monkeycrap's Diaryland Diary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
trip thoughts
Back from my trip to Genting Highlands, Malaysia. Did a little blog catching up, and realised that most people are writing about what the true Christmas spirit is, and how Christmas has been commercialised to such a sad extent. Oh well, for those who know me, i've never been a huge fan of Santa, Rudolph and Olof(the other reindeer).
Personally, I feel that the Christmas Spirit isn't something to be defined by historical events or shameless advertising or fat red old men with stupid deer for that matter. It's a feeling. And it's a magical one. I totally felt it during this trip. I know, this entry is 2 days late, but i've to write about it.
For those who know, Christmas there is the epitome of commercialisation at its finest. Approximately 10 zillion multi-hair-coloured ah bengs of different variety congregate, armed with an insatiable appetite for mandarin techno music and an undying need to spray girls with cannistered string and fake snow. Nothing wrong with that really, that's the way they wanna enjoy, jumping up and down to S.H.E. remixes and going crazy with sprays. Really, i've nothing against the way they wanna celebrate, it's actually pretty fun, like the New Year's countdown. But i wouldn't be too enthusiastic about getting plastered in ah beng fake snow. In fact, i will personally castrate my sprayer. Same with my cousins and my sis, who went on the trip with me.
So, we decided to find somewhere more peopleless. Walked away from the techno town square, outside in the mist and cold of the night and basically sat along the pathways and chatted. Noticed that many couples and families did the same thing, walking away from the crowd. You know, i really wonder who's enjoying themselves more, those crazy sprayers in the building, or the couples walking hand in hand in the cold.
Continued walking to find a perfect spot to await midnight. Went to this beautiful shrub garden with a fantastic view of a downhill forest. Cold, misty and covered in a cloud shroud. Basking in the mist-refracted moonlight. Not many people know or bother about the place, so we were basically there with a few couples, some families and a group of malay guys with a guitar, sitting around strumming and singing malay idol songs. As Christmas approached, the cloud shroud got denser and started to cover the entire night sky. "So this is Christmas," I thought. But exactly at Christmas, 12 midnight, the most wonderful thing happened. Fireworks. From the workers' quarters on the opposite side of the forest. Totally lit up the sky. Absolutely no one except for the few of us there and then would've seen it. The magical feeling, it's really indescribable. Then all the smses came in from friends in Singapore, reminding me that Christmas 2004 is both magical and blessed. Wow. Wow.
Walking around at 2 am in the cold and mist along the roads, in the orange glow of the streetlights, nothing like it. Managed to capture a few pics. But they're pretty blurred due to the mist. But still quite nice la.
I'm off for now. Will write again soon.
11:37 a.m. - 2004-12-27
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
other diaries: |