed to be taken during the 1920s and 1930s.

The image of the Sungai Lembing town. There was once lived 15,000 tin mine workers. At that time when most parts of the country depended on wells and kerosene lamps, folks here enjoyed free electricity and piped water.

Workers and train

Bombs were used in the mining industry

Supporting sturcture using wood frame

The lift bringing the mine workers deep down the tunnel

Train transporting out the mine from the tunnel

The Evergreen

Yesterday was a day with new experience. Had the chance to “venture” in a vintage car! No safety belt, no roof cover, I felt that I was too exposed to any possible vulnerability. Nevertheless, the feeling was great and fun!!! Woke up as early as 7.30am (not my usual time for off days) and headed to Penang Sports Club where all the vintage cars gathered. We were the first car there, and then came David with his son, Xavier. Douglas arrived soon later. We met Mr & Mrs Alan at the restaurant where we had our little morning breakfast up in Tanjung Bungah. Woohoo! 4 cars ready to go! Sorry Marcus, it’s my mistake and you had to watch the cars passing by in front of your house. On the top of Teluk Bahang dam, with good weather I started my photography. Thanks Krish for all this arrangement!

Can see more of the pictures at http://desmundteh.multiply.com/photos

情人节 - Valentine's Special

昨晚跟朋友到Bagan Music Lounge, 两杯饮料杯和陶醉在Rozz 及Live Band 乐队的音乐里，就这样轻松地打发了一个情人节夕。

摄影database里没有玫瑰花的图片，从网上借来了这一张玫瑰盛开的照片，祝愿大家情人节快乐！！

情感上有缺口的 ~ 让时间去填满它。只要坚持信念， 你值得更好的。
没情人的 ~ 不要气馁， 单身也不是件坏事，而且单身的人多的是，You are not alone!
有情人的 ~ 要待感情忠诚，乐于为对方付出承诺，齐心为现实努力，为梦想打拼，共创美好前景！

豁达了

最近那种患得患失的心情一点都不好过。
应该的也说了，也做了。
我改变不了别人的思想，控制不了别人的意念。
只希望有天他会明白自己追求的是什么。
不要伤人也伤己就好,
而我也放手了。
Yaw 说：当做是擦身而过的缘分！
就算一个人，也可以绘画出美丽的人生

读你 - Reading On You

在天光云影读你的名字
在初春的浓绿中记起你的颜面
祝你生日快乐
新年快乐
情人节快乐！