Very Normal Activity: Strange Creature in Sibu Freaks Plantation Workers + Follow Up

Alright most of you must have watched or at least heard about the news of a strange creature which freaked out plantation workers in Sibu, Sarawak in late January. Well, in case you missed it, below is the video.

The story was that a team of Indonesian workers at an oil palm plantation came face to face with this strange animal. One of the workers claimed that it charged at them and so he hit it until it was knocked out and posed for the camera (pictured left). Fortunately, the creature regained consciousness and was forced to go back into the jungle.

As much as I object hitting a helpless animal let alone a potentially new cryptid in Borneo, the workers may had the rights to knock it out seeing how potentially dangerous the beast was. I mean look at it! Look at those claws! If I were the plantation worker I'd whack it too when I see this malnourished Smeagol with manicure issues come charging at me.

But as it turned out I've seen this creature and its picture floating in the internet (sic 9gag) and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation confirmed my speculation. That strange creature was a Helarctos malayanus or also known as a sun bear. 

"Woi it's 6am why you switched on the lights I wanna sleep cannot ah?!" 

Picture from a-z animals

Well instead of being corrupted by the One Ring. the bear found at the plantation was most likely suffering from a skin condition due to recent floods in Sarawak. And this bear disease which causes it to lose its fur happens to bears in other countries. So imagine the cute furry bear up there turning to look like its cousin in Leipzig zoo as shown below:

"Well, at least I still have my side burns and good personality"

Picture from dailymail.co.uk

But unlike the American counterpart where we capture shaky videos of strange animals and build a cult or TV shows around it, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation viewed the video as a distress call from the bear. Almost immediately the SFC launched the SWAT team to find the creature. 

Nope, unlike the American fully-armed black-clad law enforcement counterpart, the SWAT here refers to Swift Wildlife Action Team which is conducting a search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate and help the sick bear. Kudos to them for taking such prompt initiative to conserve Sarawakian wildlife. 

The SAR is still ongoing at the time of writing this post, but we can only hope and pray the ailing bear will be found alive and in time to be healed.

BONUS FAST FACTS - The sun bear is native to the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia. They are also called as the "Honey Bear" due to their voracious appetite for honeycombs and honey. It is a protected species in Malaysia but little enforcement occurs. Luckily, there is a special rehabilitation and conservation centre for Bornean sun bears in Sandakan, Sabah managed by wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te. In addition, due to its diet the sun bear has a tongue measuring from 7.9 to 9.8 inch. Whoa! Imagine the things you can do with that!

Picture from thesun.co.uk

Hailstorm in Kuching

Well it is unusual considering Malaysia or Sarawak specifically stands in the equator where it's hot and humid. So does this mean the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" is feasible? Are we at the equator are going to experience a cold winter snap in a strange climate change as foreseen by ancient alien scientists? Too bad no videos or pictures within my reach though.

Anyways below is the news that piqued my interest:

KUCHING: Shopkeepers and members of the public at Central Park commercial centre here were astonished when a small hailstorm hit the area soon after the start of a heavy afternoon downpour yesterday.

Hundreds of pea-sized translucent globes of ice rained down with a loud clatter as they bounced off the metallic surfaces of motor vehicles and rooftops and onto the roads and  footways.

Some pieces of hail appeared to have had air bubbles frozen in their centre.

Many curious onlookers emerged to marvel at the unusual weather phenomenon that began around 4.30pm.

Two occupants of a sports utility vehicle that pulled up by the road shoulder when the storm started were spotted picking up the pellets of frozen rain and putting them in a plastic bag amid the tropical downpour.

However, the hailstorm lasted only a few minutes and the hail quickly melted away in the continuous rain.

The thunderstorm continued for half an hour before stopping altogether.

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/16/unusual-hailstorm-hits-part-of-kuching/

Driverless Car in Sibu

So Sibu is in the spotlight again and this time for... a haunted car, a ghost driving a Perodua Kenari recklessly and damages property in town near Island Road. Some who are superstitious claim that there was a ghost or demon that escaped from Hell early before the 15th of the seventh month in the Chinese calender, also known as the day of the Hungry Ghosts. 

I don't know, it all seems suspiciously man's error (or woman). The driver let the car running with passenger inside while he went into the night market. Then the car suddenly reversed and drove forward randomly, hitting other cars and properties. It could be that the passenger accidentally shifted the gear to 'R' then it crashed, causing her to panic and the passenger shifted the gear to 'D' and whatever other gears available. And in the end to avoid being mobbed by angry drivers the blame was put on a ghost. Or it could've been a Poltergeist-class being who physically messed with the car.  Anyways you be the judge.

Source: The Borneo Post

SIBU: A car with no driver sped up and down Island Road on Friday at nightfall here sending chills down the spines of a huge crowd who witnessed this paranormal happening.

The hair-raising incident occurred at 7.15pm after the driver got out of the car to go to the night market, leaving a woman in the front passenger seat and the car engine on.

According to an eye-witness the car suddenly reversed at high speed, screeching, before ramming into a steel railing.

