2011年7月30日星期六

那是我的钱来的


张兄拨电来,说有政党请吃榴莲,"免费的!"
他又说:"去吃吧,那是你的钱来的!"
我听后有点啼笑皆非,他是用激将法吗?
后来,另一友人转发一则简讯给我,写着"邀您出席榴莲品尝大会",发讯者是一位什么官.
去抢吃榴莲我就不干了,但既然用到我的钱,好歹也要去看个究竟,反正就在住家附近.
大大的布条上沒有政党的名号,但那个已烂用的"SATU....."让人一目了然.那个什么官衣服上还绣了B和N两个英文字母,很夠醒目.
这样的场合,出席者和刚出炉的人口普查报告书的种族比率根本不符,人口占最多的反而只有几人,是对小糖果沒兴趣?那几位大叔说:"几抵都要吃夠本!"原来有好些人是当作"只是拿回我已付出的",态度非常明确.
他们都说大选快到了,当家的开始答应给这个拨款 给那个,这个榴莲大会只不过是湿湿碎的小甜头,不吃白不吃.于是,当罗厘载着一车的榴莲飘香而至时,每个人都顿时神经紧繃,准备使出铁掌功,出招把一粒粒香喷喷的榴莲抢过来.
别问我他们如何练就铁掌功,反正最后是大家吃得稀哩呼噜津津有味,然后皆大欢喜!


2011年7月28日星期四

有客来访


么女的学院来了一批韩国交流学生,这些大学生不谙英文,知道么女懂韩文,便像在茫茫大海中抓到一个救生圈,向么女连珠炮式的拋了好几个问题.
他们最想知道的是我国的旅游景点,么女面有难色的说:"我该介绍什么?双峰塔?"
可怜的女儿,以前小时候去过的湖滨公园,国家博物院,飞禽公园全不在她的记忆中.说来也惭愧,我有多少年沒去国家纪念碑回顾历史?当有外国游客到来请我们当导游时,我们才发现我们好像对自己的国家认识不深,或许早已遗忘了某些部分.就如么女常说的,她并不清楚先贤从中国南来胼手胝足的艰辛经历,她对马六甲王朝-知半解,却可以对回教在我国的发展从头到尾背个滚瓜烂熟.而现在除了双峰塔这个花大钱建设的标志,我们还有什么可以介绍?
"去谷歌找吧!"我说,反正有这个方便,也人人爱用.
当这些学生锁定目标时,又拋给么女一个难题:搭什么公车?
么女:"我怎么告诉他们我从来没有搭过巴士?"
也许现代的孩子都好命水,我们做父母的又过于呵护,搭巴士怕孩子搭错车,孩子等巴士又怕被人拐走,巴士没到的地方也不少,结果我们都是做牛马亲自载送.不过,为了孩子的安全,我们都是心甘情愿的,谁叫我们的治安那么可怕?
我们的巴士站没有路线指示牌,没有搭车时刻表,要在我国自助旅行不是件易事.在外国,我们可以轻易查询搭车资讯,还可以比较搭公车及坐计程车的价钱.我不敢建议叫他们去谷歌一下资讯,平时大塞车巴士都可以敢敢开进住宅区走捷径,相信在网上也找不到什么资讯.
后来,据么女形容,这些学生"很厉害"的自己搭巴士去独立广场,中央艺术坊等地,并成功的写了"旅游报告"交差.么女在审查他们的英文文法时,居然也上了一课"吉隆坡旅游景点";也好,至少下一趟真的可以去当导游了.
有三位学生要求上我们家看看,我们的双层排屋对他们而言是"豪宅"了;当他们知道我们家有三部车子时,不禁冲口而出:"哗,一定很有钱!"
唉,如何向这些外国人解释,在这里,不管是两轮或四轮,没有车便等于没有脚呢?

2011年7月25日星期一

特种的咖啡店

我是误打误撞来到这间咖啡店.
咖啡店位于山城一个住宅区内,外观就是我们一般的咖啡店,大大的中文招牌,里面光线有点阴暗,也有点杂乱无章.
我和外子步入内,便对里头的景象感到愕然,你无法想像,座上食客超半是巫裔!
这明明是华人开的咖啡店,站在柜台后的店家是华人,泡茶的头手是华人,卖面食的也是华人.不过,另外还有两个马来档和一个嘛嘛煎饼档.
我和外子点了马来人的爪哇面,华人的咖喱云吞面和炒果条.咖啡店的档子还卖清汤面,酿豆腐和薑鸭面,当然,全都是halal的.
我是孤陋寡闻,第一次身处这么有"一个马来西亚"感觉的华人咖啡店.吃着那碟爪哇面,我突然想起一位友人的弟弟,自从他娶了-位巫裔太太后,就鲜少回妈妈家,别说妈妈的饭不吃,连妈妈家的白开水也不喝,让老妈妈伤心不已.
其实只要互相包容和尊重,我们本来就可以相安无事和睦共处.一切纷纷攘攘,全都是有心人想过多而製造出来的.坐在这样的咖啡店,虽然吃的是三几块钱的小食,但这种和平的氛围却是珍贵的.

