I love you. I want a reset with you.

Reset Button.
Covid19 Lockdown D13
*CrazyRichAsians

Whether you like it or not. The universe..nature has pressed the reset button.

Most parts of the world has ground to a halt.
The world today is forced to do nothing. Mother earth is the beneficiary of the world doing nothing. Look at the sky, the trees, the flowers, the grass. Breathe in the sweet air, listen to the birds singing. Listen, see and feel  Mother Nature springing to abundant life. It's only been a matter of weeks. Look at how nature is healing.

Look deeper and see that mother earth is not the sole beneficiary of the world doing nothing.
When we, the world also do nothing, observe the self, the being, springing to abundant life. We experience that by simply doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. Like the streets and highways all over the world. Nothing is happening. Don't resist it, embrace it, welcome it. This is the much needed rest you've always needed.

Go hibernate. Sleep. Read. Work if you must. Do whatever you want to do with yourself or your loved ones. But better; If you can do nothing. It's for yourself. Your own well being. Just catch up on everything you've always wanted to catch up with. Do it. 

But for at least 10 minutes each day, spend it on being with yourself. Meditate. Meditation is about sitting down, silencing the mind by just focussing on your breathing.(or you can go to my post on meditation- HERE)

Do this everyday and your life will transform like nature. Abundantly.
Go ahead do it. Start now. You only have two more weeks.
Or don't. But you and I know this will steel us spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically to face the oncoming challenges. 

Go ahead. Do nothing. You might really enjoy it.

I love you.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. My Sanctuary.

My Sanctuary.
Covid19 Lockdown D12

For now, the place I live in KL is even quieter and more scenic than my accommodations at the farm. For now.

Each day I wake up, I see the sky a lot bluer, the clouds a lot wispier, the air taste a lot sweeter. 

I go downstairs I feel the trees a lot happier, their leaves a lot greener, the grass a lot thicker and the birds sing a lot louder. 

My eyes, ears and nose come alive and my heart reach for you.

I am so thankful I found my sanctuary over a year ago in October 2018. It is what it's called  because I know not of any gated & guarded community in this prime location of KL built on eleven acres of hilly land complete with matured trees, well kept gardens, shrubbery and pools manned by security personnel who professionally & vigilantly keep us safe 24/7.

My bachelor pad on the top floor of the main podium block has two balconies that open up to clear unobstructed skies and views of the lush green cityscapes of South KL and PJ as far as the eye can see.

As I look down from my balcony to the main pool, I see workmen and women diligently tending to the shrubbery and moping the floors of the poolside walkways to a sheen. 

The fountains surrounding the large pool fashioned after the Trevi fountains of Rome send rhythmic sounds of water splashes to my balcony throughout the day till late twilight. 

Which happens to be my favourite time of day when I slow down even more to witness the setting sun on my balcony after day is done with cocktail in one hand and my first cigarette in the other. Cue sunset lounge music and that completes the twilight setting for me. Romantic.

It's party time every night till late at my pad. Music from my Spotify playlists oozes jazz, soul and Sade out of my bluetooth speakers. Nobody can hear me or see me at this level, perched on my zero-gravity chair feeling weightless, I merge with the sublime timeless space. And I dance because I feel uninhibited comfort and no one is watching.

I stare out into space and stillness, enjoy the emptiness while I sip a glass of wine, beer or cocktail or on special occasions a glass of John Dewars Whiskey. I drink the liquid with the solitude while I connect with the cosmos.

I must have had very many special occasions, I'm out of Dewars now. I've improvised to include Daiquiris on my drinks menu. It's surprisingly easy to make and even more surprisingly delicious! Plus I've modified the recipe to substitute secret ingredients. It's simply heavenly. Now I can add rum to my poison's list.

I don't have TV nor cable or Netflix, I listen mainly to music and podcasts. Watch the occasional movie on my laptop. But I would rather sit and keep still than allow unnecessary images and thoughts hijack my mind. This way I get to choose what I like to think or feel. Not the other way around.

