Dengue Awareness Campaign; Colouring Competition

We attended a dengue awareness campaign in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan which doubled up as a colouring competition for students from two kindergartens in the area. Lauren entered the competition and was delighted to be selected as one of the winners; she came in 3rd place and won a prize!

Dengue fever is killing more people this year compared to 2013 and it's vital to understand the basic steps to preventing the spread of the disease and the aedes mosquitoes which carry it.

Lauren waiting for her prize

Lauren and her friend with their two teachers

Pasar Malam video walk-thru

Hope you'll enjoy this video I took at our local pasar malam (night market) in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. These markets are very popular in Malaysia and are alive with colour, sounds and smells:

Wall Window

A window in a long wall running around the perimeter of SK Bukit Sekilau, a primary school in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. Parts of the school can be seen through the window.

Photography is a very rewarding hobby. It develops a sharp eye and helps us notice the beauty and detail all around us. Even in seemingly ordinary things like a wall. At closer inspection there is something to be photographed :)

More photos of the mosquito extermination in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

Following from a recent post on the extermination of mosquitoes in my apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan where I explained the dangers of improper rubbish disposal and stagnant water, which lead to dengue fever, I'll share some more images of the fogging which took place.

Exterminating mosquitoes in Kuantan

There have been two very recent cases of dengue fever in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. This results from bites of infected mosquitoes. They like to breed in stagnant water, which is unfortunately quite common in blocked drains by the sides of the roads here. On occasion, people from Health and Safety have been to our home to check for any stagnant water on our balcony, in buckets in the bathroom, even in our toothbrush cup.

I can't over-emphasize the importance of eliminating all stagnant water in our homes and surroundings. At worst, dengue fever is a killer. In hospitals in Malaysia it is usually treated with a drip and believe it or not, by asking the infected person to drink plenty of 100plus, an isotonic drink!

This evening the health officers came with their mosquito exterminating guns and gas masks to fill the entire area with clouds of repellent. We all ran outside to watch and, in my case, take plenty of photos!

This is the best image I snapped, which I think best illustrates the issues of stagnant water, lack of proper rubbish disposal, and the scourge of dengue fever:

A health officer equipped with exterminator gun and gas mask sprays clouds of repellent around our apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan in response to two recent cases of dengue fever here.

Kuantan Skies #24

This is part 24 in a series of 26 photographs of the Kuantan Skies taken this year. All but 3 were taken from my window or balcony.

Kuantan Skies #24 - Sekilau hill traps pockets of mist as they float around in the wet weather

Kuantan Skies #14

This is part 14 in a series of 26 photographs of the Kuantan Skies taken this year. All but 3 were taken from my window or balcony.

Kuantan Skies #14 - Looking directly up to the cloud-patterned sky in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

MALAYSIA COVERED IN A BLANKET OF SUFFOCATING HAZE

It's haze time again in Malaysia and Singapore and Kuantan has been hit badly too. This time every year, fields are mass-burned in Indonesia in preparation for plantation. Unfortunately, the winds blow all the suffocating smoke our way.

The picture at the bottom centre of the above collage is how a normal day looks here. The other three pictures were all taken this morning. It's terrible. It stinks and it's suffocating. We are not going out today.

So much for the super moon tonight. And my poor flowers on the balcony have died.

Restaurant Dish Washer

This lady is a dish washer for this Chinese restaurant in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. Every day she sits on her small stall and washes dish after dish. She appears to be very happy. Do we sometimes get irritated when doing the same old things day after day, or do we appreciate the fact that we CAN do them?

Back Alley

A back alley in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. When I go running I glance down each back alley and notice cats hanging out. I gaze at the hill and admire the scenery. Though not as beautiful, the back alleys do provide perspective!

Bird Conference

On a recent rainy day in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan, I noticed these 27 birds having a conference together. I wonder what they were tweeting about?

The example of patience on Sekilau Hill

Every day I look out my window to a beautiful view of Sekilau Hill (Bukit Sekilau):

I wish I could be as patient as the trees on Sekilau Hill . . .

Come rain or shine they stand in their place and wait patiently . . .

They don't tremble when mists of uncertainty temporarily cover them . . 

They don't worry when the skies turn grey . . .

They also patiently admire the skies on better days . . .

They enjoy the sun when it shines upon them . . .

But they also quietly persevere when the monsoon rains descend . . .

I wish I could be as patient as the trees on Sekilau Hill

Kafe Kopi Aliff

Kafe Kopi Aliff, Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

Kafe Kopi Aliff is a brand new restaurant opened in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. It occupies a corner shoplot on Lorong Sekilau 22, just a 1-minute drive from The Zenith Hotel and East Coast Mall.

A view inside Kafe Kopi Aliff

We decided to test their food the other evening. We opted for their fish and chips, part of the Western food they serve. As you can see from the menus, there is a decent offering of food for such a small restaurant:

The boss and workers preparing our meals

Fidelia and Lauren waiting for their food

Kafe Kopi Aliff is open from 12 lunchtime to 12 midnight

Fish and chips at Kafe Kopi Aliff

I must admit I was a little nervous when presented with my food. The 'chips' were actually potato wedges and the fish came in smaller pieces as opposed to one long piece. But the RM8 dish actually tasted very nice, and the wedges were really sumptuous. Maybe there could have been  a little more wedges, but fortunately enough, the boss provided us with additional wedges on the house!

Another day we ordered the Chicken Chop for RM10, a very good price. My wife gave it a positively encouraging 8/10!

The friendly boss at Kafe Kopi Aliff gladly posed for a picture

The three workers at Kafe Kopi Aliff

We will most probably be visiting Kafe Kopi Aliff many more times in the future. It helps being just downstairs from our house!

If you are in the area, you should stop by and give Kafe Kopi Aliff a try. While you're there, you can also say hi to me!

April 2013: Unfortunately, this cafe is now closed and out of business