A Day That Changed it All for US!

It was a beautiful and important morning for Malaysians. A day we had been all waiting for eagerly with great anticipation for a month. It was 9th May 2018, Malaysia's 14th GE.

I put on my "TRANSFORMERS" black t-shirt and denim jeans. TRANSFORMERS, yes, represents my family and I. Our motive, just like the rest them out there looking for a change. A clear hidden message, which I'm sure people would just pass it as as any other black t-shirt.

We arrived as early as 8.30 am to exercise our rights. There were already more people before us. The line was shorter for my age group. However, I had to stand in for my parents in their line for more than 1.5 hours. Anyway, all went well. Need I write more? There rest was HISTORY! Welcome, New Malaysia.

Time to Bid Farewell

Look who is excited!

It's been 27 days since our election day. It is that long I had been going on doing my chores with voter ink on my left index finger. Time had come to bid farewell to it last night.

After a sense of accomplishment, finally I decided to paint my nails again. A complete sense of fulfillment. I had kept my inked left index finger very proudly. Showing it off, directly and indirectly, letting people know that I had exercised my rights on 9.2.2018. Not only to showcase that I had voted but most importantly to show that I am part of the change :)

That was the main reason, the one and only REASON to be exact, I kept the ink on for that long ;)

I see many Malaysian still have it on so proudly. Showcase of our determination and hunger for change finally materialized. 

Finally, proud to be a MALAYSIAN once again! 

Thai Ponggal 2013

Payasam with "elakai"

Ponggal Lunch, Vadai, Ponggal and Payasam (not forgetting the "elakai" sigh!)

It was indeed a sweet Thai Ponggal. Why? Hmmm maybe because...hmmm maybe because it signifies the beginning of new things? Or maybe because I know once this is over, then next would be Thaipusam? Maybe I was happy that I got a bowl full of payasam which had cardamom seeds? Or maybe simply because I know why but I am not acknowledging it.  Perhaps! Perhaps!

Whatever it was, or why ever it was, I am happy. I may have not acknowledged it directly to the party involved but I am sure old buddies need not explanation. Just as the saying goes "One who understands will not need explanation, The one who seeks explanation, will never understand!!".

I am sure, it belongs to the former category! I was  happy. Infact my colleagues commented that I was glowing! Guess, it is the work of the supplements and also the snail skin care. LoL guess it was more than that :)) Well, frankly I am glad that I still have the same respect and remembered for the good stuff from the party after all this year. That alone was good to make me feel good. What more can a woman ask? At least me, that is all I ask for. It is good that certain things got clarified.

I always believe, life is short and good memories keep people intact. Memories are unspoken language between two hearts. Happy was my heart as it burst out thousands of fireflies, that those memories never faded. It is not how we lived, but how we live!!

Damn, what am I blabbering in my Thai Ponggal post? This got to have a separate post. Lol, by this little egoistic heart always wants to play it low and hide the significance.  

2013, with style

Finally found the time to blog about 2013. What can I say? It started with style :)

These are a compilation of some snapshot on the last few months of 2012 and first day of 2013.

Clockwise from top.
Pic 1: Nail art in my favourite colour to match  my birthday saree :)
Stroll at Tengku Kelana on the eve of New Year : Lots and lots of memories :))
Thanks to my sis for introducing the "snail" ha ha... Managed to find the outlet in Malaysia :))
Some of that ladies stuff :) Thanks to me :))

Pic 2: Thought a cake would be a nice starter for New Year besides prayers :) Thanks to LP!
Another thought, wanted to clear all those Deepavali left over cracker :)
One of the best mascara I have ever used. Really dramatic. Thanks to Lat :)
Silver moon, not so full few days before New Year.

These are somethings that touched me towards the end of the year. Surely there were plenty more memorable stuff last year. Just wanted to highlight a few that touched me in the last few months :)

Happy 2013, and lets hope it brings the the best of everything :))

Karthigai 2013

Lit 51 oil lamps this year. Lots more compared to the previous years.
Well, it was not because a drop in oil and gas but it was a special karthigai this year for me.
Coincidentally it was my birthday!! Yap, I was born in the Tamil month of Karthigai and according to mom, it was also a karthigai deepam day on the day I was born a few decades back :))

Penang Waterfall Hilltop Temple

Finally, phew, finally I managed to upload the photos on the consecration of the Penang Waterfall Hilltop Murugan Temple. Hmmm I wonder if I should explain! Hmmm nahh...I won't. Deep inside I know those are merely excuses. I was not even checking my blog frequently. That explains the drop in the IndiRank :(.
There comes a time, I think in everyone's life, we just want to move on doing non-routine things but guess it just doesn't work that way!

Thank God, the weather was good. Not hazy. Sunny and windy. Indeed we, Penangites, had been badly affected by haze for more than a week. Just two days before the ceremony, the skies opened up and cleansed the whole island. :)

I'm not a professional photographer, therefore please pardon me for the poor quality of the photos. Nevertheless, I guess my BlackBerry did a good job!