I am enjoying my solitude so much, I may not want to live-in with another for long stretches again. That is what being truly free is all about. I suppose.

Stay safe. Stay home.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. Heart and Mind.

Our brain controls our feelings or is it the other way around?

Covid19 Lockdown D10

*MontyPython-HolyGrail

All sense perceptions are processed and experienced in the brain. 

The information is then passed onto the emotional state for the entire body to experience the thought. Thereby becoming a physical experience.

The heart on the other hand has no thought or feeling processors it's just a pump relentlessly working to ensure we survive.

So thinking pleasant thoughts and exuberant outcomes for everyone is surely choosing pleasant thoughts and feeling emotions with a joyful heart.

The mind and heart they work together as one. 

They are actually one and the same thing. Inseparable.

Feelings always follow thought, how you feel depends on what you're thinking.

So if you want to feel good, think happy thoughts.   

That's what being positive is all about, I think.

Stay home. Stay safe. 

Stay tuned. Literally.
 

I love you. Midnight Cowboy

I love the soundtrack. I finally watched the movie*.
Covid19 Lockdown D9
*#MidnightCowboy

Listen to the infectious Original SoundTrack here>

Everybody's Talkin'

I, the midnight cowboy came to spread my love for a living. 

All I knew how to do was spread my love. I ain't no cowboy but I'm a heck of a stud.

I was attracted to everything with a skirt. 

I thought I was god's gift to women and most of them agreed, paid or otherwise. 

I was as horny as a Texas redneck in heat like all the time. It's such a basic primal caveman instinct but less brutal I imagine. Whether it was female company or female physical touch I needed them constantly. It was this need that chained me into believing I needed company or companionship all the time. I have grown an attachment to form identification. As such, I wasn't paying attention to the well-being of the female human being. I only saw myself in the picture. Only me.

Totally unconscious to everyone around me. 

I was obsessed with the pursuit of money and to do good work that they couldn't appreciate or buy much less understand. My best work was directed then to building relationships with businessmen or women. In business, it was the mentality of screw everyone & anything you can for a profit. Including my own people.

How absurdly capitalistic. How far gone could I have been.

I came to spread love, truly spread love but work or the pursuit of material wealth got in the way. So work got in the way of love. And I got lost in work which was largely 'Prostitution'. Doing things and committing myself in work I don't believe in for money  tantamounts to prostitution.

The pursuit of wealth they say is the true measure of a man's worth. And I bought into that belief. I have slaved for it ever since. 

This is the same belief system that the US President is standing by to allow the US people to mass congregate on Easter Sunday on April 12. Knowing very well that millions will get infected with the corona virus but business must go on, he says. 

He'd rather people die than businesses lose money.

Have we not come to an Armageddon???  Have we not come to self destruct mode?  

It's still left to be seen if the Ultimate Redneck will do the right thing. 

Humankind are at crossroads. We need to make that hard turn to left. 

Will he do it? Will we do it?  It doesn't depend on the President of the US, it depends on YOU. Yes you and I.

Make that left turn now. Just stay home and do nothing. That's all.

Be the lover in the midnight cowboy that we all are. And remember; "I won't let you leave my love behind" so says the song and I.

Good night & good luck. 

Stay tuned. Literally.

*Footnote: The movie - the first & only X-rated movie to win 3 #AcademyAwards- Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, just celebrated their 50th Anniversary last year.
#jonvoight #hoffman #hollywoodmovies  #harrynilsson #POTUS

I love you. I'm running away.

Hey #haiku, I'm running away.
Covid 19 Lock down D8
Once upon a time in Hollywood.



I wrote this piece about one year ago when I was undergoing a lot in my life. 
I remember there were weekends when I had nowhere to go and a ton of shit to sort out.
I couldn't think of a better place to escape to.

Now, that feels like a lifetime away...

