Kurauking's Journal

View Of Port Klang From The Sea(Part One)

View Of Port Klang From The Sea(Part Two)

During a slight lull, one by one, covering our gears; we rushed to the restaurant like wet ducks out of the rain. The few patrons in the restaurant eyed us curiously with our large hats, sunburned faces, kangaroo pouches, cameras and tripods covered in plastic shopping bags and silly grins on our faces. We were not unlike any aliens they have seen. But the smart lady owner welcome us with open arms, customers on a slow rainy day – God given. We chose a table closest to the river but just beyond the wet reaches of the embracing rain. Ordered hot food and Chinese tea and settled down for a test of patience with the rain.

We took pictures of anything of interests to us. “Capturing the moment” is our motto. Not exactly “Carpe Diem” (seize the moment) but close enough. Here is Kurau making love to the teapot. Our photography philosophy is not exactly quantity over quality but knows that moments are fleeting and once passed is lost forever. That precise moment when something interesting happens have to be captured at that precise moment. So being fast to recognize ‘moments’ and fast on the trigger are more important than perfect shots for us “moment photographer”. The choice is clear for us between a not so well taken shot and no shot… Now in the ‘safety’ of restaurant, we can relax and take some more photos. Some of these photos are ‘moment photos’ and some are ‘leisure photos’. See if you can spot the difference. To make matters a bit more complex, some are mixture of both…

Rain water dripping from the roof like a curtain. Rain from the sky like a veil. And a lone bird flying home. Kind of surprising to see it out in such a rain.

I never tires of taking the fishing village in the rain. Each shot seemed so different from the next.

A sampan parked next to the restaurant.

Our hot food came. Fried rice and Pulau Ketam fish balls soup. They were just absolutely delicious. Our hunger and the cold air made each mouthful a delight. Weather has a lot to do with our appreciation of food. Those who have a coke after a hot badminton game will know how different it taste. The best coffee I’ve tasted are the coffee I had after coming in from the snow. When the hot liquid cruised down your throat and warmed your body, the aroma never more fragrant or the taste richer… We savored our food slowly for we had all the time in the world. In this mood, we reasoned if our trip is disrupted today, we can always go another day so relax…

Over in the village, a fisherman in yellow rain coat came out to do something with his boat. I’m really curious why they do that in the rain. It interests me that this fisherman wore a rain coat but with the front unbuttoned. In this rain, that almost offer no protection and he will be wet anyway. It is also difficult to work in that raincoat.

The water was really gushing down this gutter.

It splashed into the river below and formed an eddy which was mesmerizing to watch.

The rain lightened. The water from the gutter now a more gentle stream. I watched as a leaf got drawn in into the eddy traveling into the circle moving round and round each time drawing closer to the center… Soon the rain will stop and we may yet make the remainder of the journey albeit in fading lights.

The rain finally stopped. After the continuous din, there was a new quietness. The air was crisp and clean and in spite of the approaching dusk, a sharpness to the views.

Everything were wet but no longer drenched.

Though dark clouds still hanged low, rays of light were also breaking through clearly visible against the dark background.

We paid our bills and stepped out of the restaurant ready to begin our new journey. With the rain stopped, these fishermen could once again repair their boat. The older man showing the young man the trick of the trade. Wonder if they were father and son.

We got in our boat. I took the cut off bottom of the 1 litre mineral water bottle and scooped water out of the boat as Kurau guided the boat to head for open sea again. We drove towards the railway bridge.

These fishing fans did not let the rain deter them. With the rain gone, they could come out of their shelters from which they had continued fishing and now fished in the open. They greeted us as our boat neared the bridge again.

One of the “tahan lasak” fishing kaki coolly watched us. I salute these guys who are made of stern stuff.

We passed under the bridge and into open sea. Among the dense swirling dark clouds, a ray of light had punched through lighting up a specific spot in the sea. Kind of dramatic. I urged Kurau to move there. If we can get under, we may become enlightened.

Our boat headed for the spot of light. “Father, forgive us for all our sins for we have seen the light.” Then we remembered, wrong religion.

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Listening and Languages
Each year, lots of men I know cringe with the approach of Valentine’s Day. They wonder just what it is that will make the day special for their partners and how they can best communicate love. And we all know that the wrong thing given to a sweetheart can be worse than giving nothing at all.

Commit to Listen
There is nothing that communicates love than a willingness to listen to your partner. Someone mentioned that women in general have a built-in need to communicate about three times as much as men in general. There are certainly exceptions to this rule, but I believe the general trend is true. Giving your partner quality listening time, and then really listening to her with a goal of understanding, is a much appreciated gift.

Figure Out Her “Love Language”
The premise of Dr. Chapman’s book (The Five Love Languages) is that we all receive love in different ways. The way we receive love best is called our “love language.” Dr. Chapman identifies five basic love languages:

* sharing quality time
* physical touch
* expressing words of affirmation
* giving and receiving gifts and
* performing acts of service

To help figure out your partner’s love language, you can read the book, ask her about it, or watch for signs. This could be a great Valentine’s Day or pre-Valentine’s Day experience for your partner and you.

