Admittedly I got sidetracked which means my attention was diverted from what I originally intended to do. The expression comes from railways; a train moves off the track onto a side track. My train took a sporting detour. My train had a sense of adventure and a pickleball paddle.
I had heard of pickleball, but I am not at all athletic, and actually hate sports. Never ever did I expect to be playing pickleball. The original plan was to continue my Penang Island tour, going on a boat ride. Sandman told me to dress for a boat ride. So I did. Jeans, my Alexis baseball cap and running shoes. Came down to the Lyf lobby and somehow got hoodwinked into playing pickleball. No idea how that could happen, but it did.
I do love the word hoodwink. It means to deceive or trick (someone). It does have some funny synonyms. bamboozle, lead up the garden path, pull the wool over someone’s eyes, take to the cleaners, hornswoggle, pull a swift on. I was bamboozled and hornswoggled. Actually that sounds like fun – and it was.
Pickleball sounds like a ridiculous name, even for a paddle sport, sounds like something you should put into a sandwich. Decided to ask Artificial Intelligence about its origins
AI: According to USA Pickleball Joan Pritchard, wife of one of the inventors, named it in 1965. The mixture of badminton, table tennis and tennis reminded her a ‘pickle boar’ in rowing- a crew assembled from rowers left over from other boars. A mixed assortment
Well, there is a little logic behind a very peculiar name. I wonder how many devotees of the sport know its origins. Hardly any I am sure.
It is difficult to describe what went on. I guess you had to be there, (and you weren’t). Hahaha. I as not that happy about it all. Sandman and I were on one team – I would like to think the winning team but scoring seemed nonexistent. The whole purpose of the game seemed to be – humiliate the old lady. But I persevered and much to the amazement of everyone (particularly me) I was able to hit the ball back, over the net, to the utter and complete surprise of the other side, so they were unable to return the ball – three times in a row. I have NO idea how that happened, I am totally lacking in hand-eye coordination which is an absolute necessity in matters pertaining to sports. Your eyes locate the ball, your hand must get there at the right moment. Speaking of my success later I said to everyone that I concentrated totally on the ball, that is all there was for me. I laughingly told the guys that they had three to concentrate on. They brought their own equipment. Hahaha
My good morning greeting included a photo of me in action and the following caption. “Good morning! That was yesterday morning. Thankfully not this morning! Plans for changed and I excelled at my first ever game of pickleball. Alhamdulillah.
I received a number of responses. Here are a few.
She: Good morning. My customer told me pick a ball 😂 I hope Ur is pickleball.
Me: It is picklebar but they did pick a ball. Hahaha Pickleball ball not bar but there is a bar there. So If I play and win I can reward myself. Hahaha Sort of defeats the purpose.
The most hilarious exchange was with my doctor who shall remain anonymous.
He: Wow Really impressive. I can imagine the way you fly over to reach the ball. Hahaha
Me: Impressive you MUST admit.Show it to others bragging to the that you are my doctor and I am 83. I will be your limping-talking advertisement. Someone who insists on being anonymous praised me saying I was curious, enthusiastic and gutsy
He: Really gutty. 80 years old should be like you. I must motivate my other patients. With your example.
Me: And if they hurt themselves you get more business. Its a win/win
He: LOL Can’t do that.
Me: Yeah. They are not as healthy as me and might die. And a dead patient is a loss of business. Hahaha But not a laughing matter.
He: Yeah. Any knee pain when playing pickleball?
Me: No its possible to be rather stationery when playing. You just stand there and wait until the ball comes to you. Hahaha
It definitely was fun and I definitely was the hit of the ‘party’. The staff and all at Lyf received reels and photos of the grand event.
But that not the end of the day. Sandman and I continued on after depositing the Lyf players back at Lyf. We went on to experience the best of worlds. Exercise for the body, a temple for the spirit and chocolate for everything else. Hahaha I do savor it – with curiosity, laughter and a little chocolate. Hahaha
At some time during that day Sandman and I drove by a temple. You shall see photos of it. Absolutely beautiful. My communication with Artificial Intelligence is improving. I now can take a photo and send it off. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words Haha. I took a photo of the temple, inquiring as to its name. Promptly received and answer.