It then continued reversing before ramming into the front portion of another car.

The impact caused the other car to also reverse before ramming into another car behind it.

The driverless car then surged forward before reversing another time to slightly brush the side of a car behind it.

It reversed further after that and rammed into another car.

The car then made a 360 degree turn before surging forward again.

It then made another reverse and surge forward before ramming into the metal gate of a shop. Only then did it come to a halt.

The woman passenger was badly shaken but luckily sustained only minor cuts and bruises on her face, head, knee and arms in the incident.

As it was only a week from the 15th day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar year – the day the Chinese believe the gates of hell would be opened for ghost and demons to roam the earth, many speculated that perhaps some might have snuck out before the stipulated time.

One of the witnesses said it was extremely eerie as it happened in the month of hungry ghost overlooking the fact that such an incident would be frightening anytime of the year.

He likened it to a scene in a horror movie, saying it was like watching “Nightmare on Elm Street”.

“How can a car travel at high speed up and down the road with no driver inside?” he asked with a quaver in his voice.

However, another eye-witness offered a more mundane explanation saying it could be due to a mechanical fault.

When the reporters arrived at the scene, the driver requested the reporters not to take any photos, but, this was stopped by policemen at the scene.

A policeman said this related to public interest and the reporters had the right to take photographs and report the incident.

Rescuers from the Fire and Rescue Department arrived with the policemen.

The rescuers took the frightened woman out and an ambulance sent her to the hospital where she was given outpatient treatment.

Source:http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/26/driverless-car-wreaks-havoc-strikes-fear-among-onlookers/

Strange Rumbling Sounds in Samarahan, Sarawak

Finally some real X-Files material happening in Sarawak. Okay the full article is here but here's the summary of what happened.

During the wee hours of January 11 and 12 several people in Kota Samarahan heard strange ominous sounds apparently coming from the sky. The sound of unexplained nature, lasted from around 2-5am. Some managed to record it (although choppy due to phone quality) and the effort to find the source did not yield any answers. If you're not sure what to listen for, it sounds like someone snoring.

There are 2 theories. The first was the palm oil factory about 8 kilometers away was still operating yet a quick rush there showed the facility was closed and the sound persisted. The second is the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program or HAARP. The HAARP is a project by US and some other parties to develop ionosphere (the outer atmosphere) based technology. To conspiracy theorists HAARP allows manipulation of weather and earthquakes we see happening today. Either way the HAARP caused the sounds they heard in Samarahan.

Too bad the news came to me a bit late and the strange phenomenon stopped after 12 January 2012. Later that day there was a 7.3 Richter scale earthquake in Sumatra. So were the conspiracy theorists right about the HAARP or was it just a coincidence?

Apparently we're not the only ones experiencing this unexplained phenomenon. Strange ominous sounds have been reported all over the world since 2011. No worries these guys have different gadgets so the quality is better. Get your pop corns ready, we're going for a marathon of strange ominous bass-like sounds.

Czech Republic, unkown date

Kiev, August 8, 2011

Chile, January 12, 2012

Canada, 2012


Costa Rica, 2012

Hungary, January  11, 2012 (The loudest one)

Aliens? Government conspiracy? The incoming Planet X? Earth's tectonic plates movement? The angel blowing the trumpet to signal the end of the world as mentioned in the Holy Books? Or just a well orchestrated gimmick for the movie Cloverfield 2?

I think we'll find out soon enough... until then maybe one of us might be lucky enough to Shazam the sound.

Very Normal Activity: 10 Things You'll Meet While Driving at Night

VNA is back since the reformat for another midnight edition! Not long ago I posted about driving by a graveyard, let's see what to expect when you do drive at night.

A lot of things happen after midnight. Illegal races, rempits, ah guas...

1. The Umbrella Lady

Quite common, since the typical story you would hear is how a lady in white with or without an umbrella waves at you by the roadside, apparently trying to tumpang you. Desperate much?

2. The Black... erm... Thingy

Usually you can't make out what it really is, just a black figure by the roadside which may be idle or moving. Since the colour black is usually associated with the dark side, I don't know if it'll wave nicely at you. Slowing down to record a poor 3GP video of it is not recommended either.

3. The Noisemaker

You may or may not be alone. Then suddenly you'll hear the cooler full of fish at the back of your car thrashing itself. Problem: the fish you bought died 8 hours ago. Or you could hear a lot of knocking on your roof. For this one, don't. stop. Keep on driving.

4. The Chasing Head

You open your window to get some fresh air to prevent you from further getting sleepy. With your arms resting on the window sill, you notices something strange at the rear view mirror. Holy! Something is chasing your car and it is quickly gaining distance towards you. Is that... is that a freaking head? Quite common in plantation areas somehow.

5. The Passenger

You may or may not be driving alone. Looking at the top rear view mirror, you notices a new hitchhiker sitting in the back seat. You look back, nothing. Then you focus back to driving. Minutes later you look at the mirror and hey! Someone's sitting there again! You look back nothing. Then you start to get goosebumps behind your neck... may also appear as a gunny sack/plastic bag/flowers/etc.

