Enchanting Easter !!!

It has been quite a long time since my last blog and this year's Easter Vigil was different indeed for me to shout out to the whole wide world !!! It was not the usual celebration at my hometown, Teluk Intan a.k.a Diamond Bay but at Ipoh, the hometown to tantalizing white coffee, the mystical drink that I would climb any mountains or fight any dragons in the dungeons (I know it's too flowery and a bit blowing the trumpet but I just had to confess openly looking at the level of addiction I have for the roasted Coffea arabica).

The celebration, to my suprise, turned from a long planned event to a sought-after moment in respect to the 40 days of abstinence by Christians during Lent at the much adored Our Lady of Lourdes, my mum's maiden parish, a famous landmark at Ipoh which rekindles back my old childhood memories where I used to go for mass with my lovely Aunt Philomena and her children, my wittiful-adventure loving cousins during primary school holidays. Those were the days in a glimpse of a moment and here I am, all dressed in my best to celebrate the coming of Christ the King at the face-lifted old church. It was definitely quite jittery passing by the parishioners who are total strangers whose eyes will be oogling at each other to look for who's who present there. Too me, a special celebration at church means more like attending a  summer fashion at Paris since most of the youngsters will be in the latest trends; guys in the latest western attires accompanied with bizarre hair-do and belles in the most recent chudithars and sarees (can't catch up anything western as I attended the Tamil mass) which might have appeared in latest release of Tamil movies.

In the slightest gap me and my mum had inside the church, we were sinful enough to actually criticize the fashion faux pas (fashion crime in laymen term) made by some female and male parishioners ('Lord' Versace and 'Saint' Donna Karan, please forgive them) for parading in odd-scary colours and aged-old outfits which was best worn in the 90's. I wonder whether they realized or were very much carried away with their faith that they had disappointed a self-proclaimed fashion critic like me who with much high expectation looking forward for something extraordinary or at least lively enough to feast my sleepy eyes ( the mass started late and the long drive was unbearable).

Moving away from the horrible sight, I managed to console myself to focus into the Eucharistic celebration and was eager for the mass to end 'peacefully' especially after hearing the parish priest's heartful speech. After mass, my mum had a short reunion with her old childhood friend, the bubbly Aunty Grace who was extremely happy to have met her beloved old friend and also stole some of her time to say a word or two of advise to me, the eligible bachelor waiting-in-line for marriage. Next and next,  did I had my eye candy after that? Yup, a bevy of beauties in breathtaking 'kanchipuram cotton' sarees did make my heart stop for awhile and left some fond memories for me to smile. With a contented heart, we left the church for a late dinner at one of the famous eateries at old town of Ipoh which used to be my mum's favourite spot to hang out when she was a young Ipoh resident. All I could say, this year, Easter was different,  people were new and life is moving into a new phase...A definite YES to the comment by Oprah in the header...it's real..

Perpetual Helper

A Belated Surprise !!!

I never thought I would get another surprise after 3 weeks had passed after my birthday. It was April Fool's day but I hardly got fooled by anybody on that day except a lame attempt by one of my Nepalese worker who wanted to fool me, being his grumpy co-superior. Nevertheless, everything went on fine on a beautiful Friday including the moment when my happening buddies invited me for a casual boys day out on the very same night and I was undecided on whether to go or not as I was drop dead tired and thought of just hanging out at home. When I called my buddy, Hamizan and wanted to call it off, he insisted on me coming to the day out and threatened me that I don't have any rights to cancel the dinner. It was kind of odd for me because I always considered myself the average guy who doesn't have much to say in the group but suddenly was given all the importance to be the distinguished guest as if I'm to be felicitated  in the dinner.

When asked the venue in the afternoon, they said it's Pizza Hut and my suggestion to change was turned down sarcastically.Why? Never knew the answer...I went back home, did my chores like a busy bee, took shower and dressed up for the 'ballroom' dinner I'm suppose to have with my '3 dates'...As it was not the usual pizza outlet we used to hang out and it's actually the Shah Alam outlet, I had to follow my wild instinct and verbal directions given to me by my buddy to find the way. Finally, I managed to find the outlet and parked my car. It was a huge outlet and basically I had to phone track my lunatic buddies amongst the sea of young people seated at the outlet. With much excitement, I reached the table, we had our usual sarcasms and crazy laughters as were we expecting  for another friend to come. While waiting for our other long-time-no-see friend, we ordered a sumptuous meal that indeed 'wowed' us since the menu said, " Be wowed". Our friend came, all of us tucked away the large meal heartily and continued with the pranks and useless jokes.And then, a moment came.. I was left alone with our guest friend  by Hamizan and the other two buddies, Yoges and Hoe who went missing-in-action for awhile. 

Appearing with a sinister smile, the three of them together with the guest friend popped a small wrapped box in front of me and said, " Happy Belated Birthday Sagaya"..I, on the other hand, sat there speechless and was basically scolding them for doing this which I felt unnecessary. Upon much persuasion by my sweet young buddies (they're all in their twenties and I'm in my pseudo-twenties), I unwrapped the box and much to my amazement, it was a white crystal slab, slightly thicker, with a pair of purple orchids entrusted into the stone with small pocket clock embedded to the surface of the stone. It was simply awesome and I thanked my friends for their humble effort to throw a belated surprise party and a gift to go along with. As I was indeed felicitated and treated, I thought it was my turn to pay them back by inviting them to catch a late night movie at the nearest cinema but unfortunately had to cancel it since all the lousy movies were going on that night.

So, the second option I had was to buy them a drink at the nearest mamak shop.Unable to have a grand feast due to the 'wowed' meal we had earlier, we ordered hot drinks and opted for satay and juicy tandoori chicken instead. There we were, all four of us, joking and laughing away like some college kids and forgetting the past and never bothered on what's to happen tomorrow. After having the long hang out together, we headed home with groggy eyes and bulgy tummies. While on my way back, all I could think of is, I'm happy for what my workmates who are now my thick friends had done for me. I don't want to sound soapy and all I could say, "Thanks a lot guys !!!".

Perpetual Helper