Back with a vengeance

I was playing hookey yesterday. While still laying in bed at around 10am, a msg came in - somebody passed away - Innalillah..Then I realised, I might be sick but I'm still alive & there's so much to do...promises that I need to keep, thesis that won't wait blahblah..so, here I'm!

First, sorry dear - the photos are all jumbled up. After 2 days of Pangkor with a friend for her department 'family day', I went to Ulu Yam again for a real family outing with mak & the rest. There was another picnic in Kg. Miku, Rembau on the next day, but I purposely declined - even after much persuasion from my inlaws (those from SA & Melaka gathered on Tuesday - Labor day).

Second point, darling did ask me the whereabout of the sunset pic - so, I've answered already eh?

Third, I hope UL & Djin enjoy the greenery. I'm not showing off but sharing ye..

Fourth, to Simah & d, of course I've to mention our main course - see the pic lar.

Fifth, the story of the hornbill. Early in the sunday morning, me and friend were walking towards the futsal court when we caught sight of the couple of birds. This was right in front of the chalet next door. While snapping like crazy-never-see-the-birds-before, the owner (I guess since he know so much) came around and told us that in every early evening we should be able to see more of them (that's explained the name of the chalet) since that's the time he gives out the enticement to the flocks of birds- bread! He asked us, "Tau tak nama burung ni?" My friend confidently replied, "Kenyalang!" while I said, "Hornbill kot..." (I ain't city-kid but birds are simply birds to me). He make faces and the tsk-tsk sounds (must be thinking, muka je Melayu tapi buat malu bangsa!). He said, "Enggang lah!" See - I'm still right isn't it? According to him, kenyalang comes under the same category with enggang except that they're red in colour. If he bluffed me, then nasib you all lah..

Sixth, remember last time I mentioned that my paternal grandma got married 5 times? My mak told me that getting a divorce is quite easy during that time. And my grandma was a 'strong' woman (inherited acres of land under the adat perpatih)- if she don't like the man - out he goes!

So, how do you divorce your wife? We, Malays, are known to be sensitive to the feelings of others (aside from running amok when we feels like doing it) so no shouting of I-divorce-you or doing it the 'pengecut'-style by sms. Just take a nice white dish (piring lauk, made in China usually with roses around the edge) and drop a no. of shillings (has to be 1cent coins) according to the 'talak' (what's is this in English?) 1, 2 or 3! Do this in front of the family (the husband) and you're officially divorced!

P/s: I'm in a hurry again - to meet my blogger-cum-neighbour family (d, I know how you feel when you first know abt mamasarah - heheheh) ...

In the mean time, enjoy sharing my bedtime readings:

Culture Shock – South Korea

Single people of marriageable age in Korea are often asked, “Un chae kook soo reul muk ul soo it seul kaa yo?’ (‘When will I have a chance to eat noodles?’). Noodles are often eaten at wedding receptions, so this is an indirect inquiry into the person’s marriage plans.
See, cannot run, cannot hide ma…
____
Culture Shock – USA
There was a paragraph dedicated to the throne room. Try to explain about ‘a hole in the ground’ (mind you – this is not golf that we’re talking about though if we’re to talk golf, I’d prefer to use the word ‘menyabit’ which sounds more meaningful for anak peladang like me).
Back in the old days – discussion with a coursemate (mature student, Brit) revealed his experience regarding the other world aside of Western toilets. Imagine his surprise during a layover in KLIA (he got business somewhere in South-East Asia at that time) when he went to the gents and saw – roughly quoted, “It was just a hole in the ground!” Hey! What does he expects? A throne fit for a king?

In another book (sorry can’t recall the title), it is stated clearly that raising your thigh/knees higher than your butt do help the outgoing process of stool esp. for the elderly and others having problem of you-know-what (heheheh…and you can jz imagine how bored I’m to search the net for something & accidentally come across pictures (lots and lots of them – really gross! I shudder in memory..) which show the outcomes in various poses/degree – even a no. eight! No easy-peasy feat but I digress..)
Back to my point, is exactly that our Eastern way of doing it (by squatting) naturally works much better! BTW, isn’t that during Victorian time, chamber maids just throw out the content of the chamber pot onto the cobbled street below (pardon me if I’m wrong – this info is purely based on historical romance reading)? And which civilization first starts using proper sewerage/disposal system? It’s for you to find out…(and do let me know!)

_____

I seldomly watch Idol or any other reality tv or singing competition. And never before I cried buckets over a singing competition. But last 2 week’s (Friday night) ‘Idol gives back’, really touched my heart. I like in particular what Bono said, “May we be the generation that eradicates poverty.” He had the experienced of standing in front of more than 70 000 people (in Coliseum etc.) and the feeling that he got was awesome, “But that can never beat the feeling that you get after helping someone.”