Last Saturday, William, Cynthia, Wuan and I went on a day trip to Genting Highlands Resorts. The sky was ominously dark, threatening to pour down on us at any moment. Not one to be deterred, William suggested we go eat the famous Ampang yong tau foo before making our way up to the highlands. Ampang yong tau foo are available in many places in Penang and Kuala Lumpur but none tasted as good as the ones I had that morning.

Genting Highlands was chilly and foggy. My ears were ice cold. William led us to the Starworld Casino at the First World Hotel. What I dislike about the casinos is the perennial stench of cigarette fumes that clung on to hair and clothes and everything else. And one casino is no different from the other – people milling around tables, the frequent holler for a “picture” and gaudy decors everywhere. Wuan and I played the slot machines for a while but we quickly got bored.

Photo by Cynthia.

Next in William’s itinerary was the mushroom farm a short distance from the resort. Memories of the mushroom farm that I have been to several times in Penang was enough to make me cringe in disgust. Chicken droppings were used together with straw to cultivate button mushrooms. I was already smelling of cigarette fumes and I did not fancy reeking of chicken manure too. Surprisingly, there was no unpleasant odour at the farm this time.

After Wuan had satiated her shutterbug cravings, we stopped over at the Chin Swee Caves Temple where a majestic nine-tiered pagoda stood. While sitting in the car with William and waiting for Cynthia and Wuan to take yet more photos, I wished I could climb up to the top of the pagoda. I could imagine a most breathtaking panorama as far as my eyes could see. Clouds that were constantly caressing the peaks of the Titiwangsa Range would have made it an incredibly awesome sight.

Photo by William.

We went back up to the summit and stopped at the garden and observation platform just beside the Theme Park Hotel. The sun was setting. The chilly wind blew intermittently. I shivered in the cold. A large beetle fascinated William and Cynthia. The view from there was no less fascinating. I have been to the resort with Peter many times but have never once enjoyed such spectacular sights. I could hang around there all day if not for the darkening sky and the extremely uncomfortable wind.

After a quick dinner at Genting Hotel, I needed to use the toilet. While I was catheterizing, William and Cynthia scouted for ways to get me into the Monte Carlo Casino. Having found it, we played the slot machines to while some time away before leaving. Wuan and I won a little and then lost it all back to the machines. As we were making our way back to the car park, someone walking from the opposite direction called out my name. I was surprised to meet another blogger at the resort. Hey Din, nice meeting you! It is difficult not to bump into another blogger whenever I go out nowadays. Several days before that, I met Joanne at Low Yat Plaza.

Photo by William.

On the way down, the flickering lights of distant Kuala Lumpur captivated us. When we found a nice spot to take in the spectacle and snap some photographs, William took out the tripod and started snapping away. I could not believe he could tolerate the chilly temperature for thirty minutes playing with the camera and trying to get a good shot. We reached home tired but happy for an absolutely interesting day. William is already planning another trip up, this time going up on the Genting Skyway. He wanted me to enjoy the incredible view along the ride. I am still wondering how I can get into the small enclosure of the gondola

Related entry:
Another blogger saw me at Genting Highlands Resorts too! Here is the link:
Oh A Kiss Is Still A Kiss In Casablanca.

This entry is eight days late. It was just the day I had my head shaved. Trying to get used to the nakedness was difficult. Wuan and I hopped into Taman Maluri Jusco to look for a cap or a bandana, and get food for the potluck at KY’s. Failing to find any that I liked, we proceeded to the supermarket to get three roasters for the bloggers meet.

That was also the first time I took the Putra LRT, from Sentral to Taman Bahagia, the first several years ago from Masjid Jamek to KLCC. I only had to pay half the regular fare to any destination. The stations were very disabled friendly, thanks to a group of disabled people who campaigned for such facilities. Unfortunately, I did not have time to check out the accessible toilets.

We arrived one hour late. It was raining and cold. Kenneth and Suanie picked us up from the station. As soon as they arrived, I could see Suanie inside the car giggling her head off. I did not know that being hairless on top made me look funny. And I thought Kenneth was Suanie’s boyfriend until she told me who he is.

There was an abundance of food and free-flowing ribena vodka at KY’s house. I ate my portion of protein and had to stop although I would have loved to feast on everything that was on the table. As usual, cameras were aplenty with flashes going off at the most embarrassing moments.

Wuan and I had a great time catching up with the bloggers meet regulars. We finally got to see the famous koi pond KY had blogged about so much too. I had a fun time listening to Fox, Paul and KY talking about their school-day adventures. Mine was like so very long ago. All of a sudden I felt so old among these youngsters. All said, I would like to thank KY for allowing us to use his house for the meet. This is one I will remember for a long time and to Suanie, MataKecik, Paul Tan, Reta, Serge, Emily, Andreas, FireAngel, Chea Yee, JoMel, Kenneth, Foxtrotecho, Jolene, Thai Boxing Girl, Albert, Jack and Horng for making it such a wonderful day for Wuan and me.

Photos by Wuan.

It was a sunny morning last Saturday. The time had arrived for me to make good my pledge to the Hair For Hospice campaign. Wuan helped me into the barber shop. As soon as Thanabalan the barber turned on the electric shaver, the monotonous whirring sound stabbed me with a deep sense of an impending loss. Finally, the hair that I had came to love and preened for more than three years would be shorn off, bit by bit, until there was none. Images of the times when Mum had lovingly gathered them all together and made a pony tail swirled in my head. That was eight years ago. I had kept it long then but decided to cut it off for reasons I am unable to recall now. This time, I kept it even longer, to remind me of those times. It was coming off, all of it. For a few minutes, as Thanabalan was busy with his shaver on my scalp, I sat there silent and disconsolate. A part of me, my link to the past and to Mum, was being taken away from me, and I willingly allowed it.

