Putrajaya and pavements

Pavements and pedestrian footpaths. It was a treat to walk. Yes, to walk from Putra Square in the north to Gemilang Square in the south. Continuously, without any encumbrances. Through a magnificent boulevard – 4 km long and 100 meter wide[1] – lined with plants, trees, parks, kiosks and Government offices. My husband and I […]

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Changing expectations

Back in January, I scoffed at the idea of a Fixed Deposit (FD) rate lower than 3%. I usually scour the business pages and online promotions to compare the best FD rates offered by financial institutions. Homework is a must for a safe home for my hard earned money. Especially when the journey was long, […]

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DIY

I am not a DIY- er. I have never tried to make, fix or learn how to repair things that are broken or stopped working. I don’t like DIY. Which by the way is not part of the Malaysian culture. At least, not this Malaysian. It also doesn’t help that I am hopeless at it. That […]

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Mask police

I don’t want to be a mask police. I don’t want to police people or business. That said, in one week, I had to question the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at two well established restaurants. Staff with no masks or masks worn under the chin. I was disappointment. I expected better. One, situated along Jalan […]

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Sound of music

Caught in a massive back to before Covid-19 traffic congestion. Searched endlessly for a bay in a multi-storey, not cheap, car park. I was running late. And, on the verge of turning a little green and grumpy.  When just like that. My mood lifted. A smile spread across my face. ‘Limbo Rock’ was being played […]

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Stork King and Queen

If the lion is the king of the jungle, then the stork reigns in Zoo Negara, Malaysia’s national zoo.  They live, eat, nest, fly, walk and roam freely just about everywhere. To me, they are the kings and queens of the 110 acres of land that is home to over 5137 specimen from 476 species […]

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My mum’s recipe 4: Sambar

I learnt how my mum cooks ‘sambar’ or ‘dhal’ in her kitchen a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen her prepare it many times but have never paid any attention to what it entailed. I now know that it entails quite a lot. Too much dicing and slicing, spices, cooking and slaving over a hot […]

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It wasn’t me

I always wonder if it’s just me being ‘bodoh’ or stupid. What did I miss? What didn’t I read right? Did I tap the wrong key? Usually, I cannot be absolutely certain of my innocence. But this time, I am pretty sure it wasn’t me. I know the familiar drill. If something goes wrong with […]

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In the present

I can feel sad. Surprisingly, suddenly. Without warning. A song. A paragraph in a book. A poignant message on WhatsApp. A scene from a movie. Just a few triggers that make me feel melancholy for no apparent reason other than the trigger itself. The change in emotion is quite dramatic. Thank goodness they are mostly […]

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I, me and myself

It’s June. Six months into 2020. I was flipping through my table-top calendar (yes, it’s not digital) to check what I had jotted down in January for the rest of the year. Stopped in March, which was my birthday month, not the whole month. Although I do try to stretch my birthday for as many […]

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