I thought I'd run away inside me.

Or run away from me. I'd like to run away to the hills of the east.

But I had run away south to the hills of home. Safe in the cool embrace of the hills deep in the bosom of mother nature.

Either way, just know I'm home and I miss you.

                                               

I love you. I'm making bread.

Not just bread. But sourdough bread.
(I also made a compost heap, but whats the fun in writing about that)

Covid29 Lockdown D7
*1917

Today. I started my journey into bread-making, initiating day one of the sourdough starter.
It takes 7-10 days to cultivate a starter to begin baking bread. And I am just at day one.
Why do I take the trouble?  Well apart from the fact that I enjoy the pain, it is indeed the most basic thing I should learn to do, to make my food. Making and Baking bread the way it was made to be eaten 5000 years ago catches my fancy. Certainly makes it to my bucket list.
Food and beverage making is actually a simple naturally occurring activity. 
Beer, moonshine, soy sauce and wine are also made like this thousands of years ago when mankind discovered food naturally breaks down over time and they ferment naturally. The food we ingest also breaks down in our digestive tract and ferments with the aid of enzymes and bacteria residing in our body. It's a fact that we have more bacteria than cells in our body. All the more to remind us that we are dying by the minute and second. Remember Memento Mori.

Photo by Vicky Ng on Unsplash

Sourdough as the name suggest smells sour because the starter comprises just flour and water left to ferment with natural occurring bacteria aka lactobacili & yeast over a period of time at room temperature. Unhurried. Here's bread made without any chemicals, preservatives or additives. Since the invention of bread, it still tastes the same over thousands of years. 

It's no wonder I took a liking to this type of bread some time ago. It doesn't just taste good but it has a very firm form for biting and chewing. A good thick slice with anything would keep you well fed till lunch. Plus it's so healthy. Freshly baked with nothing but flour and water. This is the type of bread everybody should eat to fully appreciate bread. And how it should taste. Good.

This is also the bread Jesus used to break with his disciples at the last supper. Amen.

I hope to have better luck than Jesus. May you have as many suppers with me breaking sourdough bread as long as you live.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. Keep the faith.

Amor Fati means Loving Faith

Covid19 Lockdown D6
*The Moon

As with all tsunamis they will leave a trail of destruction. 

There will be casualties. Businesses may go bust. 

People will be hurt, lives will be displaced. 

Expect the best but prepare for the worst.

Start preparing now during the lock down. 

Just sit quiet by yourself and do nothing. Stop thinking. 

We need to dig deep into our core, our source to draw strength to weather this oncoming storm.

We need to prepare to form a network of support groups for the various trades of the people on the ground. Help each other find help for themselves. We need to come together to help each other rebuild or start a new livelihood. No nation has seen this kind of world reset before. 

This event is unprecedented and the aftermath is about to hit us. 

For better or for worse. There will be difficulties but in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. 

The better rested, well centered and calm person will do well.

Whatever the outcome we want we can start creating now. 

We can start by doing nothing. All of us. 

Stop and reconnect to the source.

It's simply spending time with yourself. 

Do it for at least 20 minutes each day if possible longer.

We will need the connection and courage to thrive in the full aftermath.

Keep the faith. Stay safe. 

Stay tuned. Literally. 

I love you. My three Mothers.

Mama, Abu, Aunty.
Covid19 Lockdown- D5
*Modigliani

To all the women in my life;
I owe you a debt of gratitude for which I can never fully repay.

Thank You.

Life gave me extra care by gifting me three mothers and three major loves of my life who all went on to be mothers of their own to beautiful children (I gather).

God couldn't be everywhere so he made Mothers.

To my biological mother, for birthing me, naming me and spending considerable time nurturing and shaping me as a child before leaving me after only 11 years. Though much time was spent in strife with papa and your own restless self.

My baby sister inseparable from Mama

I remember elegance and mischief to be pleasant memories of my years with you Mama. The poise at which you carried yourself has a quality of dignified elegance. That's about the only thing you shared with papa. I inherited my own effortless grace from the both of you.

