If you have not heard about it, my home state, Sabah (where I'll be spending half of my time volunteering at as well) experienced a 5.0 magnitude earthquake on Friday, 5th of June.
The epicentre, or the source of the quake if you like, was just 54km away from my home city and 10km deep.
There is a lot speculation about why it happened. The most popular one it seemed is blaming the nude tourists who angered the mountain spirits by stripping down on the summit, despite being warned by the local guides. Now, someone who is very into rationalism and science would immediately cut me off by saying, "Well, you know it can't exactly be the reason, right?"
I KNOW IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS, but hear me out.
Sabah is known to be the "Land Below the Wind" which basically means a place where natural disasters don't happen. So, to have such a strong earthquake happen to our peaceful land, people will inevitably cry out to the sky and ask "WHY?" (minus the drama). It just so happens that the nudists did their thing prior and it made sense to the people. If you ask anyone who grew up in Sabah about Mt. K, they will always have a legendary tale behind it. (read about them here)
What they did is in fact disrespectful and what could have angered the spirits is a sound reason. It's not backwards thinking, it goes to show how close Sabahans hold their values and beliefs, and it doesn't mean that what we believe is inferior to anyone else's, it is just different.
However, if you can't allow a little bit of wonder into your life and/or crave for scientific explanation, our geologist explains it all here.
That aside, my facebook feed is also filled with pictures and articles about the unsung heroes, the Malim Gunung, or as CNN puts it "Mountain Guides". They truly are brave, selfless men. I believe that it has been a legacy of them to always care for the climbers as I've heard stories about their selflessness ever since I was a little kid. Up until now, I've always looked up to them as superheroes because they basically climb up and down a 4095m mountain every day carrying gas tanks and sometimes even people and finally, the world knows about them. Sadly, we lost 2 guides on Friday. Great men they were and I'm sure stories about them have circulated, even $29,000 was raised (and still is!) for Robbi's family in honour of his courageous, selfless actions to save the climbers.
Unfortunately, more lives were lost and most of them are school children on a field trip from Singapore. I try not to think about it but my heart aches for them and their family. It is never good news to lose a child, for they are the most innocent. They have so much in store and scaling one of SEA's highest peak was supposed to be a first of many accomplishments.
Death by natural disasters is never the fault of anyone, perhaps, not even the nudists. It is so unpredictable that instead of wasting energy trying to point fingers, why don't we put our hands together and offer our prayers. (Note: The nudists will have to pay sogit (ritual fine) of 10 buffaloes though)
Initially, I wanted to write about my dissatisfaction with how things are handled by the federal government and mean comments about my lovely Sabah, but I figured by spreading the anger, I will push aside what truly needs to be acknowledged. I decided that I should use my words to immortalise bravery rather than incompetence.
Less than a month to go till the volunteering project and this time, I bring with me the thoughts of the victims of the earthquake and also the Sabahan spirit.
Mural painted by +crackoartgroup in KK who also organised a virgil for the victims.
DONATION PAGE FOR ROBBI click here
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