Back on the Water

Time to think.

Aim for something else and you may get another thing altogether.

Now that I am in a different line of work, I am beginning to appreciate the term "24 hours is not enough". Of course some might quip, you are just bad at time management aren't you ? I could agree with that, except my point is that you never truly understand anything until you experience it yourself. The 24 hour phenomena is made worst when its not just your time that you have to manage but the time of others who most likely will have a different understanding on the concept of punctuality.

Anyway, when there is a little room to think I have been mulling over Jim's story. The prequel comes to mind. How he began, before the separation that leads him to finding peace in putrid cigarette smoke infused with coffee on the balcony of his apartment. Well, perhaps when I have time. In the mean time, I'll just post some photos to fill the gap. There are stories to tell.

Purple & White

Soothing purple and white. Beautiful.

Dewy Beauty

Sometimes words became unnecessary. Just stay still and absorb the beauty before the sun takes away the dew.

Kacang Putih - white nuts ?

I have no idea why its called kacang putih, literally translated "white nuts". Its actually spicy savoury snacks of Indian origin consisting of what else but various types of nuts, crisps and savoury concoctions. In the olden days, for me that's the 70's when I was a little boy back in Tampin Linggi, I used to ask, beg or throw a tantrum to get some of. Back then it came in paper cones made of old newspapers or magazines - Majalah Hiburan - with pictures of people dressed in ridiculous wide collars, bell bottomed pants and platform shoes.

Anyway, back to current times, I met this vendor recently whom I am certain will be a success. Just like the olden days, his stall is mobile, well perhaps better than the old rickety bicycles and a crate to pile the goodies on. Same mode none the less. Being mobile, he chose a very strategic location. Near the ATM machines during salary season. He's friendly and flashes a smile to everyone. Does not seem to mind if you just want to take a peek, offers bits to taste and still smiles if you did not buy anything.

The clincher was the fact that he offers a bag for RM2 but buy 3 mixed bag for only RM5. Its not so much the offer, but the way he executes them. It is very hard to resist. Totally in contrast to the posh, rude "Chef" that I posted about recently.

Alas, the kacang putih came in plastic bags not in paper cones... Good luck Macha.

Abandoned.

Just some scenes and a comment "What a pity ? I could use those..." that sets me thinking. What is useless to someone may be of value to another. Then I ponder, am I being viewed as such ? Will I be abandoned ? Will I be the one who abandons ? Oh well, just some deep wild thoughts before I attend to more mundane matters.

Homes by the River

A stolen shot of our mean looking but kind and generous guide as he tells us about the river and its inhabitants, both humans and animals.

The luxury condo looks posh and imposing but the rustic kampung house amongst the trees looks so serene and carefree. And these, as the series below existed opposite each other, separated by the river.

Opposites Attracts

The grand and the mediocre separated by a narrow river and most likely a huge bank balance.

The opulent and the poor. Different banks (river & money), different style.

Upper and lower middle class ?

Housing for the masses.

Just some interesting scenes that I captured on a lazy Sunday afternoon drifting up and down the river. Feel free to make your own observations, analysis, opinions or thesis.

MAS being crappy

There is definitely something wrong with our "PREMIER AIRLINE". On the way in, my flight was delayed for half an hour. Acceptable. Yesterday, a colleague who is supposed to fly in before noon arrived at 8PM. We thought it was his bad luck and laughed at his predicament.

I am not laughing now. My flight is delayed from 2055 to 2200 to 2245 as I type this. Come on, you operational guys being angry at your management, please don't take it out on your clients.

Finally got home at 0200hrs. At least the services by the flight crew is still top notch and I got my peanuts. Sighhh, this situation is really not good for MAS or the nation. To make it worst, a lot of participants at the International Rainforest's Music is affected.

My comfort food

Dropped by my auntie's place on the way to Melaka. Way past lunch time, approaching late afternoon. As luck would have it, as I meander in the kitchen looking for a glass of cold water, I saw these instead. Mean, hot, spicy and tangy comfort food that I grew up on.

Bamboo shoots with shrimps in a thick "masak lomak cili api", based on coconut milk, birds eye chili, tumeric and some other stuff. "Sambal goreng ikan bilis kacang", peanut and anchovies fried in dried chili paste and flavoured with tamarind juice and prawn paste.

It was comforting. Immediately after, with Jaq and Den on my mind, we proceeded outside for yet another glorious durian kampung session.

When its time to go...

I am leaving on a jet plane...like in the song...

When its time to go, its time to go. Leaving one door for another. Such is life I suppose, constantly changing. Change, the only thing that stays the same. Over and over again. When this happens, the thing that I detest the most is the ritual of goodbyes. Am never good at it and almost always will be uncomfortable doing it. I know the ritual means well, its just that I don't like it as I believe goodbyes should be left to do its work at the absolute final moment of human life i.e. when one actually leaves this world.

Life is short and the world is getting smaller and smaller. We are bound to see each other again. I would rather we just bid farewell and look forward to meeting again soon. Because, we will.

Durian & City Boys

The city boy hacking the durian to death trying to get to the flesh. The tantalising aroma taunting him to try with all his might to get to it. The king of fruit refuses to yield, protecting his flesh in thorny skins and stubborn fibres. Amazingly, the city boy did not get hurt.

Ahhh, the old auntie with her scrawny hands came to the rescue, city boy finally gets to enjoy the creamy, sweet, slightly bitter taste from the king of fruits. It was worth it. Each tree bear fruits with differing taste and texture. Definitely not like your RM10 per packet from the hypermarket.