sook experience: keeping me safe seminar

the dirt road leading to St.joseph Church. I almost couldn't make it to the top of the hill, the hill was crazy steep yet the youths there could run up and down it like nothing, total respect for the villagers of Maatol. One of the youths told me they saw a deer running away when we were approaching the area where it stood. lucky it wasn't a bear, sightings of wild animals around these parts are not something unusual. at last after 20 mins of climbing the hill I reached the church in one piece, maybe without a few breaths, but I'd live.

The view from the church. Very nice, majestic to be exact, the villagers here have something that we can only see in pictures and school kid's drawing. breath taking indeed, some man would pay millions to have a house to build in a place like this, most of the villagers would just take this for granted, sell all what have in exchange for a meaningless life in the city. They need to realize that what they have is to precious to be bought over by some heartless businessmen.

dirt road every where. Look, the people here are happy with the things that they have, with only motorbikes, they move around the 'kampung'. just nice, it's nice for the other villagers too, less carbon emission, less noise, no rempit at all. Sound like what a 6 star resort would promise to sell their bedroom suites. In Maatol, it's like 10 star resort, it's like the ultimatum of club med.

'sulig' floor. I can't not say anything bout the architecture here, when the sun is doing her job outside, inside, we hardly feel her heat, the ventilation in the dining area was just perfect, this made me miss our old house in Keningau. you don't even have to worry if you spilled you glass of water, it'll dry up in no time, brilliant.

Tea break. the folks in Maatol really take their food seriously. It's not something that they do just for the fun of it, they do all food related event with a purpose, we in the city take our food for granted, always. Here, Sardines have value, anchovies have value, event dried tasteless cream crackers have a great value here. I see that the food there are doing them well, everyone here looks very healthy, theres no such thing as a fat kid, everyone is built perfectly.

out house. Need I say more? I'm just thankful there's no scorpion sharing my 'me time', back in the days when I was in Nabawan, I had a bad experience of running out of the out house due to a giant scorpion coming out of the holes in the floor, that really woke me up on that sleepy monday morning.

singing session. Everyone of the kids here are so up to dancing with what ever music they hear, no one would be left out when a tune is played, maybe one or two would be a bit shy at first, but in the end everyone would be busting a move.. very fun time.

I love this one.

The altar. St Joseph church, Kampung Maatol, Sook.

the registration for the seminar. About 34 youth ranging from the age of 13 to 17 were the ones registered for this seminar, I really hope they who joined has learned something from the three days experience with all of us. I really by teaching the rural kids about safety, they, in the future will know what exactly to do when facing problems such as molestation, physical abuse, rape, and so on...even kampung kids need to have protection. I'm sure you guys out there would want to do something about the cases I've mentioned, come join me, lets put an end to all negativity, one kampung at a time.... What say you.?