I shall begin this blog, presently being written in Bites and Brews, the coffee place in my new abode. It has WiFI as well as a cheerful and ebullient proprietor. A real; find! It is rather warm but I am sitting under a fan. Eating fish and chips, which are delicious.
This blog shall begin with intellectual content but probably fade off into silly conversations. I have been able to ‘snag’ a thesis of great importance and relevance to my life in Malaysia. How it managed to come in my possession will be discussed in a later blog. This particular paragraph in the Introduction speaks of the contradictions I have observed in the nine months of my Malaysian residency.
Malaysian political scientist Fazil Irwan looks into the ‘mismanagement of cultural hetero-geneity’ from a different angle. In the case of Malaysia, with its Muslim Malay majority and its non-Muslim Chinese and Indian minorities, the inter-ethnic tensions result from Malaysia’s contradictory nation-building process. Founded on Islam as the state religion and on Malay culture as the dominant one, Malaysia seems to have fortified intra-national ethnic boundaries instead of dissolving them and to have established Muslim Malays as an exclusive group. On the premise of a ‘non-ethnic non-religious state as the fundamental criterion for a multi-cultural society’, Fazil Irwan offers an alternative reading of Islam. Through the exegesis of some Arabic and Islamic key notions, he tries to lift the barrier between ‘Muslim’ and ‘Dhimmi’ (non-Muslim) and to overcome the ‘ethnic divide’ in Malaysia.”
The thesis is 104 pages long. Shamir volunteered to have it printed as reading on the phone or the computer is a bit difficult.
The pdf was achieved last evening. An action packed family dinner evening. I have secretly and publicly declared that this is the last family dinner I shall ever attend, for reasons that will not be specified. I laughingly tested Pam (Niece of Mohan, Cousin to Shamir)
Me: I am never coming to a family dinner again. Even if I have the misfortune to be invited again. Hahahaha
I began the day back in Lyf Hotel but did not have my computer. I resorted to handwriting with the intention of typing at the moment when my computer and I are reunited.
I am back at Lyf without my computer so, I am at this time, writing not typing. I am enjoying the congee as my room includes breakfast and I have three choices. Forgot to take a picture of it in all of its glory instead you shall see where it was. Now it is in my tummy – or on the way. The reason I came back this evening is both complex and simple to explain. I shall go for simple at this juncture. Two grown men, who I was relying on for transportation had temper tantrums. Texted Shamir, complaining I admit Me: It is unseemly for two grown men to indulge in temper tantrums. Clearly neither of them has mothers who put them in their room at the first sign of bad behavior when they were young. Spoke to the mother of one. She was excusing his behavior on blood sugar. Me: “His behavior is unforgivable and you are making excuses for him .”
The event was a huge family dinner at Benny Hill’s. The food absolutely delicious. Photos of a food eaten on a prior visit and a description shall follow the blog.
I marvel at my adaptability, Adaptability is the the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions. In general be seen as an ability to change something or oneself to fit to occurring changes. It can be described as the ability to cope with unexpected disturbances in the environment. My adaptability, I think, was born in my earliest years. My father was overseas at war; my mother and me lived with relatives; first paternal grandfather, then Aunt Lucille and Uncle Ralph, then my maternal grandparents. All living situations were different, meeting my needs in different ways.
I have breakfasted in four different and unique venues and unique venues in the last ten days.or so. All enjoyable for different reasons.
The first was here at Lyf prior to my move to the stay apartment. I am so happy to be back, it is gratifying to know you have been missed. I breezed into the restaurant to be greeted in the following fashion. A young man, a staff member smiled broadly saying He: I read your blog about your trip to Singapore
It filled with me with gratitude and sense of recognition. I missed the lively energy and vibes of Lyf – did not realize it until I returned. When one leaves a place you are distracted by your new adventure. It is not until you return that you realize how much you have missed them. I have since spoken to several people, they experience the same feelings – it isn’t just me.
Then two or three days at the stay apartment. Groceries had not been purchased so ate at the breakfast buffet – joined by Shamir one morning. Everyone was so welcoming.
Then the glories of the Orchard Hilton Executive Lounge with cuisine and fellow guests from many countries. Returned from Singapore for a unique experience. Made my own simple breakfast. The joy of not having to get dressed and being able to hang our in pajamas all day. I love pajama days, so relaxing, am able to get so much writing done. It is solitary confinement at its very best.
