You-Want's Life

Underprivileged children’s education has been an active discussion at my dining table for years now. Throughout my schooling years, I hardly truly learnt the true definitions of being underprivileged. My family was not rich, but at the very least my parents knew the importance of education and had ensured that we prioritise our studies throughout our schooling years. This itself, is a privilege not every child in my country has. A very horizon-expanding trip for me took place back in 2017. I took a flight to Sabah, one of the less developed states in Malaysia, and entered the rural areas with some other volunteers. That was the first time I learned about an actual challenge faced by most children there- familial commitments are often prioritised over education. Most families there farm for a living. To some, children are an additional manpower for the profit they can make, in order to put food on the table. Learning that the lack of awareness of education being a long-term key to escap...

Did you know, even when sea turtle eggs are successfully incubated, it is estimated that only 1 out of 1000 babies would survive till adulthood?  My recent site visit to Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery, Terengganu has opened my eyes to the fragility of sea turtles' survival. Sea turtle eggs are exposed to dangers of being poached by humans, hunted by monitor lizards, infested by fungi and maggots; when they hatch, babies might be attacked by predators such as foxes, crabs and sea birds on their way to the sea. Even when they reach the ocean, carnivorous fish and sea birds remain huge threats.  When my group was handed baby sea turtles to release, we got to let them race. I named mine 'Gomenasai', the Japanese word for 'Sorry', as an apology on behalf of humans to their kind. It's been way too long since humans started poaching sea turtle eggs and destroying their habitats and nesting grounds with pollution as well as coastal development. We were told that the best ...

This is a short photo blog on my recent trip to Kuala Terengganu. While I did not manage to visit many touristy places, I still do have some photos to share with you! ;) The new Kuala Terengganu Draw Bridge. Scenic view from Panorama Restaurant , which is located on a hill top.  Chinatown in Kuala Terengganu. There are 7 beautifully decorated alleys here. Turtle Alley is one of them! They are mostly decorated with murals, wall art and props. I had Spicy Butter Chicken Spaghetti at the Hidden Cafe in Chinatown. By, Euan Thum.

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 3: Into A Mangrove Swamp! The fourth day of our trip started off early as well. Charisma Movement 's Environmental Project Director, Bella, led the way in Kuala Terengganu as we went to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) to pick up SEATRU staffs, Syam and Akil. They were to accompany us on our trip to Chagar Hutang Turtle Hatchery on Redang Island that day. University Malaysia Terengganu is well-known for its Marine Biology course, Chagar Hutang's beach is in fact was gazetted by the Terengganu state to conserve the turtles. At the same time, Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) was given the authority to work on the research and education purposes too. It took us a 45-minute boat ride to arrive at Chagar Hutang from a jetty near Marang.    As we were dropped off at the beach, all we could notice was the pollution-free water and clean beach with poles sticking out everywhere. We then learned that they were markings of sea turtle nests...

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 2 Part 2/2: Releasing Baby Sea Turtles We left Kemaman early in the morning, with our bags packed, as we head to Kerteh. We were going to spend the next two nights in Kuala Terengganu, which is the state capital of Terengganu.    Similar to the past two days, the representatives from Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) led the way as they were facilitating our Wildlife Conservation Project by Charisma Movement . We drove past Petronas (Oil & Gas price leader in the region!) buildings- research centres and probably facilities that process petroleum harvested from their off-shore platforms. Terengganu is located in the East Coast of West Malaysia, by the South China Sea where many oil drilling rigs are built. We were excited to check out our next destination, EcoCare Centre Kerteh , as we were promised a series of activities revolving around mangroves.   We started off with breakfast at the centre as we arrived ...

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 2 Part 1: Seeing Sea Turtles For The First Time   It was our second day on the East Coast of Malaysia! We spent our morning in Cherating, Pahang, learning much about sea turtles- a graceful yet highly endangered marine creature. The representatives of Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) , who had collaborated with Charisma Movement in facilitating our Wildlife Conservation Project, brought us to Rimbun Dahan Turtle Sanctuary after a scrumptious local lunch. Throughout our trip, our meals were arranged by TCS- we got to try some special delicacies from the East Coast including Terengganu's special  Nasi Dagang  (steamed glutinous rice served with fish curry),  keropok lekor  (fried fish cakes), fermented fish sauce and many more.     Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery is popular locally for its long-term commitment in turtle conservation work. Siblings Along and Alang now manage the centre with the h...

Read previous episode:  WCP by CM Day 1: Learning About River Terrapins After a long yet interesting first day of terrapin-related activities, we looked forward to the next day. We couldn't wait to see how this page would unfold. Similar to our first day, the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) was in charge of our mission that day as a part their collaboration with Charisma Movement on our Wildlife Conservation Project.   Our day started with breakfast at Hai Peng Kopitiam, a Chinese coffeeshop that serves Halal food. It was a heart-warming sight to see all races in Malaysia enjoying food at the same location, where various types of food regardless of their racial origins were served. It reminded me that Malaysia truly is a mixing bowl of beautiful cultures and traditions.   We took off to Cherating, Pahang, one of the most well-known beaches known for its mesmerising coastline and white fine sand. We did a little running along the beach, took photos and dipped...

We put on our smiles and got   on the road.    This is my third time in Terengganu, the Malaysian state famous for its coastal landscape which hosts turtle nesting areas. I have always liked being in Terengganu as it offers a completely different vibe as what other states offer. This could be a stereotypical perspective, having lived in Malaysia for more than two decades, it has become natural to associate Terengganu with beaches, turtles and keropok (fried fish cakes)- however, don't get me wrong, this place surely has a lot more to offer. Returning here this time feels differently, as I am here for a mission, having participated in a wildlife conservation project hosted by Charisma Movement.   For the past one month, I was heavily involved in a fundraising campaign for this project alongside Charisma Movement's Environmental Project Director, Bella, and 8 other committed volunteers. Being part of the Marketing team, I was happily designing posters and other promo...