Photos by Wuan.

Before long, all of it came off, including the ponytail that was shorn right off my scalp. Wuan held it up. For a moment, she stood there like a victorious headhunter with her prized scalp skinned off the warrior of an enemy tribe. I looked at her blankly. Another chapter of my life had come to a close. The long mane that I had lovingly washed and conditioned and combed has been stripped off me. I felt naked without the flowing hair covering parts of me. Another chapter has begun. I wondered what Mum would have said had she seen me that day.

Photos by Wuan.

Where I sat, there was no mirror, not that I wanted to see how I looked without a headful of hair. It felt weird. It felt cool. It felt light. Thanabalan took out the razor and proceeded to make it a clean shave. The rude scraping sounds as the sharp blade moved against the stubbles made me cringe. The last time I was partially shaved clean was when the neurosurgeon wanted to screw a pair of tongs for the skull traction. It was to release the compression of the fractured spine against the spinal cord. That did not work after seven weeks. I had to undergo surgery to remove the bone fragment and set the displaced vertebras right. My fifth and sixth cervical vertebras were fused together for added stability. The scars were still there after twenty one long years. Those were grim reminders of a time when I was carefree and careless. I reached out to the sides of my head and touched them. The scars were deeper than I had expected.

Photos by Wuan.

Within half and hour, it was all gone, the hair that had been part of me for many years. I looked at Wuan. She smiled back. I touched my now bald head. It was an uncanny sensation. The feeling of loss was even greater but there was also a sense of accomplishment. Surprisingly, I felt contented when Thanabalan made the last shave with the razor; certain that the money raised will be put to good use; certain that a handful of people out there will be able to get the palliative care to ease their momentary sufferings here; certain that Mum would have approved of this and would have encouraged me. That was what I had wanted to do since more than two years ago. I have done it. I am thankful. This is for you Mum!

Photo by Wuan.

For the twenty one years since being disabled, there was never one day I did not wish I could do something more either for myself or for the people around me, especially Mum. I had taken and I have taken. For many people, their lives revolved around me. They made sure my needs and interests were well taken care of.

Now I still have friends who took my well-being into consideration. I am thankful for that. They have sacrificed time, money and effort in making sure I am comfortable whatever my endeavor. As I have so often said, I am blessed. God have been merciful to have sent so many Samaritans along this arduous journey of mine. It was difficult but the many people along the way have made it more interesting. Thank you my dear friends. You know who you are.

In the twenty one years since being disabled, I have never had such a desire to accomplish something as I have done recently. Mum was the reason. Suanie gave me the impetus. Jason got it going when we talked about it in IRC. Four more brave generous souls joined in. This is more than I could have asked for. The Hair For Hospice donation drive has managed to garner RM5,170 in pledges to date. Thank you all for your generosity. And thank you all for allowing me to realize a two-year dream of doing something for the Hospice-At-Home Programme.

Nevertheless, the Hair For Hospice is not purely a donation drive, the other purpose being to create an awareness of the Hospice-At-Home Programme. Terminally ill patients and families of people so afflicted can get help to cope with the nursing and medical care and counseling during such distressing times in the comfort of their own homes, hospitals or nursing homes.

Palliative care is important for people who are fighting the toughest and in all probabilities the final battle of their lives. The core philosophy of the Hospice is that everyone has the right to die relatively pain-free and with dignity. That is what the Penang Hospice has been doing and they have done a good job, providing palliative care to all who need it, regardless of race or religion.

I can attest to that, having been at the receiving and of their selfless generosity during the most painful period of Mum’s and my life. Truly, I would not have known how to cope with the situation had it not been for the Penang Hospice. If there is any one word to describe them, I can only think of angels. They are beyond doubt angels in our midst.

There are many people to thank for giving me the opportunity to realize this dream. I would like to thank Dato Dr. T. Devaraj for giving me the authorization and provided me with the resources to carry this through. This meant the world to me. Thank you to Dr. Oo and Chitra of the Penang Hospice who had also helped me in many ways and I am grateful for their assistance and dedication to this cause. Special thanks go to Palliative Care Nurse Karen Gan who made Mum so comfortable during those final weeks and for helping dress my pressure sore. Please accept my sincerest gratitude. I would not have made it without your help. Thank you.

I would like to thank Jason Tee who got me off with this campaign, I would like to thank Bryan and Sharizal who volunteered to shave along with me. These guys are the greatest! And to Devyne who thought this is the right thing to do and also to dedicate her bald head to her aunt who is undergoing treatment in Singapore for cancer. God bless you and your aunt. And to Jason Lioh, the latest and last addition to the team, thank you for the sacrifice. You are all an inspiration to me. We hardly knew each other and you all stepped up to make a difference to people who need that help most.

Thank you to all bighearted donors who have helped us achieve the target. I can never thank you enough. A big thank you also go out to so many of you who have supported this campaign by promoting it in your blogs, through word of mouth and giving us publicity in the media. You will always be in my prayers. Please do not let this end. I hope those who have money to spare to continue supporting the Penang Hospice-At-Home Programme. They need all the support you can give to help others who need it. Know that your compassion will ease the pain of someone who is struggling to hang on. Giving them the dignity of palliative care is the least we can do for other fellow humans who are walking the last few miles of their lives. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. God bless.