GLOBETROTTING

"Travel as much as you can, as far as you can, for as long as you can. Life is not meant to be lived in one place."

This quote means so much to us because we couldn't imagine living our life without getting out there to experience our amazing world.

                            - Vicki from Make Time to See the World

SOURCE OF HAPPINIES

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There's going to be stress in life, but it's your choice whether you let it affect you or not.

 Valerie Bertinelli

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

TODAY'S YOUTH IS NOT SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

Have you wanted to slap a young person in the back of the head for being unaware about not only his or her surroundings, but also about the entire world? Many times while I was travelling by train, I saw a young man or a young woman playing with their cellphone who sits quietly on a chair reserved for the elderly while an old lady is standing beside them. I have seen other instances in various other locations all over the country. It is undeniable. Young people, the youth of today, have no idea how to be socially responsible.

There are many reasons why this is the case today. Firstly, young people are not taught to be respectful of their elders. The youth today do not respect their elders as the older generation were taught. There are many cases of bad discipline in schools and in universities in the 2010s compare to an earlier time, for example before 1999. For example, there are cases where parents attack the teacher if the teacher scolds their children. When these children grow into young adults, they would have little respect for their elders because of this.

Secondly, young people are always looking at their cellphones. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, cellular phones were either non-existent or very rare. In those days, everyone talked to each other. They socialised with each other. They knew each others' cause of happiness and sadness. With this they could communicate and socialise better with their family and friends. Even at the dinner table, the youth of today are ignoring their parents and 
only looking at their phones. This is also a reason why their social skills suffer.
Finally, young people do not even know what activities or programmes they could join to help their community in being more socially responsible. They would only stay at home to play with their phones or hang out on the internet. They only want to gossip at social media websites or learn about their favourite celebrities. If you asked them to list out any socially responsible activities and methods to help these programmes, they would have no idea.

To sum up, the youth of today are not socially responsible because of many reasons, not the least of all, lack of respect for their elders, overuse of cellphones and unaware of any community social responsibility activities. If we do not change how our young adults think and work, how will we as a country grow and advance to greater heights?

ARTS AND CULTURE

WAU

Wau game is one of the traditional games of the Malays since hundreds of years ago. The game contains elements of authentic Malay culture. This can be seen in the form of patterns and designs available on the wau. The word "wau" is said to derive from the word Thailand as the state of Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah use the word. Word kite is used in many states in the West and South Coast of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor. This can be proved by Tun Seri Lanang note stating that Raja Ahmad flying a kite together young men and royal family, and was not called playing wau. In addition, the appearance of the name is also associated wau resulting sound of a tied bow wau. When raised into the air, the leaves ibus installed on the bow will produce a sound "wau", "wau", "wau" is rhythmic.

This game is one of the hobby population in rural areas, especially for the states in the North West of Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan. Kite game has become a tradition of the game after the harvest. They play wau to relieve tired after working in the fields. They also feel happy while playing and see each other up there in some places, and their district will hold an annual festival and the most beautiful kite competition between districts.

Artisans skilled wau has its own way of measuring and weighing when whittle bamboo wau frame. Tips that would be obtained from the elders, but the actual ability is gained through experience. 

HISTORY WAU MALAYSIA

Wau game arrival in Malaysia is uncertain validity date and origin. However, according to historian Clive Hart, a kite in Malaysia comes from China. This is because the design and character have in common with traditional kites from China.

Kite in the past using a wide tree leaves. Possibility of evolution kite in Malaysia have also absorb cultural elements from China.

TYPES OF WAU TRADITION

In Malaysia, there are many types of Wau tradition. Three types of kites lifted as National Traditional Wau is Wau Bulan, Wau Kucing and Wau Jala Budi.

KITES

Partly due to the specific location of facing the South China Sea which brings to this land wind that can make a kite fly as high as one wishes, flying a kite in the clear blue sky was once played by farmers on leveled ground after post-harvesting season, but it now attracts people from all walks of life. Over the years, kite festivals have encouraged creativity in kite-making, thus resulting in kites that are designed in the shape of a fish, cat, caterpillar, and bird but the famous huge moon-kite (wau bulan) remains as popular as it was years ago.

