The Perfect Day

The first sip on my tongue and down my throat and I knew every cent of the 60 MYR I spent on that bottle was more than worth it.

Enter 28 of December 2011, an outrageously ordinary day. Nothing beyond the confinement of that little space of my own on campus; nothing beneath a Subway sandwich and a Tesco shopping trip. However, everything seemed extraordinary!

The franchise caught the corners of my eyes 5 days ago when it opened its doors. A good 30-35 minutes walk from my little space. WHO cares! Fast, relatively healthy, fresh food; count me in! 30 minutes walk to build the appetite, 30 minutes to burn a fraction of it off. Life here just got that much better.

The Tesco shopping trip proved to be fruitful! The bottles of bubbly I've been ogling over for a fortnight was still there! Thank God few people know of its significance where I come from! Rewind to my opening statement; one of the best 60 MYR I've spent! I don't keep a list but if I did, it would fall under "Top Five Magical Things I Found On My Own, Bought and Enjoyed".

28th December was wrapped up with a 4km jog under 30 minutes after which the bottle was popped open with a movie on the laptop.

Of course, nothing unprecedented. In fact, quite anti-climatic when I realised the big burn in my wallet; more so living by a limited weekly cash-flow. It is rather quotidian of me to frequent Tesco in the middle of the week to stock up on some supplies. In fact, sans the bubbly and Subway, it would have been a boring day.

Prove that The Perfect Day need not be anything phenomenal!

The One About Madam R

I dread Madam R's stay at the temple, not because I particularly abhor her, but because it conjures images of her irresistible calorie-laden dishes. Terrifyingly enough, the senior is currently back in the kitchen, draining the oil bottle, which, if she wasn't around, lasts months on the counter. Due to her serious lack of the ability to detach, her doomed love for her only son and her silent promise to watch her grandchildren; she tolerates living with a devil forced to be reckoned with as my aunt. Her relief from the hell is during school holidays when the devil in disguise is available to watch her own children. Madam R immediately flees the place to be with her daughter a.k.a The High Priestess. Cookies and Cakes would refer to her as The Empress!!! Albeit her archaic mindset across a myriad of issues annoying me, I am quite fond of Madam R, I truly am.


She has;

wonderful tales to tell of growing up in an orphanage, swearing it was the best 14 years of her life;

horrifically amusing tales of her labour (the woman managed to walk a short distance, crossing over a fence standing half a meter tall along the way, to the hospital AFTER her water bag had burst AND nonchalantly relates to the whole event!!!);

and;

confusing tales of how a friend of mine is her husband's, father's, (one of his) brother's, (one of his) son's daughter (I am pretty sure I am wrong about this particular connection).

She is also a conversationalist whose morning routine involves two slices of bread, a cup of decaf and her daily Tamil newspapers; yes, she is literate, very MUCH! However, the one time I really do (remorsefully) wish her departure from the temple is when she puts that culinary skills of hers to use.

There was once I decided to 'inspect' her in action, just in time to stumble upon her generous use of the aforementioned cooking ingredient. From the ground I stood, I shrieked, out loud, the words, "Are you mad??"  and held her hand to a screeching halt. She was just about to pour the blended gravy-mix of tomatoes and onions into at least more than half a cup of leftover oil bubbling away in the wok.


Hdaran: Enna aatha panringeh??? (What the hell are you doing??; the word 'hell' was fittingly added into the translation to express my dismay.)
Madam R: Ennada?? (WHAT??!!)
Hdaran: Ivoloh ennaiyileh sambal seiye poringelah? (Are you making the gravy with this much oil?)
Madam R: Ennada??!! Ivolo ennai podelenah nalla irekkathe!!! (What?!! It won't taste good without this much of oil!!!)
Hdaran: Adekaduvuleh!!! Thaivasenjhi mothe konjum ennaiyeh veliyeh uutheringelah! Ivolo ennai sapta, enna aaverathe???!!!! Appa paathangenah.....kadavuleh!!! (OMG!!! Please discard some oil!!! The things that could happen with this much of oil consumed!!! If dad knows of this.... Good Lord!!!)
Madam R: Sari, neeneh eduthe uuthe. Aperum nalla illena enakke teriyathe!!! (Fine, you do the discarding then. I am not responsible if it doesn't taste good!!!)
Hdaran: Paravaleh, nalla tha irekkum. (It's ok, it'll taste just as good.)


From then on, upon learning of her whereabouts in the kitchen, I have never failed to oversee the process.

Of course her hit tofu dish tasted just as good without the uncalled for additional fat...

Cocoa Cappuccino!

I have found my perfect cup-pa coffee!!!

Starbucks' cocoa cappuccino!!!

Nothing epic or biblical, I know.

If it tastes this good with under-skilled, obviously-ignorant-to-good-coffee-making baristas in Malaysia brewing it, imagine if I was to sample something similar (cocoa and cappuccino) in a quaint little Italian coffee-house?!!!

