My Malaysia

Dear Angah,
Because you were so forgetful yesterday to bring along the choral speaking script for your inter-dorm competition,mommy dearest is posting the script here.Good luck...

My Malaysia

Malaysia?
Yes Malaysia
My Malaysia
A multi racial society
A land of many colorful festivals and celebrations
Malay,Chinese and Indians
Dayak,Dusun and Iban..to name a few
Islam,Buddhism and Christianity
Hinduism and others are the religions
All celebrate the big day ...at different times of the year
With vibrant festivals,traditional dances and drama

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is celebrated by Muslims
Tick Tock..its 4:30 in the morning
Wake up..wake up...
Mum...yes dear
I'm sleepy
I don't want to wake up
Its the fasting month of Ramadhan

Dum dum dum
Hari Raya is coming
The balik kampong joy begins
Leaving the big cities empty...like ghost town
Starts the big day in the mosque
Performing the prayer
And visiting the graves of the departed
Colorful baju kebaya and baju melayu don the day
Rendang and ketupat fill the table ...and my stomach!

Ding Dong...Ding Dong...
Its Christmas in December
Its winter free here...but still as merry as ever
Ho ho ho...
Santa Clause is coming
With white beard and red robe
Christmas presents on his back
Little children are so happy
The presents they get.

Then comes the Chinese New Year
With various animals attached to its names
And the red angpow makes it so distinct
The cheongsam makes the ladies beautiful
Just like...the classic Chinese movies
Fire crackers???
No..no..no..its 1000 ringgit ine
Or a month's jail
Wow!!!

Deepavali is a show of saris
Just like in Bollywood or Mumbai
Also known as the festival of light
All the estates become bright
Muruku being the delight
A little India in Malaysia
With Malaysian taste and flavour
India made in Malaysia.

Next we have the Thaipusam
Celebrated on the 10th month of the Hindu calendar
Hindus believe that sins can be cleansed today
Thousands of devotees and visitors throng Batu Caves
'Kavadis'..on their shoulders or backs
Fresh coconuts were smashed...but not to be cooked!
A sight tourists will never forget

Banglow...no!
Semi-d...no!
Condo...NO!
Longhouse? yes..yes..
The Sarawak Dayaks live in longhouse
Gawai is their celebration
To celebrate the season of rice harvesting
And the new planting season
All through the days of this exotic festival
Are filled with laughter...ha..ha..ha..
Drinking..
Danicng..
And merry making

November and December
Its raining season in the east coast
But its fiesta time in Penang
A carnival-like Pesta Pulau Pinang
Songs..dances..cultural shows
Food stalls...
Games...roller-coaster
Handicraft..you name it
Pesta Pulau Pinang has everything to offer
Mini Malaysia in Pulau Pinang.

A two-week affair in September
Malaysia Fest offers Malaysian culture,craft and cuisine
A scene you will always remember
...and treasure.

Malaysia..
Beautiful Malaysia
Malaysia...truly Asia

Good luck also for your farewell dinner tonight!

Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood

Who says making decision is easy?We have been making decisions through out our lives, still there are times where we are not sure whether the decision we make is the wisest.

I have been managing the household alone most of the time,however,it does not make decision-making any easier. I have to make choices, from the simplest decision like what do I cook for breakfast so that none of my kids sulk in front of their meal and go to school happily with a full stomach, to a matter of life and death,such as should I bring the kid to hospital now,at 3:00 in the morning or should I wait for the first streak of dawn.It is hard, especially for somebody who is fickled- minded like me.And what makes it harder is I am accountable and responsible for the
decision that I make.Besides, everything must be answerable in front of the big boss....aahhhh...

Last night when daughter Ifah was running a high temperature and trembling for almost 20 minutes, I was again confused.Should I just rely on the previous Ifimol tablet prescribed earlier by her paediatrician and just sponge her body or should I bring her to the 24-hour clinic.Any dotted mother will quickly bundle up her kid and head for the clinic.But not me..


Daughter Ifah trembling under the comforter in the living room ...

I hate bringing her to clinics.The doctor will again prescribe some medications and antibiotics which she has to swallow until finish.Daughter Ifah had been on medication for a long time,swallowing one antibiotic after another due to her illness.I fear the effect of medications will take its toll on her body in the long run.That is the reason.I prefer to resort to some traditional remedies but where do I get that at midnight last night????


Finally...after waiting for half an hour and Ifah was not showing any slight improvement,I drove to the clinic.But wait...I had to stop at ATM first to draw some money.Earlier that afternoon I just paid my astro,telephone and broadband bills ,so I was short of cash.I drew the money from ATM machine at Econjaya,and fortunately there was a guard on duty who in a way has made me feel safer.


The doctor gave her a jab and prescribed about 5 types of medications.Then he asked Ifah to take a bath from head to toe upon reaching home.Taking a bath at 12 midnight is something not very encouraging especially by orang tua-tua, sebab nanti paru-paru masuk air.How do the shower get into the lung ***##?? am trying to figure out...

After everything settled,daughter Ifah got under her duvet and slept soundly and calmly.Her temperature running low through out the night.

When the azan called for Suboh,mommy dearest woke up and headed straight for the bathroom, to bathe and take ablution.Little did she realise she still cannot pray ...Mommy dearest dived back into the comfort of her duvet...One chaotic night has turned mommy dearest into forgetful person.

Another important decision-making has to be made this morning. Along called, telling Mommy about the fast-trek program which is offered to him.With a much higher standard of requirement this year, only three students in his college are offered a place.Yet they still have to go for an interview which is right after their SPM.Along could not decide as what course to choose and where to go.He is interested to do marine engineering, if possible, abroad.But engineering is offered locally at UTP.Only medicine is offered abroad, a field which Along is not interested at all.

As mommy dearest could not decide for Along,she advised him to sembahyang istikharah first.I know there is no 100% guarantee that he can get it...but what if he gets... he has to decide wisely because this is something that will affect his future.

Good luck dear son...my final advice is follow your heart and interest!You are the one who is going to go through the gruesome years of jihad.

Quoting from Robert Frost's "The road not taken"

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I...
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"

Just remember,whatever decision you are making now Along,it will make what and who you are in years to come.