 This is a game that tests the skills and efficiency of the player in making and flying the kite. Usually played by male adults, there is no fixed number of players. In fact, the more players the merrier. Played in open areas, this game requires a kite and long strings or yarn.

The game can also be played as a competition to choose the highest flying kite,  the most skillful player in flying the kite, the kite that makes the best melodious sound, the most colourful kite, the kite with the most beautiful drawing and the kite that flies in the straightest manner 

How to Make a Kite

Materials for Making a Kite

• A full sheet of newspaper
• Two 1/4 inch round wooden dowels (one 24 inches, one 20 inches)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• String
• Masking tape or packing tape
• Ruler or yardstick
• Yarn and/or ribbons
• Little handsaw 

Directions for Making a Kite

1. Start by cutting your wooden dowels to the correct lengths- 24 inches and 20 inches. (The kids helped me measure the dowels with a yardstick, and I cut them myself with the saw.)

2. Use your handsaw to make notches in both ends of your two wooden dowels. (For safety reasons, I did this myself.)

3. Lay the 24 inch dowel vertical and measure 6 inches from the top. Mark it with a pencil. Place the smaller dowel across this mark to form a ‘t’ shape. Use your string to wrap the dowels together where they meet. Pay attention to the notches at the end of each dowel. You’ll want them all parallel to the floor your sticks are on so that you can later wrap string around the frame.

Place some masking tape over the string to secure your dowels

4. Wrap string all the way around the kite, making sure it goes right into the notches

Now that your frame is done, it’s time to add your newspaper. (You can also use a plastic trash bag.)

5. Place a large sheet of newspaper on the floor. Place your frame on top of it. Cut about one inch outside the frame to make your newspaper the same shape.

 6. Fold the edges of the newspaper over the string and tape them down securely.

7. Cut a piece of string 24 inches long. Poke holes into the top and bottom points of the kite. Tie one end of the string into the top hole and one end into the bottom hole. (Use some tape to keep it secure.) This is the brindle of your kite. Tie your flying string to this brindle string to fly your kite. (We started by tying the string about 1/3 of the way down the brindle and adjusted it as we flew our kite.)

Here you can see the brindle string running along to the top edge of the dowel rod. It’s been tied and taped down. (The other string along the bottom was just an extension of when I wrapped the string around the frame. It’s not necessary at all.)

GASING

Giant top spinning is no child’s game! Each gasing or top weighs approximately 5kg and the wooden tops are as big as the size of a dinner plate. It calls for strength, coordination, and skill. The gasing, if expertly hurled, can spin for as long as 2 hours. Top spinning competitions are an annual feature in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia especially Kelantan and Terengganu.

Dungeons & Dragons

A long time ago in a village far, far away… 
There was having a fiesta of Art and Culture in The Village of Glamour that were well run by the human. There were traditional games such as wau, kites, and top spinning. The fiesta has attracted the outdoor villages to visit and cause the feast festive lively. One day the wizard which is known as Dark Kucing was warns the human of The Glamor Village that he will come to destroy the festival because he doesn’t like tradition. He has a bad history about tradition culture because his has lost his pride during the fiesta.

When the full moon rise during the season he will destroy the fiesta.

Dramatist Personae: 
Dark Vader (The Human Druid) 
Fly Fire (Dragonborn Sorcerer) 
Valkyrie (The Human Fighter) 
Kreacher (Elf Wizard) 

The Giant Porcupine 
The Old Man 
An Ogre 
The Wizard – Dark Kucing

        

     

The story began at the village of Glamour. The village is filled with the peaceful inhabitants of a normal human being. The village area is quite strategic because around the area has many beautiful places. Unfortunately, the porcupine jungle located next to the village has many weird animals (monsters) and their abnormal sizes like ordinary animals. The village have a great comrades which are Darth Vader as a leader and their comrades Fly Fire, Kreacher, and Valkyrie. They take care of every angle of the village to keep the village safe and secure.

Two day before the full moon rise, parts of the Wau, Kites and Spinning top played during the fiesta were damaged. This has led to confusion and at the same time has caused the villagers’ grief. Villagers cannot continue this fiesta in the event of further damage. Because of that, it caused the Darth Vader to go down to see what happened. The comrade was investigating the area and was found died body of cat and an abandoned letter that had been written on paper, it said “We will destroy all the ridiculous art and culture things if you are stubborn and continue the festival!”.

