A non-event Merdeka day
Tomorrow, I have this 20% submission. I shouldn't be blogging. Nevertheless, I'll just quickly pen a few words. This will be in English for expressive clarity. I find my writing patchy in BM.
Since the days when I was a boy scout, I would fly the flag up at the house during Merdeka Day. Last year was no different. I hung the flag over my parent's balcony at my old house. I would wait for the countdown and then watch the fireworks at either Summit or Pyramid.
On a regular Merdeka Day morning, I would wake up at 7am and turn on the TV to catch a glimpse of the beginning of the parade. I never went to see the parade live, but I wouldn't mind doing that one day. The family on Merdeka day would wake up late, probably past 10am and then we would all watch the closing of the parade on TV, and then go out for lunch in town.
Some years, my nuclear family meets up with the extended family on Merdeka day. We met up last year and we had quite a feast at my uncle's house. It was quite a rich-food potluck: sashimi, sausages from Australia, ham, oysters, soba and udon, etc. An eclectic mix of dishes and the family discussion would be about all kind of things. I remember last year, the discussion was about planning a family trip somewhere, which didn't materialise.
This year, Merdeka day was pretty much a non event for me.
Last night, I waited for the countdown with friends over MSN, then I sent my friends MP3s of different versions of the Negaraku and wishing them Happy Merdeka Day. Yes I know... it doesn't sound very interesting. =)
I woke up at about 8am and switched the computer on. I did my usual routine of checking my blog (for new comments), checking The Star, and then checking the weather so I have an idea of what to wear out today. After doing so, I was just staring blankly at the screen and decided to start i-Tunes to play the National Anthem. Hearing the crescendo end to the anthem, I felt momentarily nostalgic about my home country.
I went out late in the morning for a tutorial. It was cold and windy. Later I visited a building site and spent the afternoon chatting with coursemates over lunch and coffee. I attended a meeting at the university and made my way home.
I couldn't make it for the Merdeka Day gathering planned by Melbourne University and RMIT, I'm just too tired to do anything but blog.
How was your Merdeka Day?