 Photographs of consecration event from my point of view (in no particular order)

Welcome Banner

Temple from a distance

Lord Shivan

Breathtaking view from hilltop, Georgetown and coastal line can be seen clearly here

Moola Stanam

Interior of the Temple

Magnificent gopuram set against the cloudy sky

Awesome artwork

At the entrance

Lunch being served the traditional way :)

And last but not least, my banana leave lunch :p

Night Jasmines

My garden's blooming with Jasmines. Smells good too.

.

Sleepily the silver moon peeped through curtain of clouds

Millions of stars twinkled like nobody's business to an unknown rhythm,

Sea of clouds hurdled in no direction hurriedly slowed their pace,

They all stood silent for a second, mesmerized and sedated.

Why and Why?, Why and Why?

Chilling breeze brought a drop, two dew

Why and why are they so magnificent?

The moon, the star and the cloud? 

Calm and quiet it was, pin drop silence. 

Sedative and sedated, deeper and deeper.

Scent that lingers all nite, pricks every hormone

Aromatic and sensual, Sexy and provocative.

Song that plays without an end

Butterflies of night chasing one after another 

Garden of romance it had turned to! 

Jasmines, my dear Jasmine

Would you all bloom more in nights to come?

Glimpse of Food in Jakarta - May 2012

Nasi Soto Ayam for breakfast : ( Rp20000 (RM6.70). Not my cup of tea at all!!!! It was so difficult to find bread and buns there. Luckily I brought my own food supply from home, Soya Bean drinks, breads, buns and mineral water.

Nasi Ayam Penyet Rp20000 (RM6.70)

Nasi Ayam BBQ Rp22000 (RM7.40)

Es Cendol Durian Rp7000.00 (RM2.30). Simply tasty, sweet and concentrated but nothing beats Penang Road cendoi!! ;)

 

Nasi Goreng Seafood Rp25000 (RM8.30) It was value for money as it had lots of prawns, squids, anchovies and quite a big serving too.

White rice, ikan kayu sambal and mixed vegetables, Rp8000 (RM2.70). Yes, it was really cheap and tasted good too.

Ahhh finally after 3 longs days, I managed to get a cup of tea. It was lukewarm!! I should have known better after my Medan experience. I forgot to emphasize that I wanted it "HOT!".  Rp4000 (RM1.40)

Nasi Ayam Bakar Rp22000 (RM7.40) The chicken potion is rather small. Ayam kampung perhaps ;)

Deep fried squid Rp25000 (RM8.30)

Bottom line is, I didn't enjoy the food in Jakarta as much as I enjoyed the food in Medan. Same country, two very different ways of food preparation!!

Exchange rate as of 2 May 2012 was RM1 = Rp3000

Ponggal 2012

Sugar cane at the entrance of the house

Sugar cane and "ma ezhai"

Offering to Sun (Padayal)

Ranggoli

Karthigai 2011

It is Karthigai again. This time around it was on 8th December.

Karthigai Deepam at my home last nite. Although I would love to add more lamps but with the oil price sky rocketing, I decided to keep it to limits (15 lamps)  ;) ;) ;) It has to be in odd numbers right. So I thought 15 would be a nice number.

I had always loved the ambiance of the oil lamp. They way they flicker and dance to the rhythm of the wind fascinates me. The smell of the burnt wick brings back mountains of memories.

As for next year, Karthigai falls on my birthday. Again!! And I am really looking forward for it because I have a "plan".! Hope all goes well and I am financially stable to execute it. God Bless!!

GHEE Cookies (Vegetarian)

Readers, it's that time of the year again. So once again the recipe. 

http://ranjg.blogspot.com/2010/11/ghee-cookies-vegetarian.html

Lost and Not Found

He looked frail and almost lost in the hustle and bustle of Pondy Bazar. Somehow,he caught my attention. Or perhaps his merchandise stole my attention! It was a lovely pair, handmade and it looked classy without flaws. I have an eye for flaws in costume earrings as most of them don't have good finishing and some end up with low grade fish hooks or chipped colours. Alas, this one was just near perfect! Without much thought, I purchased it after all it was just Rp150. It was when I handed him cash I realised the guy was physically challenged from his right elbow onwards. Somehow, he was independant and it amazed me to see a man struggling to survive when he himself was challenged. What more when there were more who were better off but begged in the midst of the crowd! I think I made justice by not bargaining with him for my purchase, 2 pairs of earrings and a set of costume jewellery.

Well, today I have lost an earring of this pair. Will I find it or would it end up in my junk box! SIGH!!

Drive on a Clear Day

Drive to work on a clearer day to work. The photos speak for themselves.
Pardon me for the clarity of the photos as they were taken while driving ;)

At the midspan at around 7.15am.

Although still dark but it was clearer. The hills looked beautiful :)

Approaching the island. Signboards are visible