AI. This is the Thai Buddhist temple on Burma Lane in Penang. Your photograph shows its golden chedi, or pagoda. The temple was established in 1845 and is famous for its 33-metre reclining Buddha. The temple and complex developed over time. Singapore’s National Heritage Board records that the main shrine and pagoda were completed in 1900 with a consecration ceremony in 1910. The reclining Buddha was added in 1958, in conjunction with the 2500th anniversary of the birth of Buddha, at a cost of M$100,000. The Buddha image is actually a columbarium housing niches for the urns of the cremated. There is a crematorium within the temple complex, in addition to the gilded pagoda. A small Thai community still lives within the complex. When Penang was founded they adopted an open-door policy to make Penang a conducive place for different communities to co-exist. As a result, within Georgetown are enclaves of diverse communities. In 1845 the Thai community bought a piece of land. As a gesture to promote tradition relations with Siam, Queen Victoria granted a five-acre piece in in Pulau Tikus to them.
I was impressed with this information. Asked Sandman if he had visited the inside of the temple before.
He: Yes. Several times.
Me: That is great. Maybe we can go there after pickleball.
He: That is fine with me.
Me: Are there any clothing restrictions?
He: No only covered shoulders and knees. You leave your shoes when entering the temple.
Me: Okay! Shoes are routinely stolen at the Medinah Prophet’s Mosque and there are many businesses surrounding the masjid selling shoes to tourists at an inflated price. It is an atrocious practice. No idea what the guards at the Prophet’s Mosque are doing. Not watching out for the shoes, that is for sure. Once they checked my credentials thinking I was not a Muslim. I was covered!! I was prepared though. Showed the guy my Muslim papers.
He: Was he impressed?
Me: Well in the end intimidated. Hahaha
He: Oh, he got to see the lawyer in you.
Me: Indeed he did!! And then I flashed my impressive room key on him. I was staying in the five star royal hotel right next door.
After leaving Lyf we returned to the temple. Entered through the gate (which shall be pictured), easily finding parking on the grounds of the temple. At the entrance there was a sign – explaining to all visitors what the ‘rules’ were – courtesy, quiet and respect were the hallmarks but it was detailed so there would be no misunderstanding. A long counter with a friendly woman ready, and eager, to answer all questions. One could buy souvenirs, including orange monk robes. Of course I did not but they were inexpensive and very wearable. Walked over to the enormous reclining Buddha. There was total and absolute calm and silence – everyone honoring and respecting realizing they were in a place of worship.
The niches with their urns were a source of fascination. The individual’s names with their birth dates, their time of death and their photos. Differing ages represented. One or two outlived me but many left this world before they reached my 83 years. Sandman and I walked slowly, speaking of the differences between our faith and theirs. Cremation is not permitted in the Islamic Faith and visiting graveyards is not encouraged. Not forbidden, but not encouraged as the souls have left the body which is considered by Sufis to be a cage of the soul.
It was a circle tour. Near the exit was a respectful sign saying that once a pair of shoes was stolen and the person was left with no shoes. In simple respectful language readers were encouraged to respect the property of others. The Prophet’s Mosque (and other mosques I understand) are in a state of denial – never admitting the theft that occurs under their noses (so to speak). They have much to learn from the practices of this Thai Buddhist Temple. I had spoken to a little boy who was helping put money into a donation box. As we left, Sandman pointed to a departing car – the little boy was waving goodbye to me. I waved and blew him a kiss.
Sandman had a surprise for me. He then drove me to the Harriston Boutique. A unique Malaysian Chocolate Experience. It is a chocolate ‘factory’ offering free samples and the opportunity for purchase. I sampled and purchased. Hahaha This is so unusual. Across the ‘street’ from Lyf is a Harriston’s chocolate shop. I was living in Lyf when it first opened, tasted their delightful chocolates. I was filmed and the reel is posted on Instagram. Hahaha It is indeed a small world.
By the way, I have pinned another reel to my Instagram grid. A Saudi Arabia reel, celebrating with my covered Saudi Muslim Sisters. It is very upbeat and very feminist actually. I have always loved the 1986 quote by Maria Shear: “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.” I assert that in the Instagram reel. My Instagram is Alexis alaa McBride.
More things are happening here at Lyf. Both Sandman and myself were invited to the Food Event on Wednesday October 7. It is dubbed as Halal Local Food, It is Hameediyah nasi Kandar, I do not know what that is, so I will ask Artificial Intelligence.
AI Hameediyah is the restaurant’s name. Nasi Kandar is a Malaysian Indian Muslim meal of rice served with your choice of curries and side dishes- such as chicken, beef, fish or vegetables. The distinctive touch is having several curry gravies spooned over the rice, called dual camper meaning “mixed gravy.” So Wednesday’s good hunt sounds like a curry adventure for you and Sandman!
One adventure after another it seems. Photographs will chronicle the adventures. Pickleball shots, the temple and its gates, the Harriston food sign.