2011年7月21日星期四

你相信吗!?

别告诉我你相信这样的结论!
一个即将与心爱的女人共结连理组织小家庭的男人,一个正幸福的期待自己的亲生骨肉呱呱坠地的父亲,他会沒有一声告别轻易地结束自己的生命,让活着的人承受极度的悲伤与痛苦吗?
纵使被那些下三烂的人强硬威迫,也不至于精神崩溃得要去寻死,更何况大喜之日在即?
这样的结论并不让人意外,游戏规则本由某些人制定,服不服,接不接受,应该就此盖棺论定了.间接(或直接)害死人的刽子手会得到惩罚吗?奉劝还是不要期望太高.
师父说不是不报,只是时辰未到;师父,对不起,我开始置疑天理这件事了.....
阿弥陀佛!

2011年7月20日星期三

江湖偏方

我家那个印尼钟点女佣突然问道:"哮喘病会好的吗?"
我还沒来得及反应,她又接着说:"有人说吃啄木鸟会好,我老公自从吃了啄木鸟之后,已经三年没有病发了."
开始我还搞不懂burung balatuk是什么东东,后来她形容那种爱替树捉虫的乌儿,我去翻了字典,才知道是啄木鸟.天!啄木鸟可以吃的吗?
咱们华人凡是背朝天都吃,就是没听说过吃啄木鸟,听起来有点匪夷所思.这些印尼人飘洋过海来到这里,俨如识途老马,居然还可以在吉隆坡不知那一个缝隙弄只啄木鸟来,我住了二十几年,还不晓得鸟店有沒有卖啄木鸟.好奇的是,一天念经五次的人,吃野味的吗?
她说她把啄木鸟炸香炸酥,肉质有点像鸡肉,我想像啄木鸟被剥光羽毛后,应该像乳鸽,干巴巴的.
啄木鸟肉是否真有针对哮喘病的疗效不得而知,连她也有些怀疑;不过一个几十年来被哮喘病折磨的人突然久无病发倒是真的.真是神奇!
说到哮喘病的偏方,我又想起一件事.妈妈的叔叔,即是我的外叔公,生前患有哮喘病.外公和外叔公两兄弟经营杂货店兼批发白米.店铺中间的部分,常囤积一包包以麻包袋装着的白米.小时候我喜欢在白米上跳来跳去,有时候店里的两只猫咪也会在米包间徘徊.
这真是个抢吃世界,猫咪虎视眈眈,人类也摩拳擦掌,看谁捷足先登.抢什么?是抢小老鼠!
江湖传说刚出世的小老鼠可治疗哮喘病,外叔公就在米包堆里寻找尚未张眼看世界,还粉粉嫩嫩的鼠宝宝.
据妈妈说,鼠宝宝先以米酒冲洗,再以大片咸菜包裹,然后即刻往嘴里塞.
生吞活老鼠仔喔,别问我怎么吞,妈妈说,外叔公可是吞了不少宝!至于有没有效,这我可不知道.
我只要想到鼠宝宝从喉咙开始挣扎蠕动,滾下窄狭的腸道,也许未到胃部已一命呜呼,也许命不该早绝而在胃里滚动....天!.多极致的煎熬,不禁打了个冷噤!

