Waste collection in Mersing

Worm composting article

I've noticed that most people usually burn their garbage. I've been experimenting with composting, but it seems a bit labour intensive, and i'm afraid of wild boar coming to root through the waste. Has anybody experimented with composting? There was an article in the Star about using worms to compost so that there is less manual labour.

Slow loris found near Pai Chee School

Last evening, three men were spotted at the street corner adjacent to the Pai Chee school with long poles attempting to capture an animal from a tree. The animal they were attempting to capture was a slow loris. The slow loris is a small, slow moving primate that is nocturnal and arboreal. The slow lorises range from Borneo and Philippines in SE Asia through Bangledesh, Thailand, and Vietnam.

When asked, the men answered that the slow loris was to be sold to a buyer for medicinal purposes. According to this article, slow lorises are often sold as pets or for medicinal purposes in Chinese and Malay cultures.

The slow loris is a totally protected species under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972, which means that it is illegal to handle these animals in any way.

The slow loris was housed in a small cage, and was clearly agitated and scared. The three men drew the attention of various people driving by in cars and motorbikes. However, nobody objected to the capture of the animal.

It's a shame that such an animal could be removed from public property without prompting any action on the part of the community. Wake up people. The slow loris belongs to Malaysia, not individuals. If we don't start protecting our heritage, who will?

In the evening...

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Boardwalk
The boardwalk stretches along the shore facing the South China Sea. The best time to go is during the evening, when you'll meet lots of families taking a walk after dinner.



Stargazing
Areas around Mersing have very low light pollution, which is perfect for studying the heavens. Since Mersing is near the Equator, you have a clear view of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and thus be able see the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross at the same time. The Milky Way is especially beautiful to view here.

Places like Teluk Godek, Teluk Sari and Tanjung Resang are within half an hour's drive from Mersing, and are excellent observation points for astronomy buffs. You can enjoy dinner in Mersing, stock up on necessities and then enjoy a whole night of stargazing.

Fishing by the jetty
From early evening to late night, people come in droves to fish at the jetty. You could watch them, or you could also join them!