Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Brainy? Beautiful? Patronuses and ikan bilis..

Would I rather be brainy or beautiful?
Truth is, I’d rather be loved.

What would youI think about to produce a Patronus charm?
To do a Patronus charm, you have to think of the happiest thoughts you can think of. The Patronus charm works against dark magic, one of it which is to repel Dementors who’s main purpose is to suck all the happiness out of you.

I was thinking about this and I remembered, the happiest moment in my life.

I had just watched the sun rise. From the end of the wooden jetty, I dipped in my toes in the warm waters of Redang. I slipped down and immersed myself in the clear sparkling turquoise sea. After a moment of bubbles spraying around my body, I opened my eyes. It didn’t sting, the water wasn’t really salty. I walked slowly in the quiet stillness underwater, leaving a trail of sandy mist under my feet. I could see far beyond. There was no one else there. Except the fishes. There’s so many of them. All swimming around me in rhythm. The school of small ‘ikan bilis’ swam in a blur, a wave of my hand broke them up, then they joined back together again. I feel them swirl all around me but no matter where I turned, I could never touch them. I stood still and watched. There was no sound, but it was the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

It may seem selfish that my happiest moment didn’t involve any other person. I’m being completely honest here. Maybe, if there was any other person, I would feel compelled to ‘be’ a certain way. In the end, we are all alone anyway.

Why was that moment happy for me? In that solitude, I felt peace. Peace beyond any peace I have ever experienced. In that fleeting moment I was overjoyed but sad at the same time. I felt complete yet parted. I felt greatness yet I felt small. I felt free. I felt loved.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Sri Paandi Revelation

If you eat banana leaf rice, the curry smell wont come off your hands for days. But its worth every bit of rice and papadam. To people who have doubt that Malaysian of different races and backgrounds can live in harmony, they must surely have never been to Sri Paandi PJ or any other daun pisang establishment. Its the epitome of Muhibbah. We Malaysians can surely tolerate each other, as long as we keep feeding each other good food.

I've a penchant for Indian food. Must be all those years I spent at Visithra's house when I lived in SS 12 Subang Jaya. After school, Aunty Bus (our school bus driver is a Chinese woman) sends us home amidst shouting at us for putting our hands out the window and throwing trash. Everybody did it back then. Since I'm alone, most of the time I go next door to Visithra's. Aunty Lingham makes lovely chappati and uuumph curry. Mmm yummy... served in the stainless steel wares that make the ice water sooo sedap. Aiyoh, papadam rocks!! then after that we'd watch movies about Hindu gods or maybe a Disney cartoon.

Those hot lovely golden vadai can make me as happy as chocolates can. Thank God I live in Rawang.