In the evening, at the Slim River, there were conversation between Valkyrie, Fly Fire and Kreacher while they were chatting to each other suddenly they stopped when Darth Vader came. They remain silent until Dark Vader point out his thought about the Dark Kucing (the wizard) because of the obvious evidence that note and died body of cat.  Till the midnight, they altogether discussion to think out a solution to overcome the problems.

The next day, the four of them were dressed in complete armor with iron armor and combat weapons to fight. Darth Vader called all of the fighters to gather before they enter the jungle with full of incredible untold creatures.

In the dark dawn of the morning, the adventures begin with the first step taken by the leader, Darth Vader bringing all the warriors into the jungle. After several hour walking, suddenly, Valkyrie heard a water river flow heavily. Even though she feels bad feeling, she calmly told her team and asked whether they heard the same thing but they did not. Fly Fire choose to go flying higher and captured a big ditch with a torrents silver shining water flows a few distances away from them. 

Valkyrie almost shouts when she saw a fallen brittle trunk across the ditch. This shows that there is something big that has passed this area. She quickly told her leader. Then, Darth Vader asked all the Warriors to cross the bridge straight away carefully since the silver water increases. Fly Fire and Kreacher have got the problem when across the hot water and sweating heavily. Valkyrie managed to cross the bridge as well and they walk sequentially one by one. She think that Darth Vader will be at her back but not what she expected. With the full vapour of the hot silver water blurring their vision, they were still waiting for their leader.  After a few minutes, Darth Vader shouted from the middle of the trunk. Kreacher quickly ran through the trunk and pull him out from the ditch area when he heard the screams. They altogether safe and continues their journey.

Traveling in the distant jungles has tired them. They decided to take a break for a while. The leader told them to rest under a huge shady tree at the middle of the jungle. Everything was fine until Valkyrie was shocked by the broken branches sound like something was walking in the jungle near with her. After that, she turned towards that sound and her big eyes saw an ugly spiky creatures behind sleeping Fly Fire, a few steps far from her. Then, one of the comrades screamed loudly beside her. Yes, it was Kreacher! 

The situation turns wild when the porcupine roars”ughhh! arghhhh!!”. That roar has shaken a jungle. Kreacher immediately hides behind the bushes. Valkyrie get up and cover herself behind a big rock. Darth Vader use his spell to transformed become animal to hide. 

After that, the giant porcupine rise and aggressively want to attack Fly Fire. With the expertise available Fly Fire cough harsh and loudly fire a violet flame directly to the monster that causes the trees around explode. The smoke blurred the vision of the creatures. The porcupine get hit from that attack. Then, Fly Fire quickly turns around and throw the hidden magical darts towards the monster. However, the creatures was still mad and turns insane under the soreness that he felt. The porcupine groaned and uses a spike on the body to shoot the Fly Fire. The shot was right on the shoulders Fly Fire and push them away on the ground hitting the tree.

Then, Kreacher help Fly Fire go to somewhere safe place because he had a badly injured with blood stained at his shoulder. After that, his shoulder was wrap with cloth that take from Valkyrie. When the Fly Fire saw his leader was down, Fly Fire try to stand with all the energy he had, he cough the final harsh blue flame fire. Finally The Giant Porcupine was killed by Fly Fire and they’re rushing to find who is Dark Kucing.

Suddenly, they’re just found a cave but its look like castle and Darth Vader asked Kreacher to see if anything were in the cave because Kreacher can see in the dark. Soon, Kreacher came to them and told there’s has a very big guy that standing by the main door cave. They’re planned how to get into the cave without the big guy noticed them.

         Without hesitation, Darth Vader went straight forward to open the door but suddenly an explosion occurs. This explosion makes by the big guy. The dark color acid explosion which is a liquid can be corrosive has damaged Darth Vader. Acid was exposed to Darth Vader’s right arm and he was seriously injured. In a time of chaos, Valkyrie standby herself with her magical light-pike. Fly Fire and Kreacher helps to put aside his leader. Unfortunately, the giant with big fat belly came out and smashed the door with his smelly oversize feet. Fly Fire was been hit by door debris. They were all attacked by that insane big guy.

