Hujan emas di negeri orang,
Hujan batu di negeri sendiri
Lebih baik negeri sendiri

Roughly translating to:

Golden rain overseas
Rocky rain at home
Its better at home

Merdeka had been a very significant day for me in the past year. It is a day to reflect on the past, the present and the future. Of how my country had evolved in many different facets and take on various guises.From the days where my prawn mee during school recess cost RM 0.10 and the RM5 plate of char koay teow I had recently.From the hot, dirty sand-blown and mud-caked kampung house that my grandmother used to live in – and now she lives in a low-rise apartment.Now that it’s so clean and cool inside, it’s not the same anymore. Good or bad, it is still home to the best nasi lemak and char koay teow in the world, not to mention the world’s largest pencil just round the corner from my place

Last year I was contemplating on the irony of having to work on Merdeka for a company belonging to the colonist that granted us Merdeka.This year irony don’t even begin to describe my thoughts as I contemplate working every single Merdeka day in the future in the land of the colonist. But then again, is there anything really to celebrate as I watch the country of my birth turn a ripe old age of 49?

As I watch from afar the political infighting of the cream of our political society, I cringe at the thought that I am labelled an outcast in the country I called home. As ethnic chinese, we are now being accused of trying to take over the country and cause racial uproar. That the very country promoting the muhibbah (happy happy joy joy racist-less society) shiet are pointing fingers at the chinese race that we are communists and want to take the country over from the ‘bumiputras’ (earth prince – aka the malays). I cringe at future merdekas filled with dread, as we are being osctracised from our own country.Is it absurbd for us to be treated like fellow countrymen and not racially quota-ed out from the higher education system which,by the way, our tax money pays for?

It has been 49 years since special rights are given to the ethnic Malays to help them improve their lives with better opportunities at work and at school. Which means two generations of Malays who had grown up accepting the fact that the government is there to help in work and in school with the imposed quotas. But people tend to forget that it is also two generations of ‘the others’ with broken,trodden down spirits leaving the country, seeking greener pastures elsewhere so that they are not osrtracized in their own country. Mostly not even greener pastures, just somewhere where we are not treated like second class citizens.

I remember when I first moved to Fresno ,filled with wonder at the fact that ethnic minorities i.e. chinese americans, korean americans ect are actually covered by the affirmitive action policies,therefore are given priority in student loans ect to help them better themselves and therefore the ethnic minority society .Absolutely amazing. I found that a wonderful, brilliant idea. Until I found out that most western countries have affirmitive action policies similar to the one in the States. And I started to question my identity as a Malaysian, about how I love and call Malaysia my home,but for Malaysia to treat me like a second class citizen.

Happy birthday Malaysia. In the spirit of Malaysia, let’s work towards acceptance that we are all, afterall, fellow countrymen.

And don’t forget; merdeka is also the birthday of many people in Moo’s family.Happy birthday family Moo.

Like all girls, I loveee a good bargin. If bargin hunting can be a past time, it would be my topmost most favorite thing to do. Well, after eating, sleeping…the list goes on, but suffice to say it is up there with eating and sleeping..hehe. I’m sure that most girls (and boys as well!) love a good bargin. Nothing makes you feel better than getting something more for less. However, it is very dangerouns to get sucked into the bargin bin and just purchasing all sort of crap under the sky..which ends up costing more than the initial savings made on the item that you really want…or even end up with just piles of crap that you never need or want anyway!

One can always find best buy at www.buy.com

I always get annoyed that emergency evacuation runs at work always happens on a rainy and grey day….just so happens to be in shite weather. Why? Why is the weather always bad when you’re required to leave the office and stand outside for about 15 minutes? Or when you’re really working towards a deadline, or dialing in to an important meeting.

My funniest experience has got to be when someone I worked with needed to evacuate whilst he was in the gym. We came out all dressed in our work clothes..he came literally running out in his shorts, tee and sneakers…preparing for a run. Probably a good thing he wasn’t in the shower at that time…can you imagine running out in your towel?

Not many things in this world makes me cry – other than breakups and fights with the bad boyfriends . But this is making my heart ache and my eyes wet.

My last view of Redang

Yes, I have an obsession with marine life. I love beaches more than anywhere else on earth, even big bustling cities. I am never happier than when left alone with the fishes or just lazing on the white sandy beach. Swimming with sharks and turtles has left me awed with the beauty of the ocean, and how lucky Malaysia is to boost some of the best islands in the world (in my experience – miles better than the famed Bali or Philiphines’ Boracay). Being a grumpy cancer, it helps that I have been brought up close to the seas on an island to adventure loving parents who brought me fishing when I was a month old, by 4, I was expertly stringing worms as baits.At age 24, I wake up early in beautiful Perhentian and join the dive shop owner as she trawl the beaches picking up yesterday’s rubbish.

Like many things, beauty is exploited when no proper training/warning/education is given to the gazillions of tourists that throng the famous 3 of the west coast of Malaysia; Perhentian, Redang and Tioman. It’s sadder still that those who regularly pollute the islands are Malaysians. But there are no lack of irresponsible uneducated overseas tourists as well – I nearly strangled the bro-in-law when he mentioned that it would be nice to have an aquarium filled with corals and coral fishes i.e. nemo-like. Bacon had to hold me down I kid you not. I can’t understand why would someone kidnap nemo for their own viewing pleasure.

Corals which take thousands of years to grow and mature can be broken with a kick of a swimming foot. Some people believe that since everyone else is doing it, why not them? Dead corals,washed up on the beach, disintergrate and turn into the beautiful white sand that you lie on.

Leave nothing but footprints, bring nothing but memories. In Redang’s case, it it too late now…but there is still time to rescue whatever that is left. Do not allow Redang to turn into Pangkor, where even the locals have not seen a live coral in years.

Meet my new best bag

An accidental purchase over the weekend in London.From £35 down to £14.99, this was my pick since Bacon is only allowing me one bag from all the treasures in the shops. Seeing that I am seeking for greener pastures and really,really need a bag to stuff all my application forms in a stylish manner, I had to go for urban formal rather than kitschy cute. Well, we always really,really need a bag.

For those heading towards London – there is a little known secret that Aldo has an outrageous discount centre in Camden Market with bags,shoes and accessories at more than 50% off.With all that choice, it was really hard limiting my purchases…I woke up the next morning mumbling, “I need a new bag…and also shoes…*snore*”

And ooh, guess what, I got a pair of matching shoes as well

I *heart* Aldo!