Pamper Her
Most of our wives and girlfriends appreciate a chance to be pampered a little. Here are a few ideas about thing you can do for Valentine’s Day to pamper your partner.

Give her a day at a Day Spa. Offer to take a off day and stay home with the kids so she can enjoy a day spa visit-your treat. At a day spa, she can just be pampered all she wants-a little time in the hot tub, a massage, a little rejuvenation.

Plan a little romantic getaway. There are so many resorts today, and they offer a real opportunity for a little pampering.

Find her favorite fragrance. If you know your partner’s favorite perfume and it’s one you like as well, this can be great gift.

Memorialize Memories
A memorable Valentine’s Day gift can be one that recalls favorite memories from your partner’s past or from your history as lovers. Consider:

Fill a Memory Tin. This one takes a little thought and planning, but is sure to please. Think back about the fun times and memories you have shared together and write a little line about each one. For example, “Getting caught making out at the park,” or “When you first told me you were pregnant.” Then fold them up and put them in a little heart shaped tin you can find at a variety store this time of year. She will have a ton of fun remembering the good times with you!

Mementos in a Box. Does your partner have a dresser drawer full of souvenirs or mementos? Things like concert ticket stubs, matchbooks, restaurant napkins, etc. from your life together sometimes find their way into boxes or drawers. Consider taking a few of the meaningful ones and head down to the local framing shop to have them put in a memory box. Or you might take one or two special ones and have them encased in lucite at a local trophy shop. These can again make fun and memorable Valentine’s Gifts.

The best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to give your partner the gift she would appreciate, not the one you think she should have. Focus on her and not you-and this Valentine’s Day will be the best ever.

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By Ah Girl

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View Of Port Klang From The Sea(Part One)

The Rain came pouring down…

We didn’t even make it to the restaurant as the rain was really dumping their load on us. We took temporary shelter in a hut where we moored our boat to wait for the tears from heaven to ease. The captain of course has to be the last one off the boat so he absorbed a bit more moisture than us.

Looked at the water to see how heavy the rain was. We could afford to laugh now safely under the little hut. I love the atmosphere surrounded by the rain, cooled by moisture laden sea breeze. Sitting on a table looking out at the sea, chatting with friends – what more do one need? Except maybe a cup of hot coffee?

The Perlama restaurant – so near yet so far. But it is all right. It is comfy enough where we are. We may changed our tune when our stomach got a bit hungry but we can wait if heaven don’t cry too long.

The rain continues… and it was a pleasure just hanging back taking it all leisurely in. Kurau’s boat is taking in water. We will have to scoop it all out later.

Dusk is approaching. See the big droplets of water dripping down from the roof. The scene hazy and romantic. Maybe I should have asked Kurauking to compose a poem.

This fisherman took his boat out in the rain. I’m not sure why when the rains came, fisherman will take out their boat for a spin. To wash it? But it could do just as well where they sit. When one travel, one comes across many mysteries like this (to us who are uninitiated). We wish we know more but often there is no one to explain. But even if we don’t know, there is nothing to stop us from enjoying and appreciating the simple beauty of life.

Caught in a little hut by the river while rain is hammering down is – not boring. In fact, it was quite pleasant. The world took on a hazy bleary look as if cloud has descended down on earth. Like a veiled lady, what is left to a little imagination is even beautiful. It felt different as the cool damp wind brushes against our slightly wet body. It smelt different as the salty sea breeze is diluted by the clear water dumping down on us. It reminded me of the old days when in the bar we ordered “sky juice” instead of water. In a macho world, it was a less feminine term I guess. Or was it more romantic to impress the ladies that we have some intellect when we have none. The best time for reflections is a rainy day. But getting back to the story – in spite of the rain, there were much activities going on. You have just seen a couple of fishermen taking their boats out in the rain. Here are more scenes, not everyone runs indoor to hide when the sky opens up.

I could sit here and look at the river, rain for a long, long time.

The fishing village at high time.

It will take more than rain to deter the fishing enthusiasts huddling on the bridge on under it.

If you look carefully, you can see the fishing kakis squatting on the pillars supporting the railway bridge. They must be soaked to the skin. They must also be enjoying the rain. It would be impossible to explain the pleasure to those who don’t immediately understand. Only way is to drag them into the rain and left them in an open field to remind them that once when they were a kid, they too enjoyed the rain. What makes it different now they are adult? I won’t mind being the fishermen under the bridge.

A heavy rain doesn’t last forever. A light drizzle can last what seems to be an eternity. That is why the Hokkien called it the “Hou Lam Hor” or “crying rain”. As the rain lightens but still heavy, the earth took on a new clean appearance.

The lyrics of this song played in my mind “I can see clearly now that the rain in gone”. It has not exactly ‘gone’ as it will take a while yet but I could see already.

This is an interesting scene. Fishing under umbrella under bridge in the rain.

Contrary to what some believes, the world did not go to sleep when it rains. As what this guy is doing -”Row, row, row his boat. Gently in the rain. Merrily, merrily, life is but a dream”. What different dreams we all have. His is to fish in the rain.

While his mates scooped out the water before his boat took in too much water.

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