Book I Read - Floating On A Malayan Breeze

Ok, this is one of those things I told myself I would do, told other people I would do - had so many ideas as to what to do... And then dilly-dallied and never got started. It was as if the ideas in my head were so perfect that to start would mean forgetting some of them, making my piece less than perfect, and then agonizing over it.

Anyway, this book I read - Floating On A Malayan Breeze - was written by a Singaporean, Sudhir. I came to know about it while reading his blog, which has a whole host of opinion pieces and commentary about life in Singapore. I was thus thrilled to find that he was also very interested in Malaysia (when I later met him I found out that we had lots in common - we were in the same JC, we knew a lot of common acquaintances).

Anyhow, the book, yes. I really looked forward to reading it because - and all those who know me well would know I am there every week - of how much time I spend driving up and down Malaysia, not just to the big cities but also to places less travelled by Singaporeans. So my interest was peaked when I found out that the book was premised on a road trip which Sudhir made with his friend, Sumana (who turns out was my junior in track & field at RI), in 2004, when they traversed all 11 states of Peninsula Malaysia on bicycle with a budget of 10 Ringgit a day. I was surprised though, when I read it. I expected the book to be more 'travel-guidish', recounting places visited and encounters with locals. There is of course a fair amount of that. But there is also an equal, and perhaps even greater amount of social and political commentary as Sudhir does a deep dive into the similarities and differences that have shaped the development of both Singapore and Malaysia after separation. It certainly didn't turn out to be a book for a tourist, but I liked it any way, because I kind of enjoy comparative political discourse and commentary.

Anyhow, what began as another read turned out to be the beginning of a series of adventures as the book seeded an idea within me. Because of the amount of time I spent in Malaysia, I thought I would do my own write-up about my experiences up North, presenting a different Singaporean viewpoint of the peninsula.

For one thing, while Sudhir and Sumana made their journey through the 11 states at one shot under absolute austerity during a planned trip, I was going to tell of how Malaysia relates to me, my practical reasons for going there - cheap fuel, good food,cheap property etc - and draw on my experiences garnered during my numerous trips there. BUT, within the next few weeks, I was also going to, like my Indian friends, traipse through all 11 states of peninsula Malaysia.

And That Is Exactly What I Did! With my redoubtable and mostly indefatigable travel companion - let's call her by her nick, Rabbit, for now - during the months of November and December, we embarked on journeys to various peninsular states to add to our already familiar knowledge of some parts of Malaysia. Of course, we weren't going to do it like the S&S (I'll just use that abbreviation for Sudhir and Sumana). For one thing, Rabbit is, comparatively, a prissy female and I am too old, but more importantly, too cancered up for any ardour during our travels. So we mostly drove. At times we took the bus, at others we flew and rarely, we cabbed and took other forms of local public transport. What was important was that we did it in relative comfort (adhering to my theory of having a strong and comfortable base we mostly stayed at the best hotels - S&S sometimes slept in public areas), adventure, reality and rusticity from a cozy viewpoint and distance, if you will.

And hence the planned title of my mini-travelogue:-

BREEZING ON A MALAYAN FLOAT

I came up with that for the obvious reason that while like the S&S we were going to travel to all the Malayan states, we were going to do it without strenuous exertion. We were going to Breeze through and experience all the far-flung wonders of what ironically is our closest neighbour from a safe and cozy platform, a float, or pedestal in other words - a Malayan Float (particularly those comfy hotels).

But also, a little cheekily, because of what I often seek out when I go to Malaysia - A&W Root Beer float which, while ubiquitous in the childhoods of many Singaporeans my age, is no longer available in our fine island...

So... During the next few weeks, if my health, and, more importantly, my spirits, hold, I hope to detail my version of travelling in Malaysia and how I have enjoyed Breezing on a Malayan Float.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Happy Year Of The Goat, Everybody!!!!

Hello...

To those few of you who read and have been wondering why there have been so few posts, I have been ok.

Of course there has been treatment, the usual worries, lethargy, the lot...

But a lot of it has been down to the fact that I have been lazy...

Very lazy, in fact.... Notwithstanding the fact that there are things weighing on me...

But that is no excuse...

I have been doing stuff, and I have been travelling, mostly to Malaysia, so I hope to write about that soon...

Keep reading...

Book I Read - The Perk by Mark Jimenez

I borrowed a book from a friend. It was written by Mark Jimenez, whose novels have plots revolving around the law and legal issues. Some of the parts of the book hit home a little harder than usual. Not because it involves an area which I am (supposed to be) familiar with, but because the protagonist is a lawyer who has lost his wife to cancer. Through the book, he finds and reads emails written by his wife throughout the stages of her cancer. Some of it, I could identify with - the fear, the despair, the hope (which is linked to the fear, that the hope is false or in vain, in a draining cycle). I read it before my latest scans, and it scared me because I wondered if it would be the same for me. And then my scan results came and I wondered if some parts are chillingly, and eerily similar, if this is going to be my story too, if the book was prophetic.

