2005...

2005 has started within a brink of an eye. Old is gold, I heard. But where do I go from here? I have no answer. At times, I felt powerless, swept by the tide of time. There are still so much things to do with so little ability and know-how I have. I need to sort out my priority in my life again, so call to reshuffle the cards. I would not put all my strength pursuing someone’s heart, although I know that I wanted to. I know for sure that I do still have some academic ambition. I can’t help thinking that we seem to be running in circle, that is, till our time comes.

My stress management, if there was any, was put under the microscope the other day. This is further evidences of my flaw and one aspect to look into in the coming year. It is kind of tiring and at the same time, frightening to see things happening around while you are left behind. It is like everybody is happy living his or her lives, except me. I am kind of envied of other couples, living in a paradise created by their unique love and emotions for each other. I would give up anything in exchange for such a world; just name me the price. Personal development is still the corner stone of my values. Self-actualisation would never leave me. Hope for a better future and love are pure essentials for survival. I came to realise that I need to have a strategy or a plan.

PS: With a bit more hope, tact, preparation and opportunities, in that order, the sky is the limit.

Heritage Tour

It was one of those hot afternoons, as we climbed down from the comfort of the air-conditioned coach onto the busy street. This was our last stop. We had already visited Little India (the food sold fondly reminded us of Harmony Day), the Abdul Ghafoor Mosque (the basement prayer hall with church-like stained glass windows was brilliantly added to the Mosque without relocation!). It was unfortunate that the Sri Veeramakaliaman Temple was closed in the afternoon (the tour guide said that one has to smash open a coconut before entering without pride or stubbornness)
After walking through some stalls selling chinese medicines and Bua Kua (curious combination this is), we gathered outside what looks like a tourist's souvenir shop. The guide led us to a dark, narrow opening at the back of the shop and this is where a journey to the past began - via the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Excitement aside (look! My grandmother used to have that fan! Hey, I used that umbrella before!), from the miniature Chinese Junk (very similar to those we watched in those 80's SBC Chinese drama series) to the pictures of the first Chinese Association, we were served with sights and sound of the beginning of the Chinese immigrant.
The life of our forefathers was portrayed with the way they did business (an old-time western suit tailor shop was pieced together with artefacts), the food they ate (a wet market look-alike was created), their entertainment (gambling, drinking and opium etc) and the Japanese Occupation (true life account of survivors on monitors). The highlight had to be the Coolies' cramped living quarters and a rundown kitchen all recreated. The experience was such that we were simply transported back to the past, with the badly lit, stuffy looking quarter close to half the size of NPC's discussion room. I guess we could almost smell the despair of the coolies, thinking: "where is my next meal coming from?" The Kitchen came alive with a recorded conversation between a housewife and an older woman in Cantonese. No words could truly do justice to what we experienced.