Thursday, the 27th
I write from my Lyf bed the next morning. Yesterday was a strange day. Went back and forth between Lyf and my stay apartment. Much activity at my apartment – the cleaning service did a great job. Two men came to fix the drain in the bathtub. The project manager Melissa stopped in to supervise. She, competent and funny, has known Uncle Mohan for most of her life. When she heard of our ongoing skirmishes and my background as a lawyer said: “Poor Uncle Mohan.” Of course I had to tell him. Hahaha
Suddenly (it seems) Ramadan will begin. This morning decided to find out exactly when. I do have preparations to attend to. My driver, Din, a Muslim is not driving during Ramadan which is rather inconvenient. I shall be forced into solitude, which is my natural state during this, my fifth Ramadan. My first Ramadan was in California, second in Abu Dhabi, third in Edmonton, fourth in Kohbar, Saudi Arabia. Talk about adaptability?! Members of the Lyf staff are encountering me to come and break fast with them – back to the two word definition. I was so confused during earlier Ramadans, Could not figure out why everyone wanted to have breakfast with me. No – they were talking about sunset when Muslims break fast with dates as did the Prophet (PBUH). I have purchased the very special dates. When fasting on Mondays and Thursdays at Lexis Suites I was forced to break fast with Sultan raisins from California. It was more than a little disappointing.
I could not remember the name of the predawn meal, which is not breakfast. All of the lessons taken at the Singapore Apple Store emboldened me. I asked Siri. Got the answer, it is Suhoor. Or sahur or suhar. Then went to Apple Dictionary learning it is “the meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan, after which people fast until after sunset. Its origins: Arabic saḥūr ‘of the dawn’ “ What would I do without my Apple devices????
Then went to the search engine of my blog typing in Ramadan. There were 169 entries. My goodness gracious. The first one was the most recent January 21, 2025. Restaurant Rules During Ramadan. It is amusing, doubt that the others will be.
I shall leave you laughing by copying and pasting that exchange.
Today received the news that I had best go shopping today as the stores were closing down for Chinese New Years.
Me: This country is driving me crazy. The stores get shut down for the Hindu annual festival of lights. I am not Hindu. Then the stores shut down for Christmas. I am not a Christian. Now the stores get shut down because it is Chinese New Year’s. I am not Chinese. Ramadan is coming in 39 days – what happens then. The least they could do in a Muslim Majority country is shut dow all the restaurants from sunrise to sunset.
He: Restaurants are not allowed to serve Muslims from sunrise to sunset.
Me: Hmmmm. How can you tell which is which. Muslim women wear scarves but the men??? Do they have to show that they are not circumcised?
He: (Laughing.) Yes they apply for a special identity card with a photograph.
Me: I would hate to be the photographer. Hahaha
Now a more recent exchange
Me: Cleanliness Is next to godliness. .
He: That’s true.
Me: How would you know??? ?
He: Because I believe everything you say Hahaha .
Me: That is dangerous Hahahah
Jokes aside this became an inspiration. During Ramadan I can read my prior ‘Ramadan’ blogs to answer the following questions: Has my faith evolved over the years? Is it in any way dependent on the people and practices that surround me?
Food for thought. If something is described as providing food for thought, it is worth seriously thinking about or considering. Another way of saying this is “something to think about.” Synonyms: meditations., reflections, stimulation, intellectual nourishment. .
Along comes another form of nourishment. The promised photos of Benny Hill’s delicious master pieces. One the Salt Beef Reuben Toastie. described on the menu as being accompanied by gherkins, grainy mustard, and melted gruyere cheese. Cost? 32RM/ Also pictured is Corned Beef Egg In a Hole described on the menu as cornered beef with peas & confit shallot served with tomato salsa, a sunny side up egg, chipotle, tomato and black beans.Its Cost? 32 RM. Portions of the menu will also be shown. You shall drool. The best corn beef I have ever tasted. The best Reuben I have ever tasted. Figure in the exchange rate. I do it roughly – divide by four. You do the math. I cannot do math and I cannot sing. I shall be miles away from Benny Hil ’s during Ramadan. Thank Goodness for that. Also shown will be my dessert of last evening, the Pavlova and the remnants of yesterday’s breakfast. I did send Shamir the photo, saying it was yesterday’s congee. He replied: “Yummy” He got that right.
This has got to be The Foodie Final Days.