Thanks, @tissue_fleur !!!

The Usual and The Unexpected

The pedestal has been reclaimed by the High Priest and Priestess after 8 days and nights of sightseeing in the Holy Lands. Thank God for that! I can finally stay put on the island not needing to rush back to make sure the temple is in one piece. 

My second performance with the dance school ended well with congratulatory remarks and thumbs up. That was another relief, now that I can resume my evening jogs to increase my stamina and loose weight. Performing made me realise that I am much too "full-figured" to carry the costume with ease, not to mention being heavier than I once was, did not help with the dancing itself. The body has to meet much more energy demands because of the additional weight resulting in fatigue, eventually disabling me to keep up with the beat and the rhythm of the music. It ain't a pretty picture when needing to sit in the chawka, your body gives up and end up in a pose my teacher likes to call the "motorbike riding" pose. Even more disconcerting is when you're out of breath a crucial point comes when you would need to unconditionally smile, suck in your abdomen and do a brahmari (a 360 degree turn on one feet).

Digressing like I always do, have you noticed that until brought to attention we're pretty oblivious of the ethnicity of people around us? The idea struck me today listening to the radio, and with that a string of thoughts which predominantly included this one phrase, "the amalgamation of different cultures". The 1Malaysia concept is supposed to be about being Malaysian first; but more often than not, the 1Malaysia concept brings to forefront of our brains that we're indeed of different colour and creed. I remember sitting in my class way back in my teens surrounded by 30 others, all first and foremost, my friends. Well, not all of them but at least a good diversified handful's'. Mentioned over and over again is the "yellow"ness of Cookies and Cakes, whom, if I hadn't been blissfully ignorant, is Chinese. In fact, it has been nothing but blissful ignorance that has held our friendship together; ignorance of what least mattered, like it should be with every other person we encounter. I'll admit, I have my prejudices when it comes to being Indian; like yelling at drivers, when impatience clouds one's rationale coercing the verbalisation of racist remarks. However, against all differences and reservations I have against a friend, constant nudges from my inner self remind me that the hemoglobin running through my veins is probably just as similar as his/hers.

Further digressing, I can't seem to help my roving eyes... And since when did the Tamil cine industry start cropping up exceptionally good looking men???

Vaibhav Reddy - Saroja, Goa, Mankatha and others.
Source: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/default.asp

Ganesh Venkatraman - Abhiyum Naanum and Unnai Pol Oruvan
Source: http://www.indiazooms.com/

Dhruva - Aanmai Thavarael
Source: http://tamil.cinesnacks.net/

Sharwanand - Engeyum Eppothum
Source: http://searchandhra.com/

I see a great revolution in the Tamil Cine industry with encouragement from older talents like Hot Men #2 spearheading good hairstyle, up-to-date wardrobe, revelation of healthy proportions of meat and the urge to be fit, DELICIOUSLY FIT!!!!

FIlling In For The High Priestess

Thrice this month and loving every moment of it... People say be careful what you wish for; whilst this may so often be true, therein lies the problem that strings along so many adages alike, its subjectivity. If there is one thing I've not been careful wishing for, it is dance, and boy am I glad I was not! Undeniably pushing me to the limits, undesirably putting my every capability to the test, odissi has been so far my greatest challenge and a blessing beyond words.

That being said, I deviate to my current state of affairs. The 'pedestal' is temporarily devoid of its High Priest and Priestess. Yes, the couple took to manifestation their long anticipated holidays to the Holy Lands. As I type they would probably be journeying backwaters, learning basic yoga and unwinding with relaxing Ayurvedic massages in the state that boasts the origin of not one but two Indian classical dances. No other state in India has such a privilege. I am truly happy for them as this has been one of my mother's dream come true in a long long time.

Kathakali (danced by only men) left, Mohiniattam (danced by only women) right. Picture courtesy of The Hindu.

Hdaran: So after appa gets his retirement money you both can go jet-setting around the world la!
High Priestess: Your appa ah??? *shrugs* He where got time, he can play game on the computer and sit on his throne reading the newspapers but got no time to take me anywhere. Pigs will fly if he does organise something for me...
High Priest: SHADDAP YOU!!!
High Priestess: Please la, no need to jet-set around the world, ask him to take me somewhere in Malaysia...
High Priest: PODI!!!
Hdaran: *rolls eyes* Yes, yes, glad I asked you anything....

With the proper lady of the home on sabbatical for the time being, I have taken over that role. Washing, scrubbing, arranging, dusting, driving to and fro to the island all while still making it in time for dance classes and keeping tabs about what I put in my mouth (no need to go carnal extents). Feels empowering! That I am capable of so much in a day and still get up early next morning full of energy. Tapping into my inner Martha Stewart!

*claps to dust of hands*

Stellar performance!!

And all in a days work!!!