And I have to move on. In more ways than one.

So I am.

Here.

I still remember vividly when you used to crawl up to me when I was asleep and start pulling my hair and my ears and my nose. Everyone showered so much attention on you, and even I couldn’t resist teasing you just to see how you would react. Of course, we were young back then, and we lived simpler lives, oblivious and carefree to the ways of the world. Times have changed. We grew up, we started knowing things, our innocence were lost.

Yet, all that knowledge and reasoning still couldn’t stop me from trying to shout reason into the ears of this stubborn, loud, impatient man that is my brother.

Why the anger? That’s the one thing that bugs me. It’s one thing to be curious and to always have an inquiring nature, but discretion is also a valuable virtue to be learnt. Rudeness and arrogance will not only get you nowhere, but you also run the risk of people misinterpreting you and assuming things about you which are far from the truth. And yet you never listen to what we say. You ask for our opinions, but you become impatient and furious with us when our opinions differ from your solution.

Continued here.

This is something I wrote for The Star last week. I don’t know if it ever saw print, but in any case, here it is in it’s entirety. As always, comments are more than welcome.

TWO CENTS’ FROM AN ORDINARY MALAYSIAN
by: Ganaesh Devaraj

This is just a humble comment from an ordinary Malaysian. I am not a politician, nor do I aspire to be one. I am not a political enthusiast, and intellectual discussions about the intricacies of politics in this country will only serve to confuse me further. But I felt that I had to write this piece, even though it might appear simplistic in the end. It’s something that I feel I have to do, as a Malaysian and as someone who loves and values peace.

I am scared, and I don’t think I have ever been this scared my entire life. I have done some bad things in the past, but thankfully, they remain within the realms of mistakes that people are bound to make in their lifetimes. But this fear, the fear that I have within me now, is of something that I have no control of. I can only stand and watch while events unfold, and see the consequences of what a few of my fellow countrymen are doing, not out of rational thought, but out of ignorance and stupidity.

Continued here.

Cooking. One of the great mysteries of life. At least for me. A realm full of enigmas and wonder. A real where many can enter, but only a few will persevere and emerge victorious. Where raw ingredients become culinary magic that can fill up the hearts of many and sooth the troubled soul. I am always captivated by this realm, and the ability of a select few to do seemingly impossible things with so little things.

To master it (or at least become proficient in it) became one of my lifelong dreams, and last month, I attempted to enter this realm. After a few false starts, and lots of trial and error, I scored a few achievements.

Of course, I won’t stop here. There are still too many things to try and taste and experience. The journey is far from over.

I will persevere.

P.S: Sorry for the dramatic tone of this post. I’m on a high after seeing how my Chicken Kapitan turned out. By the way, Ayam is chicken in Malay.

I usually try to avoid the Central Plaza when I’m in campus. It’s usually packed with so many people that it’s just impossible to move, especially if you’re pressed for time, as is the case with me. The space is just too bloody small to set up booths for exhibitions and such.

Today was no exception. There are some times when outside companies would come and set up booths to promote their products, have competitions and things like that. Must be part of their marketing strategy. Today, it was L’Oréal setting up shop, promoting something called the L’Oréal Skinzone (I’m not sure what it was exactly, didn’t bother to read the information in the banner). Of course, there were attractive girls handing out pamphlets and talking about whatever the hell it was, to whoever stopped in front of their booth for more than 3 seconds.

I decided to go by Central Plaza, because I was done with classes and I saw a friend of mine manning a booth for a club that he was in. I was passing this one girl, handing out pamphlets and talking cheerily with passers-by. As I was approaching her, she saw me and the smile instantly went off from her face. She gave me a stare… and gave a pamphlet to someone who was directly behind me.

Right, what the hell was that? I thought. So I went quite a distance before I stopped and turned around to observe her. Everyone who passed by her got that pamphlet, and a smile to go along with it. Right…

It might be nothing, and I could just be a wee bit paranoid. But was I just discriminated? On what basis? I know I’m not that good-looking, and my physique isn’t anything to shout about either. I’m what you call the epitome of average-ness. But man, that was just weird. It may be subtle, but it speaks volumes.

*sighs* Oh, well.