Happy Independence Day Malaysia

I did not intend to celebrate independence day as I never did physically celebrate it in my life. Never been to any of those gatherings. Never stood (or sit) in a field watching fireworks. Never braved any traffic jam (except for once) to get to an independence day celebration.

So, it was the same last night. I don't actually know how to appreciate Merdeka (Independence in Bahasa Malaysia). Most leaders will say the youth of today do not know how to show it. I will ask back, how do you actually show your appreciation? Countdowns? Traffic jam? Party? 

I am thinking of going to a celebration, after a very long time, this afternoon called The Merdeka Train Party, but I am actually still thinking. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. 

I can easily answer how do I show my appreciation of Merdeka. I never left this country except for holidays. I studied here and even have another degree coming from a Malaysian institution if I can just finish my final assignment. That shows I believe in Malaysia education system. I make my money in  Malaysia for the past 10 years by opening up my own legal firm. I deal with all sorts of Malaysian and pay my taxes (including zakat) every year. I have foreign clients whom I convince to do business in Malaysia. I married a Malaysian and bought a Malaysian home and drive Malaysian cars (once). 

I just don't believe you need to go far to be Malaysian and the need to celebrate it by doing stuff usually associated with it. I think the best way to show your independence spirit is when you are willing to die for your country. How many of you will be willing to do that? 

Anyway, have a Great Independence Day, Malaysia and here's to many more...

Gatherings of not so old boys

All of us will be 35 this year. Some of us meet every year during fasting month for breaking of fast since six to seven years ago. Some rarely come to it. Some was never seen until two nights ago.

The meet-up was supposed to plan for another meet-up. A proper one where everyone can bring their family. That was the plan until everyone see who came. Some of those who was last seen 20 years ago. 

The sum may not add up. We left our school days when we are 17. 35 minus 17 will just be 18. 

But you did not count on how 'well-behave' were we during our school days. So 'well-behave' that we lost nearly a quarter of our number by the time we graduated from school.

 

The gang at 11.45pm

 

  

  

  

The final picture was at another place, where the number was already halved. And I arrived home at 4am after nearly 5 hours of an impromptu reunion. That would-be meet-up? May not happened, but that night was enough for a bunch of us to exchange what has been happening in life.

All is fair in love and war

Someone mentioned to my wife and I that we are fun to be with as we do not agree with each other all the time. 

Huh? Yep, that was the statement. 

The explanation was in contrast with all those lovey dovey couple who keep on agreeing with each other (or one of them will be agreeing with the other who seems to be the life of the party), we always have our own opinion. Those lovey dovey couple can always be agreeable but then after a few years (even months) breaks up and go their separate ways.

Yes, we argue or held our own opinion in a lot of things. We do not always see eye to eye and we will make a stand on certain issues even if that means we are on the opposing side. We tease each other about our shortcoming and we know each other likes and dislikes.

We are together as one couple but we treasure our individualism. We fell in love with each other due to this. No one among us is trying to change that. 

I hope we will be like this until our old age...Just like the movie Up! (which is another matter to blog about on another day)

The car beside you

 

Don't you ever wonder somtime who is driving that car beside you?

Or what do they do for a living?

Or where are they going?

Or what life are they living?

Just a thought. Everytime I am driving alone with nothing to do.

Other than singing songs loudly or picking at my nose....

Does a car really makes a man?

If anyone have been following my tweets at Twitter.com/kruel74, they would have known I have been riding public transport for the past few weeks. It is by choice though it is also out of curiosity and necessity. Let me explain using a pictorial.

I have sold my car :

... dream of replacing it with this car :

Yep, that is a rare Bentley, seen on the Malaysian road, and own by one of the royalty, hence the dispensing of any form of car registration number (I guess). It was driving in front of me quite slowly one day and just couldn't resist to snap while driving.

I am actually currently going to a lot of meetings (even high profile one) using this :

This is a picture in a Monorail, one part of Malaysia's public transportation

Will it make me any lesser of a man or a businessman? My wife did not think so and even said, surprisingly she did not miss the BMW. 

I don't too.

Staple diet

The problem with me is that I don't really like my country or most of Asian countries staple diet. It is not a problem in the current modern time as we can get any type of food anywhere in Malaysia as even our past time is known to be eating. Yep, that is what we do most of the time. Eat! We eat during all mealtime and we plan for the in-betweens. Heck, we are so into eating that other than golfing, most business deals are closed at the lunch or dinner tables.

Everyone will eat rice at least once a day in Malaysia. There are so many types of food made from rice. White rice. Rice noodles. Sushi. Tapas from rice. All sort of rice based food. I basically do not have this tendency.

It is not a problem in my household as my wife and I basically love eating out. My wife even had to look for other people like my mother, her's and her friends if she had the craving for real Malaysian food. As for me, I stick to my diet which can consist of bread, chicken which is cooked in basically any which way and meat. Once in a while, I eat like any Malaysian and have rice. It is even worse if my wife want those meals which have durian in it. She has to ask permission and look for other companions.

