Odysseys of George

As I traveled home from a dive recently, I heard a friend of mine discussing about an incident that recently occurred. An experienced instructor was probably suffering from decompression sickness after doing a dive at just 18metres deep. The instructor was ill and his only hope is to get himself to a hyperbaric chamber located almost 300km up north from the incident site. The outcome depends totally on how severe the decompression sickness is and how fast they can get him into the chamber. The worst is obviously death!

As diving sport picks up pace and becomes a popular hobby, one has to realize that there are more such cases to come. Also, as diving becomes more popular, those in the industry are bound to cut corners and simplify courses in order to earn fast bucks. This then leads to more inadequately trained divers and many irresponsible trainers.

Such is the case of the above scenario. An instructor trying to cut his safety diving profile in order to earn more. This in itself reflects the attitude of the instructor and though he may be a nice individual but irresponsibility in a sport than can be fatal is totally wrong. He should be dismissed and not given the chance to train another individual.

Strangely, this was also a topic of discussion during the dive I went for. A senior diver and also an instructor noted that the syllabus for training for courses in diving has been modified so much to make it easier to attain the license. As we discussed, we realized the mark differences in the syllabus during his time, mine and a recent diver. Generally, to make diving more recreational, the diving associations have made it more relaxing. Less stress is seem to be given to the importance of safety and diving hazards and more focus given on how to dive. Maybe it is not just the associations but also the instructors who again cut corners and fear to touch the issues that may cause students to worry, and further make quick bug money. And because they, the instructors close their eyes to the importance of dive safety and hazards, those who train under them would follow and thus a string of irresponsible and inadequately trained rankings from open water to advance, rescue diver, divemasters and assistant instructors are made. Not only do they harm themselves but do not realize that they have misplaced or erased the responsibility given to them upon getting certified and place harm or possible harm on other divers they accompany.

So for those who aspire to dive, choose wisely - ask and evaluate. Assess the character of your trainer and see whether he or she holds the attitudes of a responsible trusted instructor. At the end of your training, you should be able to say that you are confident to dive safely! For those who are already diving, continue to practice safe diving. For those who train others, please have the sense of responsibility that your trainees trust you with their lives during and after training. So be responsible and dive safely!

A hospital Sister sent me this one fine morning. I felt it so true and an extremely wonderful piece. I cannot help but to share it with my readers. Hope you find it as valuable and meaningful an article as I did.

Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70’s and 80’s - could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

A new year is coming - the year 2008! It is a year, for me, full of test and tribulations. Somehow, I am happy and enthusiastic to face the coming year. A year full of events and surprises. 2007 started rather slow with a lot of hesitation. It gained momentum towards the mid year and the last few months were extremely eventful times of my life. I have managed to gain parts of me that were lost in turmoil thanks to the many friends and family.

Now, the year has come to an end and for me a new chapter begins. Come 2008 in whatever way you can, I shall face you and seize every day to its fullest. And even if I were to fall, there would still be some success within it!

To Ruban, you will always be the light of my life.
To my family, I thank you and ask for your never failing support.
To my friends, may we create more stories and come closer in friendship in the year to come. More facebook friends and pirate fights - Arrrgh!
To my diver friends, lets dive more - if I have the cash!
To the one special person, I hope that all goes well for the both of us.

So, for all you readers out there, friends and family, loved ones, enjoy this cake specially baked and decorated by my dear sister, Susan.

Happy New Year 2008

Left to Alor Setar at 10.30am. My sister, Sherly and her kids were in the car with me. It was a going to be a Christmas reunion with some members of the family missing namely my eldest sister, Susan and her family, Raja, Suraj and Sara and just another person, Ruban.

I am not good at long distance drive and have difficulty keeping my eyes wide open having to stop many times before reaching destination. Thank goodness my sister drove part of the drive back home.

We met some Harley bikers and later some antic bikers.

Then we hit the lush green padi fields - my home state, Kedah, which is the rice bowl for the country. The calmness of the padi fields is what I miss the most of my hometown. As I drive down to the capital city, Alor Setar, the air gently whispers into my ear, “Welcome home, my son!” I raise a smile, and memories of those golden days came back. I still love my hometown.

As Christmas was heading along, there was an invite to see the famous Juwita Suwito perform at Bangkok Jazz, KL. The invite was from Wagner, if I got his name correct, Marlene’s cousin, a drummer for Juwita. But before I continue, who is Juwita Suwito? What! You really don’t know!

Well, Juwita Suwito is a Melaka-born, Indonesian-Singaporean descend jazz singer who is also the vocal coach in Malaysian Idol. She recorded a demo which ended up being Akademi Fantasia’s theme song, “Menuju Puncak”. Juwita Suwito has also just been announced as the country winner for the 2007 International Music Awards in the Best Female Solo Artist category. Her recent release “Juwita Suwito for Real!” is set to be a hit!

So how was it? Well, I enjoyed it. She sang well. I have always loved to go for such things. And at that, I was thinking about my eldest sister, Susan, who loves this form of entertainment too!
I would miss her for Christmas reunion.

Here are some pictures and hopefully a video!

That is Juwita

Wagner, the drummer.

Part of the band

Wagner, Marlene’s cousin. Thanks for the invite, Wagner.

And a video clip I took. Did not do justice to the real thing!

And this is from her webpage

This came up yesterday, and I was somehow disturbed by it. It is not easy to trust somebody. So what is trust? Trust to me is both physical and emotional. Emotional because it is where you expose your vulnerabilities to someone, but believing they will not take advantage of you. Physical, because it will come a time where one may need to exercise this emotional trust that is to rely upon or have confidence on that person. But is this all? In my research, trust means being able to predict what other people will do and what situations will occur. Trust means making an exchange with someone when you do not have full knowledge about them, their intent and the things they are offering to you. Trust is an integral part in a relationship. Without trust, there is no future. Lies kills trust, that I learnt from my experience.

So, when we worry does it mean you lack the trust? Maybe, but not always. Depends on what the issue is the cause of worry. Worry is usually about the possibility of something that could happen to somebody you love or care for. So if something happens, how does it effect trust? Or rather should it ever shake the trust?

Related articles:
The Variables of Love - Part 1