Makan!! (Eat)

My first meal with a friend. Been only out for 2 meals a day, since I got here. A real Malaysian would have had about 4-5 meals a day. So Celina was helping me make up for it in one meal! We had tomato mee, grilled fish with chilli paste, Indian rojak, plain roti, banana roti, and 'cha kueh' which is fried turnip cake. Yum.... continuing my food odysey here.

Visiting hours

The first thing dad and I did when we got here was to go and see Ah Mah at the hospital. I was relieved to get to see her. Since then we have been visiting her at the hospital 2-3 times a day. Mum has 9 siblings so we make sure there is at least 1 person at the hospital at all times. It has been good to see all my uncles and aunties and some cousins again. Its been close to 6 years since I saw most of them, though I think this is somewhat a bitter-sweet reunion for us.

I think we are all somewhat ready for her passing. Funeral plans have already been made. As much as we would all like to have her with us, she would be huge frustrated by her limitations: she is currently in a coma, can’t see or talk, not able to move her legs or right side, and her kidneys are not functioning. Family has always been important for Ah Mah, and all her children are back here together, and that would make her very happy. So we hope that she passes on in peace

It's now 9:42pm. My body is already confused what time it is. Will arrive in Kuching about midnight and head straight to the hospital from there. Seemed like such a long flight. Maybe becuase its a rush against time. The latest update about Ah Mah before dad and I headed for the airport was that her body was swelling. Perhaps they are not doing any more dialysis. Just hope we get there in time.

Meanwhile, I am sitting in the Golden lounge and enjoying (bad) wireless connection. Better than nothing I guess. And trying to enjoy the services, but I think I am too tired. At least the air-conditioning in here is nice and cool. But perhaps its too nice cos I'm fading. My body is screaming "Bed! Bed!" Another flight and a long drive to the airport to go. I should be prepping myself for what is ahead soon. But I am tired. And I don't know what to expect. How do you prepare yourself to see someone who is near death?

from KLIA

It's now 9:42pm. My body is already confused what time it is. Will arrive in Kuching about midnight and head straight to the hospital from there. Seemed like such a long flight. Maybe becuase its a rush against time. The latest update about Ah Mah before dad and I headed for the airport was that her body was swelling. Perhaps they are not doing any more dialysis. Just hope we get there in time.

Meanwhile, I am sitting in the Golden lounge and enjoying (bad) wireless connection. Better than nothing I guess. And trying to enjoy the services, but I think I am too tired. At least the air-conditioning in here is nice and cool. But perhaps its too nice cos I'm fading. My body is screaming "Bed! Bed!" Another flight and a long drive to the airport to go. I should be prepping myself for what is ahead soon. But I am tired. And I don't know what to expect. How do you prepare yourself to see someone who is near death?

The rich young ruler

Did a talk on the rich young ruler from Mark 10 in CU yesterday. It was really good reading up on the passage and digging in deep into it. Its amazing how his initial eagerness and enthusiasm melted away when he had to give up his riches. He even walked away grieving. I can't help but wonder whether it is even harder to walk away from wealth or the pursuit of wealth in this day and age. Esp. in a capitalistic society when wealth is everything - power, security... (hmm.. but then wealth has always represented that.)

I hang around with students who are always complaining they are poor. But then, most people I know who complain about being poor - me included, are not really living in poverty. I mean we all have the basics - food, shelter, clothes. warmth. And more. So poor, for us, means not being able to afford a better cell phone, going out to eat more often, getting broadband, buying scotch fillet instead of cheap rump steak, etc. In other words, poor has come to mean not affording luxuries, which we now consider as necessities.

p/s When I got back from my talk I opened an email to find a link to this site. Try and it, and see where you are on the rich list!