So, during this Ramadhan, while people line up for their favourite food which can sometime only comes out during this special month, I just eat whatever my wife cook or buy. Even my parents do that and does not bother with anything special. I eat what they eat. Unlike if any one of my brothers come home. Then all their favourites will be there. As they usually asked for it. 

There is no one meal is my staple diet, except maybe the chicken. 

How about you?

Compromise during Ramadhan

I have been writing a lot of posts regarding Ramadhan this past few days. Like all other religious celebrations, Muslims tend to have their own routine when it comes to this holy month. We do tend to get carried away here in Malaysia as all the stops with regards to eating. As Malaysians are known to be eater (ask any expatriate who has the chance how much we eat), it is important for us to schedule our first few days of fasting around where we will be breaking our fast.

For the past few years, we have come to a formula to satisfy both us and our respective parents. As they usually expect us to break fast with them, we tend to divide the first day and the second day of Ramadhan between them. 

This year, it was just perfect. First day of Ramadhan was a weekend. We prayed with the neighbours on the first night (Islamic day starts at dusk and we prayed a prayers which can only be done within Ramadhan the night before the first day of fasting). On Saturday, which was the first day of Ramadhan, we went back to break fast with my parents. I went praying at the local mosque in my hometown that night. On Sunday, we went back to our house before going off to my wife's parents house in greater Kuala Lumpur (Ampang) for breaking fast in the second day of Ramadhan. I then went of to the local mosque there.

Basically, we have both parents covered and we managed to taste the food cooked by our parents resepectively. Some of our favourite tapas (kueh) and some of our favourite drinks. 

Now, we can go back to our daily routine of Ramadhan at our own house...

At one of the eating session with my family

Waking up for sustenance

Every morning, before the first light of dawn, during the fasting month, most Muslims will be waking up to eat some food. In Malay, the word to describe this eating before dawn is sahur and everyone has a story of how the learn to do this during their childhood.

My family consider sahur as a must. Some family choose to not do it at all as they will be eating whatever needed to sustain them during the day much earlier which is before everyone going to bed. As for my  wife and I, we do try to wake up at 4.30am for us to properly eat and drink. Unless we had a late supper.

I remembered the time when I was still a kid trying hard to wake up like I was taught to do. Even sat by the bedside as if I was awake but still in the throes of sleep. Or going to the table and then slept with my food in front of me. The trial of fasting is always deeply felt by kids more than adult.

Nowadays, fasting is just a month which we tend to take for granted except for the abundance of food we can acquire. I actually have limited myself since I was in my twenties to ignore the tradition of buying and eating too much. 

This year, with me managing to lose nearly 8 kg after a diet I followed, I am determined to stick to my usual way and eat lesser. And to add more activities which will be beneficial to me in the other world.

Happy Ramadhan...

 

Food rarely seen during other months

Gaydar, a tool...

I learnt of this term when my wife and I were following L Words which is basically about the homosexual community in Los Angeles.

I have a few gay friends in Kuala Lumpur, which may not be as open with others and one of the topic which they usually brought up is the issue of identifying those who are gay. Of course, in a conservative country like Malaysia, being gay is a no, no. But they are around and in a modern city like Kuala Lumpur, it is not that surprising.

Like what Jack of 30 Rocks once said, "He is not just powerful, he is gay...", meaning to say, some of those who are powerful are gay and there are certain business where they have cornered the market.

Back to my friend. He is always hoping for signals to know the availability and the sexual preference of those he fancy. Some do respond and some brush him off.

And yes, even in Malaysia, the issue of "Where have all the good men go?" do play a part in the dating scene. Much like Sex and the City...

It is the first day of Ramadhan

As an adult Muslim, I have been doing this for quite some times. Fasting, I mean. From 6am to 7pm, give an take. It is actually not that hard on a working day as the work will keep you occupied. On weekends and holidays (this year we have two 3-days weekend), mostly all will sleep. Even my mother who rarely sleep during the day.

In my early years, I did try to do it at my best behaviour but my grandmother, whom I live with will know whether I am really fasting or not. A piece of chicken (or two) will go missing. I look much 'energetic' for a 10 year old who just started to fast. And other tell tale sign...

I remember during my school days when a few of my friends who couldn't take it asking non-Muslim friends to buy McDonald's and eating it on the way home.

 

As an adult, the bad thing about Ramadhan, especially in Malaysia is the food. The abundance of it. Even the non-Muslims enjoyed it. They even join in our break fast buffet at hotels which nowadays are being labelled as taking advantage of those who are willing to spend. The prices go north year after year. 

It will be a great Ramadhan and greater Eid Fitr. It usually is.

To all my Muslim friends, have a good Ramadhan and may Allah bless you as you go around in your ibadat and prayers...