Balik Kampung

From where I work in downtown Kuala Lumpur, traffic seems light today. I guess the “exodus” out of KL must have begun over the weekend, seeing that some schools are closed today and also tomorrow. This coupled with the Chinese New Year/Awal Muharram holidays, starting on Wednesday, would mean a whole week break.

Yours truly will balik kampung with the family on the first day of CNY – kampung being Malacca. It has been ages since the family was last in Malacca for the New Year. The old folks who mattered, parents and grandparents, have all passed on and the need to be present for the customary reunion dinner was no longer there.

Anyway, its good, once in a while, to go back to where one’s life first took root. If not for anything, at least to touch base with the places and the faces which once were very much a part of one’s life.

For sure, over the years, places and people changed. But if we realize that we have also changed, the fact that things and relationships are not “like before” won’t dampen the trip home.

A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to all Chinese Malaysians, and equally, a pleasant holiday to all other Malaysians.