The Pictures I took in Seremban!
More often than not, I visit Seremban every Chinese New Year. But it will be a little while till I get to celebrate in my mom’s hometown after this year’s trip. My immediate family and I never made much of a big deal out of yearly festivities (but I am not at all knocking anyone down for doing otherwise) — birthdays or national holidays — because y’know, celebrate each other everyday. We didn’t do anything different this CNY, but while driving us back to our hotel on our first night in Seremban, my uncle had pointed out that I should “cherish this, since it’ll be my last time (for a while).” So I got a little more into my head than usual in Seremban.
Save for my dog and things that really stick out, I’m not really the type to take many photos when I’m outside — purely because I don’t think to do it, and not in some preachy way — but I do reach to my phone if my eyes and head sit in a scene long enough. It isn’t everything, but this is a mini album of the photos I took in Seremban and a few thoughts to go along with ‘em.
I gave my hand to Wai Po during the ride to Seremban. She doesn’t remember me anymore, but it was instinctive of her to hold an offered hand. She didn’t talk much on the way — she needed a little time to warm up to us. My uncle wasn’t in the car to remind me of things just yet, but I got a little too much into my head during this car ride.
At one point, Wai Po took my hand into both of hers. She played with my thumb for awhile, gently digging the sides of her thumb and palm into my mine. I wonder what she thought — or pretended — my fingers were. Last year we gave her yarn to unravel, to keep her busy and to help with mobility, to which she claimed it was food that needed to be washed.
Warm up, she did! By the first day of CNY, she’d laugh when we did, nod along to our conversations and smile sweetly when you catch her eye. She was especially reactive to my dad — his laughter is loud as hell. Love ya dad.
My aunt recently moved back to Malaysia, and we briefly visited her new place. The neighbourhood was new and her house was empty, as most of the other houses were. Not very many people have fully moved in — most lots were having additional rooms built or balconies roofed. All the houses were white, and the pavements and yards in her row were the colour of bright, unpainted cement. Saplings were budding, and lampposts did not have posters or graffiti melted into them.
Completely normal for a brand new housing area — but I had never been in an area like that before. And, if you looked to your left, almost all you’d see is sky. And in the very far distance, mountains.
Also look at that goop. They’re there for the cracks in the cement — just globules of them all over the balcony. Ooooooh I wanted to touch it so bad. (I did and nothing happened). It looked like Portal 2’s propulsion gel, I thought it would make me go fast :(
Wrong colour, I know.
We ended our trip with Kung Fu Hustle. There is a lot I left out. I promise it isn’t because I am lazy. I just don’t have any photos.
I ate a bunch of great food, had snacks that made me break out (I would do it again), and I had very kind and loving company. It is very dear to me, to see my mom with the people she grew up with. Chinese New Year was filled with a lot of laughter — followed by mine and my brother’s once the jokes were translated —- and I’ll surely think of home this time next year.
