This place never fails to remind me of the Midwest. There’s something about its vast barrenness that’s akin to an American landscape. I love coming up here, for the sake of nostalgia.
Showing posts with label city life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city life. Show all posts
A Familiar Place
Snaking Through the City
The Lunar New Year is finally here. I woke up this morning to the sounds of firecrackers and cries of merriment from across the neighborhood. I reckon there will be lots of sweet mandarins, lion dancing, and little red packets awaiting. I’m just looking forward to toss and taste more yee sang (fish salad). Here’s a scene from my city just before the big day arrived. Those miniature lanterns are hanging everywhere across the city. Have a good celebration :)
Seafood Chronicle
For an early celebration of the Lunar New Year, my half and I went for some Chinese food for dinner. We wanted to have yong tao foo (stuffed beancurd) with soup at first. By chance, we stumbled upon an old seafood restaurant instead. The place had a humbling and nostalgic ambience, much to my delight. Just a few steps from where we were seated stood many aquaria-like tanks with swimming fish, lobsters, king crabs and other sea goodness. I dared not stare into the eyes of those fish for too long as I might meet either one of them on my plate. Alas, we settled for a giant tilapia cooked in Peranakan-style kapitan sauce and some fried kangkung belacan (water spinach with shrimp paste). Honestly, it was the best kapitan sauce I’ve ever had. We washed everything down with freshly-brewed Chinese tea. After the meal, we headed out for a drive around town to find more films to watch. The Chinese lanterns were lit up everywhere, illuminating the roads we were on. The night felt magical; I could see hope for prosperity in this little place we call home.
The Art of Persuasion
Make eye contact from afar. Strut modestly. Stand close. Keep paws off for now. Be quiet. Just blink. Persevere for a few minutes. Look up. Make eye contact again. Enlarge pupils (practice makes perfect). Mew gently. Blink blink. Expect to hear “awhh.” There it is. Don't get excited just yet. Remain modest. Wait for it. Look out for that hand. A signal. Now go. Get fur stroked. Raise chin to be scratched. Remember to purr. Enjoy this. Give a friendly bite. Be gentle always. Hear more “awhhs”. Close enough. See that piece of fish now. Stay on the fish. Stray from looking too eager. Eye on the fish. Don't jump. Gravity will pull the fish. There. Savor it. Nothing else tastes better. Leave the bones behind. Lick paws. Walk away.I learnt a lot from this cat today.
The Umbrellas of PJ
Today I'm just glad that I reached home in time before the rain fell. The rest of the world held up their colorful umbrellas and marched on.
Housecall
My half and I always listen to late-night radio anytime we’re driving together past daylight. Our favorite show is Groovedown, which plays a lot of soul and serves as an agony aunt to urban ladies. I love it because I never feel alone, listening to all the stumbling blocks that others face. My half, on the other hand, favors it simply because he wants to know what women want. Secretly, we both adore Priscilla Seelan’s comforting voice. So a few nights ago, I called in the show to offer my two cents on setting up a nest outside of our parents’. A girl in her late twenties was contemplating on moving out from her mother’s. I shared how I did so myself a few years back and it’s been liberating thus far. There’s nothing wrong wanting to stand on your own two feet. I’m thankful for my mother— she’s been nothing but supportive of the decisions that I make for my own betterment. I hope it all goes just as well for the girl and her parent too.
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