Anyway, here is a part of the book. In this scene, the main character, Beck, is taking his son, Luke, who has withdrawn very badly into himself since his mother's death, on a hike. He is encouraging Luke to open up.

"I'd sit right here for hours ... trying to figure things out. To understand why life isn't fair. But I know there's no figuring it out. All you can hope for is that your mother's life had meaning to your life, otherwise her life was wasted. I look at you and Meggie, and I see her. Up here, I feel my mother's spirit. She lives on in me. Luke, your mother's spirit lives on in you. You just have to let yourself feel it."

"But if you keep up like this, you'll drive her spirit out of you. Don't do that, son. Keep her inside you. Remember her in the good days, before she was sick, at your games cheering like a crazy woman when you got a hit or scored a goal or nailed a jump shot. She loved to watch you play. Because that's who you are, Luke. You're an athlete. And she's still watching you. Make her cheer for you again, son."

I was kind of feeling sorry for myself when I read it and then I realized a fundamental difference. I'm not gone yet! I'm still here!

I guess I chose to write out this conversation here because it struck me that Beck was telling his son that his mother's spirit was still in him even though she was no longer physically around. But on the other hand, I'm still here, breathing, feeling, living. If I plunge into self-pity and despair and withdraw from all that is beautiful in this world, then, much like Beck said to Luke, I would drive my spirit out of myself. And I would do so when I am still physically around. That, to me, would be one of life's utmost tragedies. I think it's ironic, but also easily understandable, how so many people may find it easier to feel the spirits of their loved ones inside them but struggle to locate their own spirit when faced with a crisis - life is tough and for so many, it is so much easier to long for others rather than fight one's own, possibly losing, battle.

But I choose to fight. I too was, am, an athlete. I do remember the races I ran, the records I broke. I recall, how, after suffering an injury which meant I would never run competitively again, I switched my attention to academics and got my first degree before I became an adult. But that doesn't really matter now. Unlike Beck, I am not recalling the good days. Those were not the good days, The good days are now! Always. For whatever time there is left (and may that be a long time yet). Life is for living, and I am going to live, I am going to fight it, to kick it, to hug it, to cling to it, to taste it, to love it, to hate it, to fear it, to savour it, to lash out at it, to dance with it, to play with it, to embrace it, to kiss it, to swing with it. But in all instances, I am going to live it.

So often people talk about dying before their time. To me, dying before one's time is losing one's spirit when one's body is still up and running. Not me. I am not done yet.

**************

P.S: But we all know it is a tough battle. And, to all those reading, I know Beck's last line to his son was "Make her cheer for you..." But as I said, sometimes we feel down, we feel it is really, really tough, So for those of you who are generous enough, you don't have to wait for me to make you cheer for me. Cheer for me now! You have no idea how that uplifts the spirit.

Return To The US

One of the reasons why I hardly blogged these few months is not just because my mind has been on other things but also because I didn't know how to write this next part.

So I'll just put it somewhat obliquely, matter-of-factly, wrapped up in another piece about a trip I made.

In July 2014, during a routine ultra-sound scan, it was detected that the cancer had spread to my liver. After a Radio-frequency Ablation to remove the nodule, we went to the States to discuss further options.

First up was a trip to the Cleveland Clinic, where I had treatment for my eye a year earlier.

Walked around at night in the open field near the First Energy Stadium. They were having some kind of celebration I think, perhaps in anticipation of the upcoming Gay Games, hence the laser beams.

After that, we headed to New York, where I tried to but failed to get an appointment with the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre. I did get to go to Broadway though. The lights and energy were a lift to spirits, and perhaps hope.

Happier Days - NUS MBA Graduation

On 10 July 2014, I graduated with a Master's degree in Business Administration from NUS...

It feels not too long ago when I was pondering where to do it... That was a different world, a different lifetime, it seems....

Happier Days - Trip To Phuket

In June, on the invitation of the Asian Banker's Club, I went to Phuket to explore some real estate opportunities by the Thai developer Sansiri.

I didn't buy a unit, though I came close, because the proposition was good and because the Asian Banker's Club people were not pushy but extremely nice and helpful (Maybe next time).

Well, that was my first time to Phuket and of course the beaches were Ace.

And the night life....exciting....

But also a word about the hotels. For example, for a hundred bucks Sing, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency at Kamala Beach on a hill overlooking the sea in huge room with my own jacuzzi pool.... Very nice... And I have been around a bit in Hyatts....