6. Hit-and-Run?

You are driving when suddenly you see a plastic bag floating in the wind hoping to start again. Ahh it's just a plastic bag so you just continue driving and hit the plastic bag. Instead of a quick plastic splet, you get a THUD. You slow down or stop your car. Only to see something rising up beside you...

7. The Annoying One

Quite similar to The Passenger, except this one is more physical. While driving, you feel someone touching your ears. Then you look back, everyone's asleep/no one's there. Moments later more touching around your head, your nose, body, etc. You get so annoyed and scared at the same time, you lose control.

8. The Radio Changer

Your radio is on and it's playing some generic songs that's putting you to sleep. Suddenly static and/or changes to a gibberish channel. You change back and it changes back too. Eventually you turn it off. It may remain quiet OR suddenly burst back into life OR plays a song by Justin Bieber, which frightens you and make you lose control.

9.The Stench/Aroma

You are driving when suddenly you smell something foul/aromatic. If it's foul, you usually had to open your windows or stop to pick up some flowers to freshen up your car. If it's aromatic, that's dangerous. Somehow having sweet aroma in your car could mean something just hitchhiked with you. In both cases, check your rear view mirror...

10. The Girl in the Middle of the Road

Kinda cliche in many horror movies. You're driving and suddenly there's a girl/woman appearing/walking on the middle of the road. You either avoid and crash into a tree, OR run her down and get #6, or end up with #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #8, #9. Seriously, what will you do when you see a girl in the middle of the road at this hour? Will you use common sense and listen to what your mom says, or endure 8 hours of Silent Hill-ish horror.

To end, here's a random youtube video for you before you sleep. Good nite, and drive safe...

Very Normal Activity: Strange Things at the Sea

Fishermen's tales about the sea that they don't usually blog about

I've accumulated enough stories from uncles who go out to sea to fish as work or hobbies in the west coast of Sarawak. They have all these weird encounters at sea that they don't really talk about, maybe because they are more excited to show off and take shots with their big catch. As strange as they may sound these paranormal activities have their respective explanation. Below are the things they shared about what they encounter at the sea... at night:

1. Flying orbs

Brief Description: Flying lights
Horror: 1 (they're just lights)
Encounter: Occasional
Explanation: Aliens! Or simply Malaysian weather balloon...
Reaction: Just ignore

They hover in the horizon or just the distance from the fishermen. To confirm they are not seeing stars from a rocking boat, these orbs fly in formation harmlessly from point A to point B where they usually just vanish. Sounds like the very orbs the members of TAPS keep talking and documenting about. A variation of the encounter includes that those orbs if close enough are actually eyes (for orbs that come in pairs) that fly around the fishermen. Watching them until they got bored.


2. Giant Legs
Brief Description: A pair of gigantass legs
Horror: 5 (i don't wanna get stepped on bro!)
Encounter: Rare
Explanation: Sea illusion. Malaysian weather balloon
Reaction: Go back to sleep

So you wake up and decided to go out of the cabin to pee into the sea. Then you see your boat under between 2 gigantic legs. Each footing into the sea to your left and right. You can't see the rest of the body because of its massive height above you. You took a leak and went back to sleep. Though I did forget to ask what gender the leg was...


3. Flying Heads
Brief Description: Flying Heads
Horror: 10 (mother truckers they're flying heads!)
Encounter: Occasional
Explanation: Malaysian weather balloon
Reaction: Run! Abandon hooks! Drive the boat away!

Flying heads at the sea in the middle of the night? Enough said. Could be mistaken for flying orbs at first but when they start flying closer towards the boat, the sight of an incoming flying head would scare the sheet out of anyone. Unlike the game DOOM those fishermen were not armed with futuristic laser rifles to blast those flying heads back to Hell, so they pulled anchor and fled.


4. The Bull-Snorting Swimming Baby
Brief Description: A baby snorting like a bull, swimming towards you
Horror: 10 (refer Brief Description)
Encounter: Rare
Explanation: Malaysian weather balloon
Reaction: Abandon hooks! Steer the boat into neighboring waters

This is really random. You're sitting there at night with your mates fishing. Then you heard a splash nearby. You thought something fell into the water. When you guys check at the direction of the splash, you see a baby swimming towards you. The baby's snorting angrily like a bull. Run.

Very Normal Activity: KM 42 Bukit Tinggi Pontianak

Thanks to May for the heads-up for another pontianak video in her post. Pontianak, or female ghost of woman who died giving birth, is the staple of Malaysian mainstream horror stories and poor handphone 3gp format videos online.

Entity: Pontianak
Location: KM 42 Bukit Tinggi, Kuantan, Malaysia
Status: Fake
Reason: This one is a fake. A simple white cloth with a long black wig being pulled up and down by a crane. Drivers pass by normally without attempts to speed away or slow down to take picture. And malicious spirits do not cast shadows (common belief).

Want more fakes? Enjoy: