Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The year 1989 年

The June 29 issue of Time magazine is a summer journey double issue ... looking back 20 years ago, the fateful year 1989 that transforming the world... even until today!

I picked 3 main events out of many that affected my life....

1. The collapse of the Berlin wall and the communist regime of the People's Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany). My wife was working in the East German Embassy then. The unification of Germany saw the closure of the East German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

My wife and I have the opportunity to witness the lowering of the East German flag for the last time on Unification day by the Charge d'affair of the Federal Republic of Germany Embassy (West Germany) in Kuala Lumpur.

We are still keeping the metal sign board of the East German Embassy.

My wife later "crossed over the wall" to join the Federal Republic of Germany Embassy.

2. The World Wide Web (WWW). In 1989, an English physicist Tim Berners-Lee invented the first browser call WorldWideWeb. Web surfing, email, blogging has changed my life.

3. The Tiananmen Square massacre. June 4 1989 saw the China Communist regime using military force to crush the students occupying the square. I did not feel much then. Later when more details surfaced, I felt for the suffering of the students and right activists. The persecution of right and democracy advocates continues even till today.

Also mentioned was on March 24 1989, a tanker named Exxon Valdez with 53 million gallons of Alaskan crude oil, ran aground just after midnight, releasing more than 11 million gallons of "black gold' polluting the beautiful Alaskan coastline and wilderness. It was the worse environmental disaster in American history.

Currently, my wife is on an Alaskan cruise vacation. I shall find out from her on her return whether Alaskan coastline has recovered fully from the disaster after 20 years.

In February 1989, a satellite was launched into orbit 12000 miles above the earth. This was the first of 24 satellites forming the global positioning system (GPS). Today, I use my GPS device to guide me going places.

Where was I then 20 years ago? I was in Kajang happily bringing up my three adorable children. Looking at the pictures taken in 1989, I wished can turn back the time...... How much I loved them...but their childhood has gone .... they have all grown up now!

















Cameron Highlands
金马伦高原 1989


【时代】杂志最新一期的双周特辑,回顾二十年前,就是1989年,发生的许多震撼及影响世界的事件。

我挑了三件,对我有深刻影响的事件。

1。柏林围墙的倒塌及东德共产党的倒台。我的太太当时是在吉隆坡东德大使馆工作。东西德的统一,造成了东德大使馆必须关闭。

我和太太有机会在统一的那天夜晚,亲眼目睹了东德国旗的最后一次下降。当晚的点典礼是由西德大使馆的参赞主持。

我们到现在还收藏着当时东德大使馆门前的铁招牌。

过后,太太“跨过围墙”,进入统一的德意志联邦(前西德)大使馆工作。

2。全球资讯网(WWW) 的发明。英国物理学家田巴尼李创立了全球资讯网,世界上各国的人们,可以使用网际网络汲取资讯及互联。网上浏览 、电邮及部落格改变了我的生活。

3。天安门六四镇压及杀害学生事件。当时我对这事印象不深,但多年后,许多事实的浮现,我深切的为这些学生及维权者而伤痛。共产党对民权及民主的维护及争取的异议人士,到今天仍然的还是残酷的给予打压及迫害。

当然还有其他的事件,如在89年三月二十四日,美国阿拉斯加发生的油船漏油事件,严重的破坏了阿拉斯加的自然海岸及旷野。当时油船搁浅,超过一千一百万加仑的原油,造成了美国历史上最严重的环境破坏事件。

我的太太目前是在阿拉斯加参加游轮假期,等她回来后,我会向她查问阿拉斯加受破坏的环境,经过二十年后,是否已经复原。

同年的二月,美国国防部把一颗卫星送上了地球外空12000里上的轨道。这是24颗的第一颗,将形成所谓的全球导航卫星系统(GPS)。我目前就是拥有及依靠卫星导航系统来寻找地方及引领到目的地。

二十年前,我在那里呢?我是在加影很快乐的抚养三个孩子。现在拿出了1989年的照片来看,真是感慨万千,真希望能够时光倒流。。。三个孩子多么可爱,我实在是深爱着他们。现在,他们的童年已逝去,都已长大成人了。





儿子拔第一颗牙齿
Pulled out first tooth




Zoo with friends
和朋友参观动物园




1989太极班新年晚宴颁发奖品,二十年后,还在继续的举行
Giving prizes at the TaiChi Chinese New Year dinner. It is still going on after 20 yrs


**我的太太在那里呢?那是机密!
**where was my wife? official secret!

3 comments:

queen_of_bee said...

mei mei so cute! sweet memories!

year 1989, my youngest sister was born. today, she is already a big girl, furtherin her study in UUM.

how time flies...

Simon Kajang said...

So your whole family sent her up North!!Little baby fist time leaving home le.(you studied at UKM, no chance to be away!!)

turn back the time, turn back the time, turn back the time..... in our dreams !!

Jeff said...

Those were the days....