Together they are Harder to Break, Separated they are Easily Snapped

Since I came back home some three weeks ago, I noticed that the post election turmoil is still hovering around the media. I suppose, the peak was the drastic move made by our ex-PM on Monday, had shaken the Malay community in Malaysia. As an ordinary Malaysian, I really do hope that the big guys know what they are doing. It is the future of our youngsters at stake here. Not just merely as any political tug of war.

When times like this, my grandfather’s face flashed in my mind. I still remember his last words to me, before he was admitted to the general hospital and later was brought home, dead at the age of seventy nine due to pneumonia. I was about thirteen years of age at that time. He said in his special language, “No matter what happens, be like this fist and stick together as a family; we can stand strong against any problem,” showing me his right fist. He was a deaf man, but he was very smart, strong and articulate. As the eldest grandchild, I had the privilege to learn how to communicate with the deaf.

Bottom line, no matter how different are our beliefs, principles and so forth, just be objective and stay in focus to really carry out the entrusted obligations. Not to just fulfil the personal agenda. We should learn from the past where most of the lost cities and vanished civilisations on the globe were destroyed due to the greed beyond imagination, although they had the most evolved, advanced and sophisticated technologies at their point of time. Point here is, the ‘punishment’ was to everyone, not just to the selfish.

Hope that Malaysia will NOT be a place where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer in future. (Trust me, it’s not a pleasant sight…I’ve seen it all, in other countries.) There should be an even distribution of wealth throughout the nation and everyone will prosper. Prioritising is essential at this point of time, where recession and the food crisis are in sight.

From my observation, I noticed that we were taught by the older generation, the baby boomer’s generation, to work hard to acquire wealth in terms of material. Then, we instil that value into our children and indirectly, we are spoiling the new generation with materialism. Branded and expensive items are their first preference, although they know that the family cannot afford it. With the ‘love’ ticket, we, the older generation tend to borrow, beg or even steal to fulfil this spoilt brad’s request. (That’s why more adults are being blacklisted due to the credit cards’ NPLs!)

Young generation should be taught the importance of embracing values like respect, trustworthy, responsibility, diligent, humble, et cetera. Materialism should be abolished from their mindset. This is because they will be the new leaders to steer this country.

If you Have, Give; if you Lack, Seek

So, this will be my last post from Indonesia. Tomorrow (Wednesday the 30th of April) we fly out of Jakarta, touch down in Kuala Lumpur after 2 hours’ flight and then wait for my hubby’s next assignment. I am looking forward to spending some time with our family, especially my mum and parents-in-law. At the same time, I am sad to be leaving friends here and the serenity of this neighbourhood. You'll know what I mean from the pictures.

Here’s a peek of our last two weeks in Indonesia. First, as I promised, the trips to Bandung and Bogor. We had great time shopping in Bandung. It’s where most of the factory outlets are located.

We also had fun in Bogor, especially the Safari. We were very nervous when we were in the dangerous zone - the lions and the tigers’ habitat. Luckily it was past lunch time. Anyone who had been to this Safari will surely agree that the Bird Show and the Wild, Wild West Show are a plus to the excursion. We had decided before we got here that we wanted to purchase some local handicrafts to take home with us. And just my luck (and my hubby’s nightmare!!! he..he..), the annual event of INACRAFT expo, was held in the Jakarta Convention Centre since the 23rd to 27th of April. It was like the whole Indonesian crafts were in one place. Story short, just put it this way....I had entered the hall empty handed and upon walking through the exit door, I had all my fingers hanging with bags. :D (You can’t blame a lady for having good taste!)

Know what’s my ‘weakness’? Whenever I go abroad, I will buy something for everyone at home. When I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. My hubby calls it my ‘bad’ habit (and it’s already spreading to my children). But, I simply call it generosity. I was brought up with that in me. “Whenever you visit someone, never go empty handed. Even if someone visits you, never let them go empty handed too. No matter how small or how cheap, it does not matter. It’s the thought that counts,” my religious teacher or Ustazah, would teach us in class.

I read somewhere; there was an Afghan saying that goes, “Give even an onion, graciously.” I fully agree with it. Why? During my youngster days, I remember very well that whenever I visited the elderly, they would pack something for me to take home. Cakes, fruits or the least, the day’s home cooked dish. That’s how the traditions of close knitted community affected a girl into the lady I am now. I suppose, it is a delicate methodology to spread love.

The above stated Malay saying had proven that this practice is essential in the community. When we were at the pit bottom of our life, the unemployment episode, everyone we know had unconditionally extended their helping hand to pull us through. So, I guess, souvenir from abroad is nothing compared to that, right?

So, here we are, with an additional huge bag to bring home (I am beginning to worry about the excess baggage charges tomorrow!), all packed up, ready to head home and be like the ‘Santa Clause’ next week! :D