2011年7月18日星期一

日出日落


我右手抓着小铲头,左手拎着一棵木瓜幼苗,尾随大叔到另一边的斜坡.
大叔指指地上,说:"就种这里吧!"
他又指向不远处的甘蔗说:"不要种那边,那是别人的地方."
我听了愕然,不知该好气还是好笑,这些老人真还有小孩的可爱.一块空地自个儿划清界线,他种他的甘蔗木薯,我种我的菜果,井水不犯河水.两人分得那么清楚,敢情平时也沒话说.
大叔见我握着那支迷你锄头挖土,大抵受不了我的姐手姐脚,去找了一把大锄头来帮我种木瓜树.
他说,挖土得有技巧,挖的洞坑不可是圆形的,而是要十字架形的.他说:"我阿妈话甘样树会生得又大又壯."
大叔该有七十几了,他还牢牢记住他阿妈的话.
老人院后面这块空地,原本是让老人活动经络的地方,院方特成立园艺组,让大叔当组长.可是到后来却没有老人愿意动手,连大叔也意兴阑珊,结果菜园也快荒芜了.张大姐看不过眼,于是把我们这些娘子军叫去,重新给菜园种些草药类植物.
早晨明丽的太阳光洒满了大地,女老者都躲在屋里,男老者三三两两坐在屋簷下啜茶,有的阅报有的发呆,就是没有人愿意起身给我们伸出援手.大叔起先也是站着看,后来大概自觉不好意思便下手搬杂草.这块园地原是由他负责打理的. 那位在另一边种甘蔗木薯的老伯只是远远望望没有表示,好像菜园与他完全无关.
我是很纳闷,大家住在同一屋簷下,有着同样的命运,不是更应该守望相助,和睦共处吗?都已一把年纪了,为什么还事事斤斤计较?我也在怀疑,是不是年纪越大越不想活动,宁愿瘫坐在杂芜的记忆中神游?
有-位老者在山的另一边种了三棵接枝的榴莲树,每天就只守护着这三棵树.听说接枝的榴莲树五年后便可收成,他天天盼望果树快快长大,可是在数着日子之际,他同时也担心自己看不到榴莲树开花结果.满腔的期待,却是被悲哀困厄捆绑着.
他们都是失魂的人, 日子只不过是日出日落,昼与夜只是闭眼睁眼的交替,时间过得空虚,仿佛只是在等着终结的那一天.我真的不应该这么说,可是面对一双双翳翳目光,这种感觉太强烈了.我不希望日后如此虚度我的老年,这样的日子太空洞了!
那位大肚腩的肥伯看见满头大汗的我走过,亲切的问:"种完了吗?"
他还坐在那张椅子上,手边仍是一壶茶.他始终是三小时前我经过时那个姿势.
我很想问:您的茶凉了吗?

2011年7月14日星期四

澳洲行之四:喝一口悠闲


虽然是冬天,海风柔柔向内陸吹送,但和煦的阳光却及时送上温暖.一步入这个小庭院,我便爱上这个地方,迫不及待的,我点了一杯咖啡.
这是旧式房子旁一个窄长的小庭院,从前门是看不见的,隐藏在房子后半部让人有点惊喜.故意选择坐在户外,因为喜欢那种居家的感觉;头上乌儿在树上吱吱叫,偶尔-两片澄黃的枯叶轻轻飘落,一切突然定格在浪漫的意境中.外面的繁噪嚣杂全被隔绝在另一个世界. 生活中太多远虑近忧,暂且让脑袋放空,啜一杯香浓咖啡,感觉已经很幸福了.


这是悉尼歌剧院附近The Rocks内的一间咖啡馆.在咖啡馆林立的这条街道,这家以爱尔兰茶点为主的咖啡馆,卖点是它新鲜出炉的scones.门口摆着一个不会走动的大钟,长短针会预告下一盘scones的出炉时间,保证不是另外加热来骗你的味蕾.四种口味的果酱,店家奉上诚意,给予你好心情.


              寒冷的冬,店主人贴心的给胖胖的茶壶穿上衣裳,让茶壶给顾客带来暖意.


                                 窗台上随意绽放的小黃花,素装淡裹,有小家碧玉的味儿.


                         咖啡馆里的-角,烛影摇曳,有点斑驳的墙面,镶嵌了多少岁月的痕迹?


悉尼歌剧院不运处的The Rocks,周末及周日的市场是值得一游的地方.这里的档子以售卖艺术手工艺品为主,琳琅满目,只是若以马币计算,价钱还蛮贵的.



                                设计精巧的女娃鞋,美得冒泡;只可惜我的女儿的双脚太大了!


      凸眼娃娃正等待着有人把它抱回家,实在不忍就这样转身就走,于是快快给它拍个照.


                                           各种造型的针识帽子,给萧瑟的寒冬增添了色彩.


                          套上这么缤纷的围裙在厨房煮煮炒炒,把愉悦也炒入菜肴中.


这些果实枯枝应该是从树林里捡来的,据说滴点香精会有各种疗效,精神上的,或心灵上的.不过,我还是喜欢慢慢品尝咖啡,让唇边的咖啡香醺醺脑神经,当然,如果在咖啡上洒些薰衣草,那更是好得沒话说了!



2011年7月12日星期二

澳洲行之三:让他们去爱吧!