The tricks you played on me particularly the tricycle gambit for my birthday gift, also gifted me the trait of playfulness. Which was unforgettable and inevitably ingrained in me, the joy of receiving & giving pleasant surprises. Hence mischief is an ingrained trait. It became my middle name. This trait is to be blamed for all my troubles, missteps and misdemeanours.

You came and went into and out of our life rather unexpectedly but fulfilling your purpose and role leaving my 10 year-old baby sister and I to embark on our own journey so tender in our life. Then came along...

My Abu & Papa

My other mother who was my step -mother. Although she wears a sarong kebaya and a stern exterior she cared for us and raised us with love and compassion.

Although not my biological mother She was related to me in a technically biological way. Her mother and my paternal grandmother were sisters. She cooked and kept house like a model Nyonya from Malacca. Noble and dignified. Lacking in no skills in any department of housekeeping and f & b. Especially in the area of F&B.

She ignited in me my lust for all things spicy and curry. Fish Sambal and Beef Curry. Sambal Belacan & Sambal Petai Ikan Bilis as well.

She inspired me with her deep patience and endurance of all things physical.

More importantly she had a heart of gold in receiving people of all stripe, especially relatives & family. Giving comfort and advice unconditionally to people of all gripe.

Did I say she tended to farm animals and dogs too. A self-trained veterinarian she cured many birds and mammals. Our poultry and seven dogs mainly. One time a cow wandered in ostensibly looking for help from our resident Vet but our dogs got to her first. I think she survived or not...! Either way I think my Abu would have had a cure for the cow's ailment. Just like she'd have a cure for any of our woes. Not the particularly demonstrative type, she didn't know how to show outward love to us but she showed it in the depth and care she puts into her cooking and baking for us especially during festivals.

Unfortunately medical science had no cure for her cervical cancer. She suffered in silence for months if not years by not telling us. Perchance my sister-in-law spotted irregularities during one family outing to Melaka, her favourite place of visit. She would always light up with joy whenever we visited any one of her siblings be it her third brother in Bandar Hilir or last sister in Tanjung Keling.

Many months were spent in cancer therapy. Most of which were brutal.

She endured the chemical punishment with dignity, courage and vigor. Although a calm person she has few fears but the treatments are scary. I've seen her endure the daily chores of home- everything from housekeeping that is required plus what's not required. Growing and weeding potted plants of orchids and bougainvilleas. Tending to the fruit trees and garden. But what I saw and witnessed was monumental resilience to pain from the drugs, the cancer and numerous therapies including radioactive radium. Her already frail body took the punishment with courage and dignity. A trait I later saw displayed by my eldest sister,  Abu's only child.

After long stays in hospitals in Malacca and KL, we brought Abu home. She further endured and suffered the disease in the confines of our home and loved ones until her last day. Our Abu went peacefully in her favourite rocking chair surrounded by family on August 15, 1986.

Hers was the second funeral my father oversaw as surviving husband. First being my mama in a virtually unmarked grave in Seremban.

My mama died in a motorcar accident involving my older brother from her earlier widowed marriage, three cousins fr. Singapore, my baby sister and I.

On August 15 1969 my mother and a cousin drowned when a small car driven by my half brother overturned into a pond during a heavy rainy Friday afternoon. We were on the way to mama's new house warming in Seremban. That was my first physical encounter with death and realised that it was a miracle I survived. So did my baby sister, my two cousins and my older half-brother.

I cradled her unconscious head on my lap on the hard metal floor of the military truck that rushed us to the nearest hospital. The doctor pronounced her and our second cousin dead upon arrival. 1969 was an eventful year for me, my country and the world. We lost mama, Woodstock started that day, we had our first race riots on May 13 and on July 20 Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon and the Beatles staged their last public performance.

