Diamonds in my backyard

On a recent hike up Tanjung Tuan lighthouse, I noticed this stange contraption hanging from a tree branch about 15feet in the air. It wasn't very big, as you can see it looks like two 1.5litre bottles stuck together with a torch hanging from the top and a pool of water at the bottom.

On my way down, I noticed someone carrying a large net strolling uphill. My curiosity got the better of me. It is not everyday that I see such a well-dressed (he wore matching khaki long-sleeves and pants with a scarf!) young man hiking in PD. I stopped him and began barraging him with questions. I found out that he was from a university in Japan and was here to study insects. Those plastic bottles were his and was used to trap insects.

This encounter has made me more determined to study the multitude of wildlife here in Malaysia.

We need to appreciate the wildlife in Malaysia. Foreigners seem to appreciate it more than us.

I feel sad when I read reports of forest reserves being cleared for housing projects or palm oil estates and of rhinos dying in their sanctuaries.

After the rather dismal first visit to University Malaya a few days ago, I am rather apprehensive of what the academics are doing in Malaysia.

I was there to check out the disappointing bookfair in Dewan Canselor. I didn't want it to be a wasted trip and tried searching for Rimba Ilmu but the small prints on the signboards made navigating an impossibility and ended up in Bangsar Village instead.

Hello, Malaysia...wake up, you have diamonds in your backyard. Take a look!