Today, I write about what the title of this Post states, “People who live in a Tunnel”. And believe me, it is as real as you have arrived here to read, real as life, real as you and I whose hearts are still pumping.

There be people who fail first to check out the facts and in with their delusion live dangerously by skimming on the surface of how things appear to be. Of course how they will also appear to be with a good helping of dreams of Never-never land. In other words, they prefer to be guided more by feelings of their hearts and they shun from common sense reasoning.

I have to be corrected because I often say this:

The human mind believes only in what it chooses to believe in: twits being an exception.

That could never be said about these kind of people who run their lives through the darkness of their tunnel, hoping that they will see light at the other end.

Light indeed they ought to see if they last their tunnel of life but wait a second……

Yes, yes, the hapless person does see a light, and it’s bright. But what’s that rumbling sound?

OMG! it’s a train heading right on the path of the hapless daydreamer who has staked his life and future on his irrational imaginings that his life would be amply provided, safe and happy.

Indeed, that’s how I’ve seen some who are reckless with decisions for their future. They live only for the moment’s pleasure.

Many parts of South East Asia remains a travel challenge even for the most hardy experienced globe trotter. The rich and multi-faceted combination of the history of these lands, religious beliefs and rituals, potpourri of cuisine, inter-race marriages and cultures beckons – especially those from the Western Hemisphere.

The foreign exchange advantage makes these places a great steal to travel and sight-see albeit not without a certain amount of risk to the gullible traveler.

With the exception of Singapore, the rest of South East Asian countries have much left to be desired with their public transport and safety. Dishonest cab drivers, Automobile accidents, capsized Ferries and Plane disasters are not a rarity.

This is a real life incident that I witnessed while on travel in Indonesia. After more than an 8 hour sea journey from the west coast town of Malacca to eastern Sumatra, I disembarked at Pekan Baru.

While waiting in line at the Immigration, an Indonesian man entered the room and began hollering at the arrivals, “Anyone from Hotel ABC, Hotel XYZ?” I was puzzled how he freely gained access into the room.

An Algerian stepped out of his queue, raised his hand and confirmed that he was a guest at Hotel ABC. The Indonesian man came forward with a warm and friendly countenance, shook hands with the Algerian and then asked where the Algerian had left his luggage.

The Algerian pointed to where his bags were. The Indonesian went over, carried them and said that he would have them stored in the Hotel van. He told the Algerian that he would wait for him at the exit lobby.

It took me about 30 minutes by the time I made it through the Immigration. As I entered the exit lobby, a uniformed officer approached me to assist the Algerian as most Indonesians do not converse in English.

I learned from the shocked and inconsolable Algerian that he had lost everything except what he had on his body. The Indonesian who had taken his bags had vanished by the time he reached the exit lobby.

On reflection, there is a practical psychology that was effectively executed by this Indonesian man. He knows that travelers:

1. Had completed a sea journey of over 8 hours.
2. Weary, the traveler is seeking for all the convenience he can be given.
3. 99 percent of the arrivals being locals would be Hotel guests.
4. Most foreigners would succumb to the idea that the Hotel provides such service.

I started to write about “What’s Common Amongst Bloggers” and then shifted to this instead. While jotting down my thoughts and at the third paragraph, I recalled something else.

It was in 2007. I was one of the few approved featured columnists at Indonesia Matters. Now that I think about it, Indonesia Matters was my first introduction to blogging, in a second hand way, because whatever I submitted at Indonesia Matters had first to be edited under the watchful eye of the owner before he published it.

While at Indonesia Matters, one of my articles was selected by Global Voices.

About Global Voices

Global Voices, a highly respected organization is not under the auspice of Indonesia Matters. It is an independent organization that….

seeks to aggregate, curate, and amplify the global conversation online – shining light on places and people other media often ignore. We work to develop tools, institutions and relationships that will help all voices, everywhere, to be heard.

The Article selected by Global Voices

Using a pseudonym, IamIsaid, I wrote an article about the practice of the “Dukun“in Indonesia. Dukun is in Indonesian language means Shaman.

The said article was spotted and selected by Global Views as “Indonesia: Shamanism in Indonesia“

No longer with Indonesia Matters

I ended my stint as a featured columnist at Indonesia Matters because I believed that it was heading in the wrong direction.