Neil on the Moon

Woodstock 15-18 Aug. 1969

My father managed to survive his wives very well. He even managed a couple of relationships in over 20 years. He finally ensnared a good looking single Cantonese woman fr. Kampar, 28 years younger to spend 27 years married to him. And taking care of him. I am eternally grateful to her, papa's third wife for being a travel companion and caretaker to my father and to also endure him till the end. We are indeed blessed.

She now lives in Johol caretaker to our ancestral home and companion to herself. Sometimes me by cooking for me and cleaning after me whenever I'm spending time at the farm. I now get to spend time with my so called "mother " although we siblings never acknowledged her as that, we all agreed to address her as Aunty. I still find her self absorbed. But she's a quality act. Good strong values and principles. Talented cook, good housekeeper with a fastidiousness for cleanliness. But she tires easily. A survivor nonetheless.

She's getting along very well in her own way. And I'm getting to know her and myself better in my grateful acceptance of her in the process. *why do people view another of fathers woman with disdain? Shouldn't we happy for him?  For them?  For her?

I now know how my children feel about me leaving mum. I do it myself. Or is it totally unrelated?

Anyway I look forward to connecting more with her to get to know her better to make her happy. She's just about all I've got, close-by for now.

She suffers from weak legs and painful knees. I can only hope she be more positive at least half her battle is won. She's fine. Really.

She being my father's third wife has probably seen my entire family grow up. And in her own ways saw to the raising of my children. However aloof. She bore the brunt of her aloofness from my then wife. Who didn't mince her words when it came to our Aunty. They never got along. She never got to meet the first two. The vibes may be much different seeing how similarly strong they all are.

Stay safe. Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. STFU and do nothing.

Tsunami on land

Covid19 Lockdown- D4
*SnowPiercer

For the first time since Noah's Ark the world is going on a reset. A reboot of sorts. 

This needs to happen especially when humankind is steering the planet out of control.  This is the hard left turn the country and the world need to take before it plunges into a ravine.  So as inhabitants of this world lets take heed, slow down, sit down, STFU and do nothing absolutely nothing and give yourself a break. And for once give the earth a break.

We have only less than two weeks. It is a much needed reset and rest for all of us.
But just like most resets when the system starts up again. Things may not run as smooth yet or things may not run again. That also depends on how well rested or recharged you are. So the less time you spend worrying and spreading rumours and fear the more time you can sit down,  STFU and do nothing. Relax and do nothing. No thinking. No talking. 
Do it for as long as you can. But be present.

Do this and you will be well prepared to meet the oncoming storm. There's serious work to do. 
We don't yet know the extent of the damage as this world event is unprecedented. 
So rest, recharge, reinvent yourself to steel ourselves and face the exciting uncertain future!

We live in exciting times indeed. It's up to you to ride it or be crushed by this tsunami on land. 
More devastating than the sea tsunami as it has gone across mountains, land and sea. 
We must brace ourselves and ride this wave with unity and courage. 
First within ourself then with our fellow human beings. The world is changing. Healing.

For now just sit at home quietly. 


Or go to my earlier post on meditation >. HERE

I love you. My Four Grandmothers

Jia Por, Gua Mah, Sar Mah, Ah Mah.
Covid19 Lockdown (D3)
*WonderWoman

Dress styles of Jia Por, mama's mother & Sar Mah, my third grandma.

Life has been so fine to me. Fineness comes in threes and fours. In addition to the three fine mothers and three major loves of my life, I very probably had four very fine old grandmothers.

I remember my first encounter with my first grandmother, I was 7 or 8, she was very old, wrinkled, a pallid square face, short and squat in stature, always dressed in dark traditional Hakka Chinese attire and bound feet.  Hair in a traditional bun, in her hand she clutches a big-sized palm fan constantly fanning herself daily. Jia Por was my mama's adopted "mother" therefore my grandmother. I could tell and feel she wasn't my own flesh and blood. All I can remember is that she stayed with us for a long while, months not years and she incessantly lectures and scolds us, mama included. I got so irritated by her scoldings that I planned and executed a devious trick on her!

