Here comes 31st August. Some of us will value this day so much coz we can sleep a little longer.
I admit that I'm some of them but I won't forget the true meaning of this day.
Every national day, all my learnings on history during my high school time just keep in flashing in my mind. From the proud Malacca sultanate to Portuguese ooccupation, from the atrocities of Japanese forces to the insurgence of communism. And the final chapter, the independence of Malaya and followed by the valuable efforts to build this country.
Nevertheless, a history book is not a defining tool to learn about Malaysia. You have to be a Malaysian to know about Malaysia. Its values, its cultures and its heritage are too vast for one to adopt.
Indeed, one of our admirable traits is that we cherish our Multi-racial cultures very much. And we respect our differences. These differences bond us even stronger.
I know times is rather tougher this year but together we will make it through.
It is a heavy period, i would say. My aunt passed away late last month, one of my favourite actors hung himself last week and today, i learnt that acquaintance of mine had passed away. How much more do i need to bear?
You see, every juncture of our lives, we will stop once in awhile and ponder the purpose of life. Such a cliche question but i believe most of the people are still struggling to find the answer. There's no definite answer for that, it really depends on how you view your life.
Life could be a beautiful thing and a bed of roses. You know, having heartwarming family, having those pampering times with your children or even watching your partner grows old. Or you can be more realistic by having all the materials in the world.
However, above is just the bright side of our lives.Roses come with thorns too. You are very lucky to live in happy and contended life whereas others are still wandering around on the sidewalk living in the dark and walking aimlessly.
I was wondering where all those sad, depressed and lonely people come from? Were they fated to lead such a undeserving life? Or the society lead him into such way? Or they are too weak and faithless to face failures and resentments?
Sometimes I really wish i could be a cat - so everytime i fall, i could always land on my feet. Sometimes I also really wish that i could be Willy Wonka and owns a Chocolate Factory. I know i daydream a lot but fantasy and dream can make you go far while reality is just one sick brief moment that just to pass-by.
My dreams lately have been kind to me. No more nightmares but sweetdreams lullaby me recently. I know it may sound silly but i dreamed that i was travelling in London, Berlin (God knows why), New York and Paris. The dreams were so surreal that I could feel the excitement. But alas, I don't know which part of my lifetime i would have the chance to have an escapade in those mentioned places.
It sucks to wake up and face the reality. Reality can be beautiful sometimes but most of the time, it shows its ugly true colours. My reality is not something that i would proud of or be happy about it. It seems that all the stars that illuminated my darkest nights had faded away.
I don't even know how to light up. I have lost the sparkles in my life. I have lost the glow in my life. My life is rather soulless for me recently. It's like no purpose to drive my life. I'm just letting my life passes me by.
They say being gay supposed to be colourful but this is not the case for me. I don't have sizzling body to wear those tits-showing singlets. Though i'm proud to be gay but there were times i felt so ashamed about it because they are bunch of shrimps with nice body but without any brain. And even with nice body, they would become whores to showcase their bodies in Facebook as if they're inviting sluts out there to put their money into the former's underpants. Aren't beauty things don't seek attention?
He was a genie, a nanny, a radio deejay, a hunter, Popeye, Peter Pan, a robot, a doctor, a penguin, President of USA and the list goes on and most of all, he was a comedian who never failed to give us laughter on the silver screen. But on Monday, our laughter poked by this comedian had turned to sorrow.
I believe you and I were devastated that Robin Williams has passed on. I guess it's safe to say that we watched at least one of his movies in our lives. I came to know about this actor when my mom bought me a VHS tape Jumanji when i was like eight years old and Robin Williams was an epitome of comedy movies for me ever since.
Never knew behind the man who gave us the heart-warming joy and laughter was a man who had been suffering from depression. He didn't kill himself, depression killed him.
How you gonna diagnosis whether a person is suffering from depression? What are the differences between sadness and depression? Fate dictates us that there are times that sadness will occur in our lives but don't let sadness to overwhelm us.
I know life sucks most of the time. Hopelessness, worthlessness and restlessness are the demons that drive everyone into sadness or depression in this case. I have to admit that I don't see the world as beautiful as it's promised to be sometimes. I see the world as a dark and hopeless place to live.Really, everytime i scroll down my Facebook, i would envy those who post those pictures which they look so happy and so complacent. What about me? I will question myself why i could not have that happiness. Is it fated for me that i will lead a long and winding road kinda life or am i too blind to appreciate all that i have?
But life goes on, i have to move on with my life. Life is really short, so don't waste my time to compare with others. And don't waste your time doing things that you don't like. It will be a very
sad ending when you're on the deathbed and recalling the things that you didn't like but you did it. Live and let die.
Let me end my entry with this quote from Robin Williams:
“You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.”
I just realized that my buddy has been living with his partner for months and best of all his partner's parents gave their blessing to my buddy relationship.
How wonderful it is. They could enjoy relationship freely in their parents' eyes without any need to pretend and without any need to make the relationship underground. And it is really wonderful that his partner's parents could be proud and happy for their son's relationship.