My pleas went unheeded with the owner of Indonesia Matters. He had to stop the fanatical and protracted bashing between rival Islamic members and visitors at the Blog Forum.

In a personal email to Patung, the owner of Indonesia Matters, I warned him that his laissez-faire management of Indonesia Matters would eventually hurt his Blog Forum. It did. Indonesia Matters was rated Number One amongst all Indonesia blogs when I was active and it has today dropped to Number Five.

It is seldom that I purchase the daily newspaper simply because I can read most of the news from the internet news sites. This afternoon however, it was an exception. I purchased the New Straits Times daily because I was waiting for my lunch to be served.

On page 33 of its “World” section dated July 12, 2010, the News Straits Times had this caption printed in larger bold type face:

Pope ‘snubs’ Prince Charles

and I quote in full, the rest of what was reported:

LONDON: Pope Benedict has turned down the chance to meet Prince Charles on his first state visit to Britain, claiming he is “too busy”.

The two men will not get together even though Charles will be in Scotland when the pontiff starts his three-day trip by calling on the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Holyrood House in Edinburgh.

Charles had wanted to meet the pope separately in Endinburgh on the same day but at another venue.

Yesterday, there were claims that Charles has demanded his own meeting to establish his independence from the queen, and was disappointed the pope had declined.

Now Charles will remain at Birkhall, the house he shares with Camilla on the Balmoral estate, while his parents make a trip from the royal family’s summer retreat to meet the pope at Holyrood on Sept 16.

The prince’s spokesman denied he had been snubbed. “There were discussions between the Vatican and Clarence House about the possibility of having a separate meeting while the pope was in Edinburgh but there wasn’t time in his schedule for that.”

The spokesman also denied that the prince has rejected a subsequent invitation by the pope to join him at an inter-faith eveen in London the following day.

The Mail on Sunday has been told that the pope offered it as an alternative to a one-to-one meeting with Prince Charles and that the prince rejected it on the grounds that it did not match his status.

The prince’s spokesman said that he had not been invited to the inter-faith event.

Charles takes his Anglican faith seriously and while there is much on which he and Benedict will agree, there are also potential areas of friction. Bearing in mind that the church opposition to divorcees remarrying, the prince’s marital history would also not be regarded as ideal by the Vatican. – DM

I dare say that protocol and the advisors to both sides, the Pontiff and Prince Charles, have one thing in common – the ability to stir a storm in a teacup.

May I ask, what would Jesus of Nazareth have done if he were in the Pontiff’s position? Jesus of Nazareth who met and moved around without protocol. Jesus of Nazareth whose greatest ostentation was when he rode on a donkey into Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth who stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, not on a state visit but to be arraigned before he was handed over to his detractors to be crucified.

Here is a man who bears the title of being the shepherd of the Catholics. One who is supposedly to be walking in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth. Here he is, allowing to be embroiled in matters that are not in the interest of Faith. Wherein lies the openness to dialogue that the Vatican has always been proudly declaring?

Ironically, I have been in the same kind of position like it is described about the pontiff in that news article. On several occasions, I was only able to meet and discuss with very important Executives who like the Pontiff never had time with their busy schedule.

We met at the Gents Comfort Room and held short discussion while we both were having our pee.

The pontiff ought to consider that (the Gents Comfort Room – true to its own name) as the last solution to meet Prince Charles.

In the wake of the 9/11 New York incident, we know of those who through an act of Providence, escaped the jaws of death. Such like, the head of a company survived because:
his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was:
His turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because:
her Alarm clock didn’t go off in time.

One was late because:
of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike due to an auto accident.

One:
Missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and:
had to take time to change.

One’s
Car wouldn’t start.

One couldn’t
Get a taxi.

But the one that struck me was the ma who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
And that is why he is alive today..

Therefore, count your blessings…

When you are
Stuck in traffic,
Miss an elevator,
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone..
All the little things that annoy you.
Think to yourself,
This is exactly where
You’re meant to be
At this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong,
The children are slow getting dressed,
You can’t seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don’t get mad or frustrated;
It may be just that
Someone is watching over you.

May you continue to be blessed with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.