She hates lizards of all sorts and I had a green scaly toy lizard.
One day after dinner, she was relaxing, fanning herself in the living room sitting on a low chair. I had planned to casually toss my toy lizard high up the ceiling into an arch that made the lizard land on my grandmother as though it fell from the ceiling.
I tell you I have never seen an old lady move that fast. She had the reflexes of a Chinese kung fu star.
I was laughing so hard she saw me and threatened to kill me! I was lucky she didn't have a heart attack. She did have one years later when she died in one of their sisters place in KL.
But she was sweet, my grandmother loved us in her own special way. She was the only grandma who I engaged with and had fond memories of. However painful or funny.

Typical Peranakan/Malay dress style.

I never got to engage or remember meeting my grandmother, my Papa's mother but I have embarked on a journey to find out more in the coming weeks and months.
I have recently come to realise and to terms that my grandmother was a Malay woman from a kampung in Simpang Ampat, Melaka. My grandfather a Chinaman from Fujian China made his fortune in Johol, Negeri Sembilan found and married this young Malay lady from Malacca.

Which makes my father, half Malay, half Chinese.

I don't recall ever calling for a family meeting to announce to my children; 
"Hey Guys, err I don't know if it matters to you but I think I may have something to tell you that you may not really know about? You know I probably told you or you probably figured out by now that we are Chinese. Right? We are Chinese? Actually not quite. So therefore I have to tell you that you're not a 100% Chinese. You're part Malay". I can't assume to imagine their reaction. And I can't wait to tell them in person.

So I don't remember my grandmother on my father's side. Except for the fact that she bore my grandfather many children as his first wife and took care of my father, her first son very well.
I had the privilege of meeting my third grandmother- my grandfather's third wife. A traditional Chinese lady with bound feet. She being the latest addition to the wives pool was also the youngest therefore outlived the others. She was smallish in stature, fair skinned with a quiet demeanour hobbled as she walked on her small bound feet.

But I do remember a few encounters with my step-mother's 'mak' who also happens to be my grandmother's younger sister. I remember hearing her only speak Malay whenever we visit with my Abu while she was still living in Simpang Ampat. Her health was deteriorating during my time so we didn't engage much. At least I got to see and speak to her and to be in her presence.
So I can only deduce that my paternal grandmother, our Matriarch only spoke Malay or maybe even Hokkien. Who know? I'm on the road to find out.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. Better still Meditate.

Covid19 Lockdown- D2

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

Hi I'm back. I'm also Peter.

Here's how you meditate. Some will tell you start with a guided meditation guru.

I say just sit quietly close your eyes and notice your breathing for just 3 minutes. The key is to pay attention to your breath.

Know that without your breath you will not be alive.

Ready? Sit with spine comfortably erect in a cross-legged posture. Rest your hands, palms up, on your thighs. Drop your shoulders and relax your whole body. And breathe...

Step 1. As you breathe in slowly, visualise the air flowing through your nostrils into your lungs then down into your belly and into the back of your lungs.

Step 2. At the top of your inhale just before you start to exhale, pause gently and visualise your breath touch the base of your skull at the end of your spine. That is the spot connecting to the source. Feel the exuberance of the life throbbing inside you.The one life. One Exuberant Life.

Step 3. Breathe out, gently release the air through your nostrils from your lungs and your whole body. As you exhale feel the energy move from the top of your head down to your forehead, face, throat, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, belly, hips, thighs, knees, calf, ankle, feet and toes. And relax into it.

Feel the life force contained in your entire physical body radiate within you.

Do this for three minutes. If you did it paying full attention to your breath, nice and slow then you'd want to keep going for more than three minutes. You've just learnt how to be with yourself.
Being with yourself. Doing nothing. Absolutely nothing but just simply breathing. Living life. Your life.