Tough luck for me as I don't think I have that kinda blessing. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who is seeking the precious blessing. I'm pretty sure you too.
You see this gay thingy is still a taboo in our modern society. The greatest pressure for a gay relationship is hide from your family members or if leaks out, it's even tougher when your family members never give their blessing and despise it instead.
I always believe that one's relationship is a very private thing-a situation which a world shared by two individuals and it's not an obligation to explain and to report to anyone.
But when it comes to family especially your parents, come on, you can't hide from them right. They will start interrogate why you are very close with that particular friend of yours.
Sometimes I really wish to go two steps ahead to my mom. Skip the 'gay confession' part and straight to point to her 'mom, this is my partner'.
I wonder how she will react. Will I shock her til raising her blood pressure sky high or she will accept it nonchalantly like "oh wow".
I think most likely she will like "seriously? Stop joking. Why him?"
I don't know when I will come clean with my mom coz sometimes I feel like not nice of hiding since I'm her son. And by that confession, I hope she will accept my partner coz he is worthy to be recognized.
On contrary, if I ever beg blessing from his family, I guess I'll be on my knees crying and begging and singing this song:
Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?
Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know
You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die
July supposed to be a great friend of mine who never failed to give me that extra miles. However, July could betray me sometimes. July took away my uncle two years ago. And today, the final two days of the month, I received a very sad news from my mom that my aunt has passed on.
Indeed, today is a sad day for my family. Though we knew this day would come but never knew it came too soon. I hope my family members would be strong and carry on at this difficult period.
When you're sure you have enough of this life, words of wisdom here is don't let yourself go. Life is really fragile and is really short and rather unpredictable. I remember I was with my aunt and other family members celebrated my uncle's birthday earlier this year but never knew my aunt has gone forever.
Day could be long and night is yours alone. Sometimes everything is wrong and nothing seems to be right. The problems you're having now; be it at work or relationship or even argument with your friends; trust me, it's just a tiny particle in the universe.
There's more to life. Life is bigger than what we thought - those problems are just small fragments that constitute life. I believe life is filled with love. I know ugly people are everywhere but in this crowds of ugliness, there's love. Love from those who lend you a hand and love from those who show you guidance to get out of this ugly society.
If you're having problem right now, please stop crying your heart out. Beauty is all around us and not just in pageants and parlors. You can find it in the swirl of galaxies or swirl in the centre of a sunflower.
I remember there was a time i was so lost and i had no clue what to do then I lamented and asked God, where were you when i needed You the most. With a blank state of my mind, i walked into the car and turned on the engine and the radio started to echo "God is watching us, God is watching us....from a distance" (Bette Miller's From A Distance). If He didn't watch me, i wouldn't writing this entry.
Before i end my note, this is for my aunt who passed on this afternoon and for those who had departed from us:
I must say tourism in Ipoh is really booming. Well, if it didn't why the hotels there were really growling like mushrooms.Really, i was in Ipoh during the pre-Raya weekend, and the downtown was infested with people from elsewhere (validated by the non-A plat number and they conversed in non Cantonese language)
Everytime I bring my friends from outstation, i have this puzzlement of where i should bring them. White coffee, Gunung Lang Recreational park, load of local delicacies, caves , coffee shops or
maybe Lost of World of Tambun? Being a native Ipoh so i wouldn't find any of these tourist spots are interesting coz Ive been there and done many times.
However, recently, the well-loved painter Ernest Zacharevic has added more colours to the historical old town of Ipoh with his seven brilliant and yet nostalgia mural paintings.
Compared to the ones in Penang, you find it easier to locate his paintings in Ipoh coz it is just short walking distance for the paintings. If you're in Ipoh and hunting for Ernest Zacharevic's paintings, here is the map/guide for you:
Ipoh-The City That Tin Built - this gonna be my favourite painting of his as he used Chinese black and white style painting. You can locate this painting at the head of Jalan Bijeh Timah (at the end of Jalan Panglima)
The colourful hummingbird - located at the open private
carpark at Jalan Panglima.
Uncle with coffee cup - Ipoh's famous white coffee is illustrated as well. This could be easy to locate at
the wall of Oldtown White Coffee in front of Padang Ipoh at Jalan Dato Maharajalela.
Kids on Paperplane - Our childhood is revisited with paperplane though until now i still don't know how to fold a paperplane. This painting is located at Jalan Sheikh Adam in front of Padang Ipoh. Once you have done with the Uncle with Coffee Cup, just turn right at the junction and look up!
Uncle with Trishaw - I guess this is the most difficult for me since it is located in the small corner of Jalan Bijeh Timah (approaching to the main road Jalan Sultan Iskandar)
The Curious Girl - Located at Jalan Bandar Timah just diagonal opposite of Plan B
Kopi O Break - the most surreal painting of his in Ipoh. Located at open private parking at Jalan Tun Sambathan in front of Maybank.
