Oh, my gourd!

A very long gourd.

Today's a pretty fine day.  I came across this gourd in the backyard of a house in Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor Baru.  The owner said she first noticed the gourd about a month ago, and it was growing at an amazing rate.

I was so excited when I saw it.  After all, I am an urban dweller.  I showed a picture of the gourd to my friend, who grew up in a kampung and she said it was quite a common sight, nothing to get excited about.

 
A friend read my post about eating rice with durian and became curious.  I said to her: "Come over to my house and try it."  And she did. I'm elated.

After the meal, she said she didn't quite like the taste, but she enjoyed the company though.  It's ok.  When another friend of mine first tried this dish several years ago, she didn't quite like it.  Now she loves to tuck into a meal of durian with rice.

Meanwhile, enjoy this beautiful song by Kyu Sakamoto (1941 - 1985).

Have a good day everyone. And drive safe if you're on the road.

.

To have loved and lost

Is it better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all?

Aren't they adorable?

After I posted the "Cinta Satu Malam" video, I began to wonder if I was sending the wrong message to teens.  Some neighbours have been telling me about the social problems in my neighbourhood where schoolgirls have been asked to leave school after they got pregnant.

At such a young age, one must always only concentrate on their education no matter how alluring the emotion of love is. So, I hope teens will not get the wrong message that it is better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all.  All these can wait till after you've completed your secondary education.

No, my message is strictly for those who have found love and then when they lost it, they lose their mind, gives up on love, starts to hate the opposite sex, or lose their loving nature.,, all because a loved one had betrayed their love.

Love is one of the most beautiful emotions anyone can experience, and when it is time for love to depart, no doubt, one will be heartbroken.  But, the memories of the time when you were together should always be cherished and celebrated.

Rice with durian, and love with no regrets

Durian with Rice

Enjoy an instant meal of succulent durian with rice.

Put less than a teaspoon of sugar and salt each, depending on how salty or sweet you want the rice to be.  Then pour water into the rice, and you're ready to tuck into a yummilicious meal.  Easy, right?

Opening the durian, however, is another story.

I think I'm having delayed onset muscle soreness after my trip to Gunung Pulai yesterday. Going to see the doctor afterwards. My throat is also a little sore.  However, I'm still looking forward to my next adventure.  Life is to be indulged.

A friend of mine, who used to be a big fan of LOVE, said true love only exists in fairytales.  She said: "Sorry to burst your bubble but that is the way it is."

She may NOT be wrong,  but I also believe that all experiences serve to  leave an imprint, some more than others, and all such experiences are to be enjoyed and cherished without any regret.

In the woods

Exploring Gunung Pulai

On my days off, I normally head to the nearest shopping mall for my regular dose of retail therapy. I love shopping.

But today, as the Indian community celebrates Deepavali and it is a public holiday in Malaysia, I followed some friends to Gunung Pulai, a 654-metre high hill in the Kulaijaya district, Johor.

We went to Gunung Pulai via Pekan Nanas in Pontian.

A breath of fresh air greeted me as soon as I stepped into the recreation forest. The soft rustling of leaves and gushing sounds of a waterfall became a stolen moment for this urban dweller.  I must have walked some five kilometres going up the laterite path of the hill, where some parts were quite steep, and strolling down again passing by all the friendly faces.

A group of friendly hikers that crossed my path.

I think it is only at Gunung Pulai that one would come across such friendly hikers. Actually, I don't go hiking all that much. And I am genuinely surprised to see almost everyone I met today wearing a smile on their faces, and they'd say "Good Morning" or "Hello" as they pass by.I really love this place. I wonder if trekkers and hikers elsewhere practise this contagious culture.

Some of the regular hikers told me that the path can be quite slippery during the rainy season.  So, do tread carefully.

The water's cool and refreshing.

I also came across a monkey, who wasn't exactly friendly but he seemed so used to being around homo sapiens.

A monkey minding its own business.

Being a hiking novice, I experienced pain on the upper part of my right leg.

But I am definitely looking forward to coming back here and perhaps check out other green lungs of Johor and elsewhere.

On our way back, we bought some durians in Pekan Nanas selling at RM5 per kg.  I took home 3 for RM22.

Durian selling at RM5 per kg.

 

Happy Deepavali....!!!