此牛津非彼牛津.走入悉尼这条牛津街,对我们这些来自保守得甚至有点极端的国家的人,是充满好奇的.
整条街道挂满了如彩虹般七彩的旗帜,那是同志引以为傲的标志,澳洲是世界上少数同性恋者受法律保护的国家.
这里夜店酒吧林立, 也有色情商店,却没有如其他红灯区的景象.巴士车来往穿梭,男女老少神色自若,只是七彩的旗帜给这个地区增添颜色罢了.
每年三月份这里会举行世界上规模最大的同性恋嘉年华大游行,来自各地的同志会穿上奇装异服,打扮夸张,在这里狂欢狂舞.难得的是这一项盛大的游行获得了新南威尔斯政府的大力支持,并打造成悉尼的旅游王牌之一,这也在在展现了悉尼的动感个性和自由精神.


这是一个成人的世界,不管你赞不赞同,它的确是存在的,而且大多像阴暗角落的青苔在孤单寂寥地滋长.同性恋这回事,始终未能获得世俗的接受与谅解.这条牛津街却为同志带来一丝阳光,让他们勇敢走出来,承认自己的性取向.


                                          这里没有歧视,只有认同;也许,也可以找到爱情.......


                                              这个高挂的招牌挺暧昧的,令人遐想.......


                    为自己找到位置,不必偷偷摸摸躲躲藏藏,也许在这里可以为自己的尊严干杯.


                        明显的,这是情趣用品店,就是那么光明正大,一点也不别扭.


                           这些可爱的毛娃娃,为你示范如何製造情趣,好像有点委屈了它们.


                                              这像把菜刀的情趣用品,看起来很唬人!

2011年7月11日星期一

黄衣恐慌症


709当天晚上,么女的几位同学到家里过夜,准备在零时为么女庆祝生日.这些小朋友十八,九岁,进入青春年华,思想未算成熟,但已略懂时事,於是都约好同时穿上黃衣.未能上街游行,但也在形式上表达了对国家的一些期盼.
不过,有一位同学却有些为难.我告诉你真相,你也会像我一样气!
这位同学获得JPA奖学金在本地一间名不经传的大学念医科,两年后再转到国外继续深造.就在709前几天,她接到一封电邮,警告她不得在社交网站贴上穿黃衣的照片,否则将会被取消奖学金!
我听到这件事时的确感到震惊,这太匪夷所思了;军警开入马大校园,政府奖学金持有者被警告,我们的教育界,怎会被污染成这样?
有关当局的确已患上重度黃衣恐慌症.这种panic disorder是重复性的强烈恐慌,双眼触及黄衣便处于不安,焦虑和紧张,最后可能会失控而歇斯底里.
孩子果然为了那笔有如天赐的奖学金而不敢轻举妄动,但其实在她那小小心灵,已悄然埋下对此类卑鄙手段负面的思维;她如何看这些大人?她如何看自己的国家?一个奖学金已把教育制度搞得乌烟瘴气,现在还要沾上污秽的打压手段,这就是我们的教育吗?
孩子不说,我们还不知道有这么一回事;我们不知道的,还有多少?

2011年7月9日星期六

黄花遍地开

长女说:"让我与翠珊代你去吧."
她说得有点花木兰代父从军的味儿,翠珊 也劝我别去冒这个险.她们知道我蠢蠢欲动 ,但是外子带着黃衣带着遗憾去了寮国,她们不是害怕什么,而是不相信我们的执法者.她们要我乖乖留在家里,不过早上我还是穿着黃衣去公园运动.
我知道我无法随着除污大队展现力量,可是我穿上黃衣,这是我唯一能做到的.心中的愤怒,在黃衣下掩盖不住,坐在电脑前收听榴莲台的现场直播,热血几番沸腾,从远处传来那一声声砰砰响,太令人震撼了!
Douglas传来第一通短讯:"开始了!....."让我有开战的感觉,这是一场改革的黃花之役,不管日后前方有多少障碍与关卡,起码这是第一步,这是一个好的开始.
其实在Adelaide的翠珊刚遭遇车祸,前几天还依赖拐杖走动,不知今天她是否仍一拐一拐地去举布条请愿?她说现在适遭假期,许多大马学生都返马了,她一定要去支持这项请愿行动,跛脚也去!她让我感动,也让我汗颜.
当我国警方向请愿者大发水炮催泪弹大逮捕时,翠珊把在Adelaide和平请愿的照片电邮过来."和平"两个字是多么的珍贵啊!