Finally, she jumped towards the big guy. She uses the last powerful light-pike and hit directly to the big guy. The ogre groaned and moaned loudly. He cried painfully and suddenly his voice changed from a harsh groaned to a screaming little child. Valkyrie freeze. Kreacher stopped firing the fireballs when she saw a big guy turns to a 40 inches size creature. Weird? He cried and ran away. What a hilarious the big guy! Both of the warriors laughed and take a rest on the ground for a while.

         Darth Vader step forward and talk to the wizard bravely that they do not want their culture to be gone because from the destruction that has been doing. The wizard with his red eyes was looking at them and shouted that their culture is torturing him! All the culture is mocking on him. After all, Valkyrie and Kreacher were standing beside Fly Fire. Valkyrie told the wizard and stand out with her opinions that the culture is important to preserve the originality and traditional cultures. Kreacher supports with the importance of preventing the culture from fading away. When the disappearance of the authenticity of the future people will be less exposed to traditional art and culture.

Darth Vader speak up that everyone can involve and play all the arts and culture without hesitation even though the races is different. The wizard was suddenly quiet and thinking for a few minutes. He then asked if he can join the fiesta because he wants to know their art and culture and get rid of all of the anger and make peace with the villager.

Dark Kucing and the four comrade get go out from the Marvellous Mountain and back to Glamour village to tell the villager that the fiesta will be continue as usual. After this, there is no more disturbance from the wizard. 

MENTAL HEALTH

Good mental health is something we all need. It is a feeling of wellbeing, happiness, the ability to cope with life’s many challenges, to accept others and, most of all, to have a positive attitude towards oneself.
Scientific and medical research demonstrates that mental health is a foundation for good health as physical and mental health are inseparable. Despite its increasing significance, the reality is that governments, public health practitioners and citizens alike devote little attention and consequently fewer resources to mental health.
Meanwhile, the suffering caused by mental illness and mental disorders is quite staggering. Patients with mental illness suffer a great deal and are unable to function normally. On top of that, they face discrimination and rejection from the community, and this has a detrimental effect on their recovery.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in four individuals develops a common mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety, every year. Two in every 100 people in our community develop schizophrenia or manic depression (bipolar disorder) in their lifetime. Two to three per cent of all families have a family member who is affected by intellectual disability. Five of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental disorders — depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
The symptoms of a mental disorder may greatly reduce one’s ability to work, study or participate in community life. The disorder could also lead to other health problems, and in some cases, even suicide. To make matters worse, if one suffers from a mental disorder, he may be shunned by the community.
Why do we do so little? According to WHO, on average, the 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific region devote less than one per cent of their health budgets to the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. Region-wide, one in five individuals who seeks the help of a healthcare professional suffers from a mental disorder. Of this number, only a fraction are properly diagnosed, and of those who are, few ever get treatment or receive appropriate care.
The number of people at risk of developing mental health problems is increasing daily. People in developing and developed countries of the Western Pacific region are becoming increasingly vulnerable to mental illness.
It is believed that depression will be one of the largest health problems worldwide by 2020. Surveys show that mental disorders occur in one in five individuals, or 20 per cent of the world population, each year.
There is growing evidence to show that the burden of disease in societies is gradually but surely moving towards mental diseases. While heart disease, cancer and HIV-AIDS take their toll yearly in the form of death, mental disorders, such as depression, are rapidly becoming a major source of stress not only to the individual and his family, but also to his community.
In Malaysia, most mental health promotions are focused on the individual. We have overlooked other essential factors, such as the environment in which we live in. Is our environment conducive to the development of healthy bodies and minds?
Poorly planned urbanisation and uncontrolled deforestation could contribute to poor mental health of the people. Unstable economic status, increased unemployment, poverty and severe stress have proven disruptive to mental health as well.
When dealing with mental disorders, it is essential to address the stigma attached to it. Stigma devalues a person and affects his self-image. Some of the harmful effects of stigma include refusal to accept illness, delaying or refusing treatment, isolation, fear and shame.
Creating greater awareness of mental health, empowering the mentally sick and their family members to stand up against the stigma and discrimination through education and engaging the public to understand the issues related to mental disorders are some strategies that can be undertaken to de-stigmatise mental illness.
It is important to include the community and environment we live in. We can’t address mental health problems without meaningful participation by the people, stakeholders and government sectors. Mental health is a community, national and global matter