Keep practicing this for longer periods. Ten minutes then twenty. Do it as often as you can when you're alone. Just sit and notice your breathing.

Feel the peace and the stillness within. Feel pure blissfulness. 

Try this first then in my later posts I'll take you on more meditation journeys. It's virtually mind blasting.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you and I wonder

Covid19 Lockdown (D1)

It is no wonder...

I was so restless the past two nights at the farm. Couldn't sleep.
Even thought on the first night I came home drunk as a skunk after a fabulous night of merry-making with long lost childhood friends.Tears flowed freely from my eyes as we sat at the restaurant table under giant Angsana trees listening to how proud of his girls (including wife) and his grandchildren he is.

I also met a few of my future comrades by the names of Balan, Saravanen, Praba & Ganapathy- the earthworks man. We drank to our hearts content and to our stomach's discontent. Ate deliciously prepared, best of the kitchen food. Made friends with the chef and owner. Left round midnite while we still could. Bcos there's no telling when this particular friend of mine becomes unpredictable after many drinks, he has been known to forbid people leaving before.
My farm supervisor also my childhood friend swiftly but safely delivered me home.

On the second night I was also tossing and turning feeling very compulsive instead of conscious. Couldn't sleep. Then I remembered my guru's words;  you are going through tremendous change. It will be painful. But things are coming together. The transformation is happening. It will be uncomfortable. I eventually found sleep as I managed to silence the mind.

I woke early, well rested, to another day of work no matter what day it is. Started with Aunty bright and cheerful right into the farm including the dogs and chickens along the paths past the Ficus grove then the bamboo grove, past the flowering durians trees, then the abandoned wooden house before coming right up to the chief gardener. He was busy filling polybags with earth under the shade of the giant mango trees.

Chief's Station

I squat beside him to help while he recounted stories of his many trips into the estates tapping rubber; he once saw a black panther, gleaming shiny and sleek in the dark, another time a very huge cobra standing, hissing in his path. He quickly lit a leafy fire to create smoke that drove the creature away. 

Which prompted me to tell my first encounter with a snake on the farm. 

I sat in a broken plastic recliner looking out at a bunch of almost ripe petai hanging on the tree, when all of a sudden I saw a silver line of a snake slither into frame on the ground fronting the tall petai tree. It was about a six footer brownish silvery sleek creature crawling across the 40-foot earthen platform escaping the searing heat of the sun on the ground. It was a feeling of wonder and danger although I know I was in no danger at all. The cobra not withstanding.

See the brown silver line in the middle.

Then I went into town, for dragonfruits, supplies and petrol after an awesome lunch of Assam fish curry prepared just the way I like. Sourish and soupy with chillies and a host of spices. Deliciously executed by aunty.

Assam Fish Curry

On the way back from town enjoying the idyllic village scenes float by, ideas came flooding into my mind while negotiating the gentle curving countryside roads.

I saw my entrepreneurial school programme and the neighbouring schools co-curriculum take shape while driving. So overwhelmed, I almost forgot to stop to have delightful local kuehs washed down with good Hainanese hand made milk tea on the way back.

Steamed ubi kayu (wooden yam) or Tapioca with gula melaka.

Feeling well satiated I went back to work watering the polybags as well as the rest of the new seeds on the new land. And the new Durian trees. I felt such joy lingering over excessive showers of water on the parched land that is full with seeds we sowed weeks ago. 

I finally manage to wrestle the bunch of petai I was eyeing for a long time from the un-yielding tree having failed on my first attempt. Only to learn that it was still too young. I ate them up with relish their tiny beans sprinkled onto the delectable Assam fish curry for dinner.

Having eaten my fill, I promptly left the farm. Driving home to KL into the night was like gliding across the land on my magic carpet- Smooth, swift & effortlessly landing on my balcony coming out of my hiatus. As my country and the rest of the world go into hiatus. So I wonder…

Stay tuned. Literally.