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Di Bawoh Rang Ikang Kering
Random Ramblings of A Retired Retainer

MERDEKA!!!!

Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Recent pic of Pulau Redang.
MERDEKA!!!!! I join all Malaysians worth their lemang* in celebrating our country's 47th year of Independence.
From my balcony, I can see fireworks in the copper night sky. On TV, they are singing "Kerana Mu Malaysia" from Padang MPK 2, Kuantan. Yesterday it was called Dataran Kemunting. Oh well.
In 1957, I celebrated Merdeka in Kota Baru, Kelantan. I had to make tanglung (lantern) and joined my school in a lantern procession. The lantern I made was supposed to be a dragon. It turned out like a misshapen arthritic worm. But I had fun making it. It got a lot of laughs from members of my family, my friends and assorted strangers.
I am still proud of Malaysia although I would be prouder still if we were not so proud of having a record -breaking longest lemang in the world but instead concentrate on where that lemang ends up - the toilets. There are STILL horror stories about our public toilets. Why? We don't toilet train our kids? Or we have primeval remnants in our psyche when we use the river, beaches and sundry bushes as our toilet that we dont treat modern toilets with the proper respect. I hope this is not the case. I just hope that it is just a case of bad aims and lack of pride.
(* lemang is glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes)


MIGRATION

Monday, August 30, 2004
Nahhhh...I am not leaving the country on this Merdeka Day. I just want to try this blogger which seems to have better and more features than my old one.
It will take me some time to play around and get a feel of what is possible.