我很开心,因为在悉尼的长女实实在在的上了民主的一课.这是花钱也上不到的一堂课.我让她把她的所见所闻记录下来,原谅她用的是英文,她说有些话实在无法完美翻译.
请阅:



I went primarily to snap some photos for my parents, whom I knew would want to see what was happening, and of course, I was curious; but as a Malaysian, I felt compelled to go.

People were talking to one another, initiating conversations, shaking hands and introducing themselves. Volunteers gave out flyers, song lyrics, banners, place cards... There were businessmen, families, students; people from all walks of life, but everyone shared the same ideology. Everyone was there for the same reason- to support the Bersih 2.0 Sydney rally.

I reached early, and was immediately spoken to by strangers clad in yellow. I was acquainted with Dean Johns, renowned Malaysiakini columnist. Upon introducing myself as a UNSW student, I was asked,

"Did you know that the two people who started Malaysiakini were from UNSW?"


I didn't. I never even knew there were so many Malaysian students in the university to begin with.

I was surprised to know that the main person organizing this rally in Sydney was a student from UNSW as well. Perhaps the government should think about stopping people from attending this university.


"...It is sad to be told, 'one day you will leave the country, for a better life.' That is why I am here today, studying for and working towards a better life. Spending our parents hard-earned money, cent by cent. I'm sure many of you here are here for the same reason."

Those were the words that hit me the strongest this afternoon. I could relate completely. I've been told, one too many times, to go overseas and never come back. I was told that there was no practical reason to. Now, studying a professional degree that receives no recognition back home, I could see where the rationale comes from. Many people say that we study overseas because we lack patriotism; some leer at our supposed ambition to be 'Westerners'. But is the grass really greener on the other side?

I am thankful for the opportunity to study overseas, and I try my best to be able to support myself as much as I can. I may not speak for all Malaysians studying overseas, but I certainly did not think of coming overseas to spend my evenings at wild parties. I did not once think of coming so that I could apply for permanent residency. I came with the intention to see, to experience, to learn. I came hoping to meet new people, to listen to novel ideas, to be exposed to a different environment altogether. Back home, education is fixed, actions and speech limited, and potential often disregarded. However, my home is still in Malaysia. After more than a year here, I miss home every single day. I have no intention to stay here after my tertiary education. It just doesn't feel like... Home.



The organizer gave a special thanks to all the students who were attending the rally, addressing the warning posted on the Malaysian Students Department Australia website, which turned out to be an embarassing lie. Did I feel afraid of being present? No. In fact, oddly, I felt proud.

Person after person went up to give short speeches. Every now and then someone announced the latest updates about the chaos back home. The crowd actively boo-ed at every detainment, and cheered at every attempt to proceed.

"... People are squeezing through small alleys and lanes! The roadblocks can stop the cars and buses, but they cannot stop the minds and will of the people!"

"... I have been living here for 50 years... I have been enjoying the democracy, the liberation, the freedom of speech. If Malaysia can achieve this, we can be the strongest democratic country in the world."

"... You know it's getting ridiculous. When the government is afraid of a colour, you know that they are getting desperate."

"...In fact, the government should be joining us here today. Why are they saying no to a clean and fair election?"

"...Register as a voter; if not, gathering here ten times wouldn't make a practical difference. I've registered myself as a voter, although it took six months and three complaint letters. I will fly back whenever the next chance comes. I'm working here part-time to achieve that, but I will."

At some point, some policemen approached one of the men in yellow. I was told that "They just wanted to know what 'bersih' meant".
"And they just left?" I asked. The man smiled and said, "This is Australia! That is the difference."


The student who organized this rally added, "All I had to do was to send an email. I didn't even have to apply for a permit. They just wanted to know when, where and how people people would attend. It's that simple."

How a true democratic country should be. Demonstrations and protests are part of everyday life here (there were four other demonstrations held before and after this one at the same venue just today). Policemen are on standby, in case anything unlawful happened. Otherwise, they are happy to not intrude, stand at a distance and watch. A public demonstration in Malaysia, on the other hand, is unheard of.


Since as young as I could remember, I was perplexed at how everyone talked of obvious conspiracies, evident lies and machinated plots- if everyone knew they were lies, why could the people responsible still get away with everything? It never made sense. Perhaps it's time for the people to speak out; to express their dissatisfaction, to show that we are not as compliant and tolerant of unreasonable deception as they thought.

It was an eye-opener. Despite the chilly weather, the crowd's enthusiasm did not seem to die down. This rally showed just how united our people can be, regardless of where in the world we are.





















Perhaps there is still hope for Malaysia.