IS LONGEVITY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE?

When you are my age, nearly 3 score and ten, whether longevity is an important issue or not becomes a valid question. Many contemporaries of mine are so concerned with longevity that they are constantly obsessed with their health. They may be very careful with their money with other things but where their health is concerned they do not mind splurging on expensive and seemingly worthless things. A neighbour of mine who is of the same age is very careful with her money but she does not mind spending a bundle on underwear lined with magnetic beads which are supposed to induce better blood circulation and bracelets of crystal beads which, she is told by the salesperson, will help to regulate her karma and contribute generally to her well-being if she wears them on her wrist. There are others who will spend lavishly on "health food" and other food supplements which they have been told will contribute to their good health and keep all the ailments of old age at bay.
I always tell people of my age group that as we grow older we become uglier and, as far as I am concerned, I would prefer to go while I still look good. Longevity is not what I aspire to achieve. Quality of life is more important to me. I would rather prefer to be able to enjoy every 24 hours that I have to the fullest and not worry about how many more 24 hours I am going to have. What is the point of living up to a ripe old age of 90 years when you have to spend the last 10 years in a horizontal position ravaged by disease or old age, relying on others to help you endure the misery and suffering for another 10 years? Of course we have no control over how and when we have to go; that is the prerogative of a higher being. However, we have reasonably ample control over how we are going to spend the next hour and if we are going to throw that hour away by dwelling on our obsession with old age and good health instead of going out and enjoying ourselves and be thankful that we have one more glorious hour to enjoy then longevity will be meaningless.

THE LANGURS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, PENANG

If you, like a great many people in the state of Penang, are not aware of the existence of the langurs in the Botanical Garden, here are some photographs of the langurs. These photographs were taken during National Day week when the elusive langurs decided to oblige by coming down to ground level to feed on the hibiscus plants in the garden. As mentioned in my previous blog the langurs seldom come down to ground level, preferring to feed at the middle or top levels of the trees most of the time. While they will feed on leaves, flowers and fruit, their preference is for the small leaflets and it is this choosy feeding habit that makes them quite messy feeders, very often leaving a carpet of older leaves, discarded by them, on the ground below. Langurs are natives of Southeast Asia and India and because they have been seen in the Botanical Garden only in the last few years, many locals are still unaware of their presence. Most Penangites are aware of the "pesky" macaques but few know about the existence of the langurs.
The langur has a multi-chambered stomach which helps it to digest the leaves that it has eaten. In addition there are also bacteria in the stomach of the langur to help in the digestion of the food. After the langur has finished eating, it will sit around for a while to allow the food to digest. Langurs do not move around much because of their diet. They have to sit around and let their food digest. The life span of the langur is about 20 years.