Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, Philippines

Saya sangat gembira menerima khabar dari UNESCO kelmarin. Saya juga melihat laporan tersebut dalam akhbar. Jawatan Kuasa Tapak Warisan Dunia UNESCO yang sedang bersidang di Sevilla, Spain telah memutuskan untuk menerima usul menjadikan tambahan Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (TRNP) sebagai Tapak Warisan Dunia.

Saya telah dilantik oleh IUCN/UNESCO sebagai pakar penilai untuk cadangan negara Filipina ini pada penghujung tahun 2008. Saya telah dihantar ke TRNP untuk melihat sendiri, membuat perbincangan dan menilai. Saya telah melihat sendiri (melakukan 6 selaman SCUBA), mengadakan perbincangan dengan Park Manager, Rangers, Para penguasa Tempatan termasuk Gabenor Palawan dan beberapa pemimpin nasional, saya telah membuat rekomendasi kepada Jawatan Kuasa WH UNESCO.

TRNP ini memang indah dan unik. Atol yang berada di tengah-tengah Laut Sulu. Stesyen Rangernya di atas air (sebab tiada tanah daratan). Tapi terumbuk karang dan hidupan marin di situ sangat luarbiasa – kaya dan pelbagai. Setiap selaman, pelbagai ikan, penyu, pari, jerung (blacktip, whitetip, tiger shark) banyak kelihatan. Coralnya berwarna-warni dan belum terusik oleh manusia.

Pasti sekali saya membuat rekomendasi positif kepada IUCN/UNESCO. Pada hemat saya, tapak ini layak disenaraikan sebagai tapak warisan dunia. Walau bagaimanapun, pihak IUCN dan sekretariat Tapak Warisan Dunia UNESCO mempunyai pelbagai isu dan persoalan. Kebanyakannya mengenai keupayaan negara tersebut melindungi secara berkesan TRNP. Saya tetap berpendapat pengisytiharan tidak harus ditunda. Saya gembira kerana UNESCO bersetuju dengan rekomendasi saya.

Tubbataha memang layak menjadi tapak warisan dunia. Keindahan, kekayaan, keunikan dan kepelbagaian hidupnya menakjubkan. sebagai tempat menyelam SCUBA, ianya setanding dengan Sipadan. Mujurnlah ianya jauh dari daratan dan untuk melawat, perlu menaiki kapal ’live-aboard’ beberapa malam.

Tubbataha Reef Natural Park – a worthy World Heritage Site!

USA Trip , 28 May – 22 June 2009.

Today’s exactly a week after I returned home from touring the United States.
I have refrained from blogging earlier to screen out the emotions.

Of all the overseas trips I have had (hundreds of trips to some 30 countries), this one is easily on the top three. The trip impacted me on more ways than one.

As we say in the training world, there are three ways people learn: hear, see and experience (auditory, visual and kinaesthetic). During the trip, I had loads of all three, making the trip an experiential learning trip for me.


The trip brought me to Chicago (1 night), Washington DC (5 nights), Miami (6 nights), Corpus Christi, Texas (3 nights), Houston, Texas (3 nights) and Honolulu (4 nights).

The theme of the study visit? Coastal management and Marine environment management. This enabled me to visit and discuss with various people in NOAA, various universities, local government, NGOs (of better known as NPOs in the US), and individuals. I was also able to visit coastal (including famous beach areas). Examples are the Chesapeake Bay, Maiami Beach, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi, Galvastan area (the on ravaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008) in Houston, and the world-famous Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.

There were 8 of us (2 from Malaysia, 2 from Indonesia, 2 from Thailand, 1 from the Philippines and 1 from Hong Kong); with 2 accompanying officers (called English Language Officers) contracted by the Dept of State. I t was such a memorable 3 weeks.

I thank the Government of the United States through the Department of States and the US Embassy in Malaysia for selecting me and sponsoring this whole trip.

Washington DC
May 31st - June 4th 2009.

It's amazes me how major cities int he developed world seem to change very little over the years.

I first visited DC in 1992.
Was there for 3 days and spent almost all the time at the various museums, esp the museum of natural history of the Smithsonian Institution. Was totally engrossed at all the exhibits.

Now, here again after some 17 years.
It is still as I remembered it.
I can remember the streets. The museums, the mall, the various buildings. and I can still say - woww.

Good to be back.
visited most of the ususal stops - the white house, the mall, the capitol, the monuments, and the shopping mall.

Thank you Dept of State, for inviting me over...

Haven't blogged for quite sometimes.

Blogged on and off in the past but deleted all the entries.

Maybe I should start again.



Ok, I will start with a travellogue.



The past 20+ years have brought me to almost 30 different countries.

Still counting (I hope)...

When growing up in a kampung deep in the interior of Borneo, never thought I would go to all these far flung places.

as they says, be careful what you wishes for - it may come true!



Ok - a travellogue it shall be.

and entries about nature once in a while.



First stop --> Washington DC.