Reef Check in the News again...

Here's another article on last year's annual report.
Thank you Cheng Li from The Star.

Article taken from http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/3/25/lifefocus/20080324211249&sec=lifefocus

Schools in Redang and Perhentian

Let me start with the boring stuff - the schools where I will be running

some programmes later this year

SK P. Redang - The most modern facility/school among the 5 islands schools I've visited

SK P. Perhentian - quite a nice school by the sea

Now, the fun stuff!!

Redang, Here we come!!
Saras, Rine and myself - getting ready to fly on Berjaya Air
(Super Ex!!!)

Welcome to Pulau Redang!
Flying over the Marine Park Centre in Pulau Redang

Sunset at P. Redang!! Look at THAT!!
How not to be emo you tell me!!
Best sunset but "enjoying" it alone? not so enjoyable...


Love the sun, Love the moon, Love the stars, Love the clouds,
Love the sand, Love the sea... Love them all
emo max!!

Me and my lonely companion on the island...
two does fit in there comfortably...

Perhentian!! I DID NOT edit the photos!!

nice nice nice - speechless..adding to the emo-ness

My 2 days exercise in Perhentian - climbing up (forgot to count how many steps) steep and slanting steps to get to our house

So nice one their staff house - resort pun kalah...

I slept on the hammock the whole night up on the balcony of the house
me taking afternoon nap (actually I'm taking my own photo) - backache la sleep for whole night

And the 3 photographers...

Dean, myself and Rine - thanks for the photos!

Well, it has been a relaxing trip (not really considering the snorkelling, hiking and stairs climbing)
Penuh emo-ness and nightmares... but it's great to see the beauty of God through His creation again

WHERE Do You Want To Study?

Where would you prefer?

This?

Photo taken from http://www.sabah.edu.my/smk.putatan/gmbr_sekitar.html

Or THIS???

Scene in front of Sek Keb Pulau Tinggi


Scene approaching Sek Keb Pulau Tinggi


Scene behind Sek Keb Kg Tekek, Pulau Tioman


Scene near Sek Keb Kg Tekek, Pulau Tioman


I'd give everything to be studying in one of those schools!! Really? Will I?

Will I study in a school with only 3 blocks? 1 surau, 1 classrooms (4classrooms) and a canteen?
This is Sek Keb Pulau Sibu - 34 students altogether; 7 teachers, 4 classes
(Std 1&2 mix; Std 3; Std 4&5 mix; Std 6)

Will I study in a school with only 24 students, 4 teachers? YES, SCHOOL of 24 students...
NOT Standard, NOT Class, NOT morning session but the WHOLE school
This is Sek Keb Pulau Tinggi. Yes, the whole school is here...

Will I?
Don't know...but I will be there..

This year, I (Reef Check Malaysia), with Marine Parks Department of Malaysia,
and sponsorship from BP Malaysia and HSBC Bank of Malaysia will be conducting "Coral Reef Camps" on 5 Marine Parks Island Schools. Hope we will all have fun as we get closer to the environment and enjoy His wonderful creation...

International Year of the Reef Launch (continued)

Finally, it's officially LAUNCHED! The International Year of the Reef 2008 is launched in 1Utama today by Datuk Suboh.

En Rahim from Marine Parks Department giving an opening speech.


The place looks "crowded" with people for the launch event.

Kids and "kids" colouring canvas mural based on the IYOR theme;
OUR Reefs, Our Heritage, OUR Responsibility

Little children taking part in colouring activity with some parents joining in.

Aida, the Turtle from the Marine Turtle Conservation Group from Taylors College - Mass Comm final year students; support their (students and Prof Chan Eng Heng) efforts to get people to pledge not to eat turtle eggs here.

Melissa and Dian - the turtle gals...

International Year Of The Reef Photo Exhibition

Hey, Hey,
There's going to be a photo exhibition about coral reefs
in 1 Utama from 20th -24th Feb (it is happening NOW)

It's at Ground floor on the New Wing..see ya...

Reef Report

After 9 months,

After going to 4 islands,
After going exploring 21 sites,
And after 33 surveys,
Reef Check Malaysia releases its 2007 Annual Survey Report!
Read about it here.

sorry guys..can't upload the photo of the article in paper. colour goes wrong. not sure why..

Malaysia - Nation Blessed by God

Where coral reefs are found....

Photo Source: JEN Veron & Mary Stafford-Smith. Corals of the World (AIMS 2000)

As you can see from the picture, coral reefs are spread across the tropical region, where most the most diversity of corals are nearer to the tropical. This is because corals have a limited temperature range where it thrive (25 -30 °C).

How blessed is Malaysia?

Photo Source: Unknown - Dr. Ridzwan (UMS)

This area is known as the 'Coral Triangle', an area recognised with the most diversity of marine life. Look at where the Borneo island is - right in the area with most diversity of corals. This is how BLESSED Malaysia is.

Thought: This post started because of what ML said - Malaysia is so BLESSED! Indeed, we are. Found in one of the area with most diversity, Malaysia has so many beautiful creatures living within it. It is a showcase of God's creativity and work of art as He created all these.

About Reef Check

I'm working with Reef Check Malaysia. I don't have a video of our own YET but i think this video will give an overall view of why I'm doing what I'm doing and why the coral reefs need us. ENJOY...

Video Credits to Reef Check Australia

Wreck Diving in Lahad Datu

After being certified a diver for more than half a year, I've traveled and dived at a few places. Most of my dives are part of my work for Reef Check Malaysia, which involves a lot of training. These are some of the photos I've taken during one of my dives in Lahad Datu. I've got limited photos as I'm trying to use photos taken by me, so that there'll be no copyright issues. :) So, without an underwater camera, I don't have much to show.

One of my first few underwater shots and I absolutely LOVE it! (except for the bubbles that spoils it). This soft coral is growing on the side of the ship during one of the dives in Lahad Datu.

This soft and slimy little thing is actually a HARD coral. It's a mushroom coral! This is how it looks when the tentacles are out feeding...

And it will look something like this when the tentacles go back inside...


Another amazing creature; Ascidians - usually in nice bright colours!!

This, I think is a bubble coral and SURPRISE, it is also HARD coral, as it has a hard skeleton like the mushroom coral. (do correct me if I'm wrong :p)

This is a nudibranch, or commonly know as a sea-slug. This is only one of the thousands of species of nudibranch. A whole variety of colours, patterns and shapes can be found!!

In case you wondered what those are, let me tell you. ALL of the above are ANIMALS!! Not plants, not rocks, but animals. Interesting? Well, there's a whole lot more of weird and exciting stuff down there! So, get on learning how to dive and go see the underwater paradise for yourselves...

Thought: Whenever I look at these creatures; how they move; how they eat and how colourful, weird or funny they may look, I'm reminded of how GREAT my God is. Thank You God for giving me the opportunity to see His creation in the depths of the sea..