I'm in the process of updating my diary that has been neglected for more than six months now. So much to write for a week worth of lifetime. I really like to blog part of it too, especially about how I in a party of six (or seven) tried to save a few terrapin eggs by hopelessly trying to ward off rising river water level by building a small sand dam. And of course, the eventual evacuation out of Dungun. If I remembered correct, I did make two of the most memorable quotes I had ever uttered in my life. I really want to share that but just not yet.

For now, this is one of the better photos that I managed while I was in Kuala Terengganu (tag).



A small lighthouse by the South China Sea, near the mouth of the river. I'm quite lucky to catch the structure against a blue sky. Despite the appearance of a sunny day, it was a pretty bad day; the clouds threatened to wreck havoc just as it had when I was in Pasir Kumpal.

It is quite worrying to find out that when I left Pasir Kumpal behind, the worst hadn't past yet. Flood hit the northeastern states again, especially Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, immediately after I left for Kuala Lumpur on the 13th. From the look of it, the flood has yet to recede.

At the same time, Kenyir Dam was overflowing. When Kenyir Dam is unable to cope with a situation, it's not a laughing matter. I'm not sure though if Dungun River is connected to the Dam. But I know Terengganu River is.

After witnessing the flood in the northeastern states first hand, I'm convinced that the Ninth Malaysian Plan must concentrate on drainage and irrigation system. It happens every year in the north and that means we're not doing enough to adapt to Malaysian tropical rainfall. Forget about funding moral police. Moral police doesn't save lives. Drainage and irrigation projects do.

And, ehem, there was a strong storm with torrential downpour here in Kuala Lumpur just this evening. I'm sure glad the rate of surviving a storm in Kuala Lumpur is higher than Dungun's.