Malaysia- It's Importance

Recently in Humanities, we watched a documentary, "Guns, Germs and Steel". It was originally a book, but the author, Dr. Jared Diamond, made it a documentary. Choosing 1 out of 3 topics, we have to write a blog post. The topic I chose to do is "1. What role did geographic location and natural resources play in the the development of Malaysia?".

Malaysia is a country in South-East Asia. Its located at 2 degrees 30' North Lat. and 122 degrees 30' East Long. Malaysia has a variety of natural resources, so Malaysia, as a nation, is very wealthy.The resources we have here in Malaysia are oil, tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite and agriculture such as fishing, farming and many more. Tin, oil, and petroleum are the popular out of the rest, because there is lots of it and it is very much needed to many groups of people. Tin, is used to make, of course, tin cans and other things. Oil, is used for engines, etc. Petroleum is made into gas, which is needed for all types of vehicles to power them. 

All though it is believed by many that Malaysia has two seasons, summer and monsoon, half of that belief is incorrect. Malaysia does have two seasons, but they are the wet and dry seasons. The dry season is mostly around February to the beginning of August, then, August to beginning of February, is the wet season. It rains everyday in the wet season, night or day. Malaysia is protected from storms,  blizzards, typhoons, tsunami's and additional natural hazards. Singapore, the neighboring country to Malaysia, is on the equator line. Since from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, taking five hours by car, the equator line makes Singapore and Malaysia have extremely hot weather.

Malacca, a state in Malaysia, is where trading with Europeans first started. The Malacca Straits was used to go from one place, to Malacca. At that point of time, India, Malaysia and Indonesia had many spices and people from all over the world came to Malacca to trade with other people of other nationalities. The place as we now know as Sunway Pyramid, was actually a tin mine, before it ran out of tin and people transformed it into a lagoon.  Because of Malaysia's freedom about 50 years ago, Malaysia has been developing quickly. High- Rise buildings, many offices, tourism and others made Malaysia grow. Why, if it wasn't for offices here in Malaysia, we wouldn't be here!

Sources:

http://www.petronas.com.my/our_business/exploration_production/malaysia_e_p/historical_production_of_oil_and_gas.aspx

http://anuclearmalaysia.blogspot.com/

http://www.indexmundi.com/malaysia/natural_resources.html

http://www.thepetronastowers.com/2010/02/the-history-%E2%80%93-part-i/

http://www.gpsonsale.com/software/products/Malaysia-CityNav.htm

Jet and the Little Giants...

Last week, 6A went to Kuala Selangor. We saw fireflies, went on a boat ride and planted Mangrove saplings. We had a choice of doing one of three questions. I chose, 1. Write a narrative from the point of view from a mud skipper when Team 6A students descended on the mangroves to plant saplings. This is my point of view, as a mud skipper.

"UGH.. WHY IS THIS WALK SO LONG???" I picked up on some complaints from some- I mean a lot of little giants. There were only a few normal sized giants among the little ones. Sorry, how rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Taya, the mud skipper. I have been living here in the mangroves since I was born, and that's a long time. So, back to the giants. The little giants were so many different sizes and colors, it was amazing that I wasn't blind after my first glance! Then, they started screaming for no reason. I have met the normal giants before, and they weren't as.....well, shrill. They kept on screaming but when the normal giant shouted something, they became silent. The normal giant in bright green was talking to the little giants about a tiny mangrove tree. As he approached the mud, I sprang back into the safety of my hole. In the gap of my hole, I could see that he was showing the little giants how to plant a little mangrove tree.


Now, the little giants were walking towards the green guy. They were around the edge of the mud, and I quickly backed up, farther into my hole. Three little giants went out into the mud, and every few steps they got stuck, and reached to pull themselves out. They kept on going, 3 at a time, some tall, some short. I slowly crept out of my hole "OOHHH IT'S A MUD SKIPPER!" A short little giant pointed at me. Then, what it seemed like thousands of little giants, all huddled around my hole. I dug quickly through the mud as fast as I could, not slowing down for anything. I waited for a few minutes, and noticed that they were huddling around some crab. I came out, once again, and watched. One little giant was picking up the poor crab! I was horrified. If I was bigger, I would say-- " DON'T PICK UP THAT CRAB! WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOME GIANT PICKED YOU UP? HUH?" A little giant, she was a girl, with jet black hair, stepped forward. I was amazed! That was exactly what I was going to say!


For the rest of the time, I put all my attention on the girl with the jet black hair. She was laughing hysterically with some other little giants at a boy in red who expertly ran- I mean literally, ran, through the mud. Every few seconds, she would stare at this boy-who was taller than her by a bit-, with dreamy eyes. I wondered what that was about. Maybe some weird giant thing. The little giant boy, whom Jet ( I named the girl that, it's much easier) was staring at, went out to the mud. Frantically, she looked behind, if anyone was watching her. Paranoia, I guessed. Jet kept her eyes only, on the boy. He was wearing black, like her, so it was easy to recognize him. Jet was staring at him until he was no longer seen for her. Giants, had very bad eyesight, unlike Mud Skippers. At that moment, I saw why she liked him so much.


Then, I saw Jet playing with a chunk of mud, with another little giant girl with yellow hair. The girl with the yellow hair was throwing mud at a boy, messing up what he was wearing. The little giant boy that was being hit with mud, picked up a HUGE chunk of mud and put it on the girl with yellow hair. Then, they started a mud fight! Pieces of mud started flying everywhere! Thankfully, Jet stopped the fight. A very large normal giant came up and said, " Why aren't any girls going?" All of the little giant girls came up and shouted "Because all the boys pushed us back! We're never going to get a turn!" The large normal giant called all the girls to the front, including Jet, and made them go first. Jet finally got a chance to plant a Mangrove! I was ecstatic!

I followed Jet. She kept on getting stuck, and I kept on whispering, " Step quickly, you wont get stuck then. Don't panic." Miraculously, she stepped quickly and got to the plantings! It was like we were connected somehow. First the crab, then I understood how she liked him, and now this! It was kinda creepy. I put aside my thoughts, and watched Jet carefully. A normal giant dug a hole into the mud, and a mangrove tree was given to Jet. She took the mangrove tree and stuck it into the hole. For a moment there, I felt relived, I don't know why, though. Suddenly, Jet turned around, and saw me. She knelt down, and... and.... and patted me on the head? I wasn't expecting that! No, not at all! She went through mud, smiling. She went up to the rocks, turned around and smiled down at me. It was like she knew I was there, all along. Did she? She left, with other little giants. These are my friends, Taya. And my name is not Jet, its-- Her voice got cut off. Okay. This day is getting creepier by the minute. At least I know her name is not Jet, but what is it? Who was she?

Who is she??

Sources: http://blog.madrona.com/

http://www.bountyfishing.com