Week of Friends and Kids....

with Legal Aid Centre volunteers and Executive office at an appreciation Hi-tea for volunteers of the LAC.

LAC is a wing of Pahang Bar Committee that gives out free legal counsel and representation to people who can't afford to pay lawyers. LAC also organises talks and dissemination of information regarding the legal rights which we call the outreach programme. These are usually held at the Orang Asli villages, Feldas and small villages where legal representation does not normally reach.

with Legal Aid Center chairman, Azni....

So, we, the volunteers, either are assigned files to handle (on pro bono basis) or assigned to give talks to create legal awareness in the community. And, once a year, the Legal Aid Centre will throw us a makan-makan to show their appreciation in our volunteerism. Not that we demand for it, but it is nice to gather and meet up with like minded people and chit-chat over a bowl of curry mee and a mug of coffee.....

the other volunteeers, QutaQ, Shidah and Kak Am.....

On Thursday nite, we drove down to Cherating for a firefly watching session. Yes, some of you regular readers would surely say "haven't you watched them fireflies sooooo mant times before and posted it in this repetitive blog of yours?" Yeahhh, what can I say? I can never get enough of those beautiful fireflies. Never. Plus, this time, I brought along many newcomers to the the world of fireflies watching. Cik Ros and her two kids, my two nephew and nieces and Dr. Anna, a member of MNS Pahang.

look for this signboard if you are in Cherating and feel like a spot of fireflies watching!

Hafiz, the boatman, is a member of MNS Pahang and an avid lover of the fireflies on Cherating river. He really takes the effort to study them, their lifespan, theit habitat and habits too. He gives a very informative briefing before we got onto boats to go sight the fireflies.

Hafiz here with the briefing he gives before the fireflies sighting...

last point where you can take pics. After this, no picture taking is allowed as the flash from the camera contributes to light pollution that disrupts the fireflies habitat.

a pic with Hafiz, Prof Maketab our MNS President and Pak Su, the turtle conservationist......

The next day, we had a MNS volunteer appreciation dinner at New Mexica Garden. This dinner is a token of thank you to all the MNS Pahang volunteers who helped out in two major projects, namely the Tree Planting at Tg. Api Esplanade and the Trail Restoration Programme at Taman Teruntum. We were lucky that Prof Maketab was kind enough to join us and as usual, in his own words"touch base" with branch members.

It was also Aaleema's birthday that nite. So, it was kinda like double celebration. We had a cake for her, that we stabbed before eating (yes, we are brutal and vicious kinda people )

the cake had not a chance against three Amazonians..... hehehe!

these are the volunteers that makes MNS Pahang a dynamic one. Thank you people, I am so proud of all of you!

Okay, enough about dinners, hi-tea and food erkkkk? 

Took the kids to Zoo Kemaman. Its the holidays, but I have had not time to take them anywhere yet. What with me not having an assistant or chambie in the office, with house moving, house renovations and all, I admit I've not been organising much activity for the kids.

So, Tuesday morning saw me and Cik Ros and kiddos driving to Kemaman. Had our brunch at Hai Peng Kopitiam at Chukai town, before proceeding to the zoo.

It is situated on the way to Kg. Yakyah (another beautiful place to sight fireflies, if you are a nature lover). It is one of the zoos where animals there live in a near to nature kinda environment (read: not on cemented floors in cages).

this is the zoo's layout plan. Situated just inside the entrance....

these are the excited and happy faces of the kiddos....

the girls, being girls simply love to pose. While boys are more camera shy, I presume....

Lots of animals there. I noticed that, the animals here look healthier and less depressed compared with those at Zoo Negara. But dun take my word for it, go see for yourself! The whole premise is well kept, clean and most important f all, does not smell of feces! I would say that this is a very well maintained zoo.

sunbathing....

afternoon siesta at the lion's den....

while next door, the tigers were socialising...

they do look healthy kan ? Shiny fur and sinewy body....

young elephants....

playful bear...

and the girls, again.....

So there goes last week. Fast and furious, like those cars. Hope next week will be slower. I'm getting old. Past paced life is simply too exhausting for me....

Till then, have a great weekend and Merry Christmas (I hope Hassan Ali will not accuse me of proletylising Muslims to become Christians!)

Santa Cat is soooo cute kannnn?