Chapter 1 – Mami Met Papi

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New Living Place
Fresh nurse graduate was usually sent to have her first job in rural area, so did Mami. She had to serve a new villager in an island of a fishing village. The village was worse than her own village, no electricity, no water pipe system, no flush toilet. It was totally barrier from the outside world. She was never lonely for a long time there, for she met with an active boyish girl, Lian. Lian had the same dream and girl power as she had.

Lian – Mami’s Best Friend, Papi’s Sister
Lian also never bow to the rule saying that girls should not choose their own living. Although she was not as fortunate as Mami to get educated, sometimes she would quietly follow her brothers to school. She sat outside the classroom, listened to the teacher and peeped through the window. Sometimes, she would spend time with Mami and they both would have fun together, fishing, watching sunset and cooking. One day, Lian did not come to visit Mami as they planned. Mami was worried and went to Lian’s house to fins out what happen to her.

Papi – Lian’s Brother, Mami’s New Life
Lian was at home taking care her sick brother. Mami checked on Papi and advise him to get an injection at the clinic for fully recovery. Papi refused and ran away, trying to avoid. But Mami was strong to catch up with him and get his buttock caught for the injection.. not only buttock, but also Papi’s heart. This was when their sparkle of love started.

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Prologue

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Ah Paul – Cyberella’s Granny (1950s)
Ah Paul’s life was arranged by her father to marry a stranger. Her cool blooded husband seldom came home and never contributes to the family. But she never gave up. She worked hard everyday just to make the life of her 8 children more comfortable. Wakes up before Mr. Sun is up and comes home after Mr. Sun is set, is the routine after her daily life. She worked in the tin mines. Remembered how her mom killed by the mines, she worked in fear everyday. However, the mines wouldn’t let her go. One day, the mine collapsed and crippled one of her leg. But it never stopped her from craving more and more from the mine, just for the sake of her children’s living.

There was once during the Japanese war. Everyone in the village lived in fear, except Ah Paul. She had to be strong, to protect all her children. She never let the evil soldier had any chance to destroy her family.. and yes, she did.

Mami – Cyberella’s Mother (1960s)
Being one of the 8 siblings from a poor family, she never gave up on her life too. Ah Paul’s “strong will” blood is flowing in her body. She never cared people saying that girls should not get educated. She woke up early in the morning and walked miles and miles just to go to her school. At home, she had to do all the house works – carrying water from the well, wash clothes, cook and all the never ending works. At night, the willing to study keeps her strong and did all her school works.

One day, she felt not having a clear sight. Her eyes became blurring. Ah Paul brought her to clinic. Doctor said she needed an eye cornea surgery in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur, where is the place? Ah Paul asked everyone in her village, collected all the information needed and all the money from her piggy bank, together a mother and a daughter traveled to the main city on the country.

Mami was admitted to hospital and waited her turn for the surgery. Ah Paul stayed by her side all the time and gave her all the support she needed to be brave. God helps kind people all the time, especially those who never give up on their life. Mami’s eye was cured and they went back to their familiar home.

Mami’s hard work in school, earned her scholarship to a nursing college. During the time, she had to be departed with her siblings and her mother, Ah Paul. She never forgets her. She write back home all the time and send back 3/4 of her salary to ah Paul. Time flew and she was successfully graduated as a nurse. Ah Paul was so proud of her and cheered her smiling face with happy tears.

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Cybie has been feeling moody these few days. Not because of her PMS but something had been surrounding her always. She has been feeling bored and no meaning in her everyday life. Everyday seems like a routine to her. Doing the same things at the same time and same place. She doens’t understand what she wants though.. refreshment? She need a break.. a rest.. maybe she just have to relax..

She thinks of running away.. but running away from what? Running away will solve the problem? But.. the problem is.. she doesn’t know what her problem is..!! She thinks of leaving everything behind and don’t think so much.. But in real life can we really just leave everything behind and don’t think of it? How to survive? Money? Food? A place to cover? Sigh.. she still needs to move on to live in this reality world.. She can only live in her fantasy land during the night time.. in her dream..

This year 2007, I heard a lot of people getting marry, for getting baby Golden Piggy. Two of those who are getting marry are my close friends. When I first getting the news that they are getting marry, I was so happy and excited..! Happy tears almost drop from my eyes and I nearly jump around screaming in happiness. Wish I could immediately see them and hug them as tight as I could..!

Suddenly, some sort of thinking came to me. Is it now is the stage of getting marry in my life? Although I still feel young, but I am old my age seems not so young. It’s not that I want or feel of getting marry, although I feel getting marry is fun but seeing cousin or other people marry create different feeling than friends getting marry. Because friends are same age as I am.

Marriage.. is it just tieing knot between 2 lovers, or connecting 2 families, or creating a new family and babies, or it’s just a part of life (everyone is doing it, so do I)? What is the purpose of marriage with a certificate and dinner to announce to everyone? What is the requirement for a marriage? House? Car? Financial stable? Relationship stable? Maybe one day when I can figure this kinda, some sort of commitment and responsibility, it’s the time for me to send out "RED BOMB" to everyone.

To my dear friends who are getting marry this year, wish you have a great family and happiness be with you always. When it’s time for my "BIG DAY", you guys can bring along your kids ^__^

Last Sunday, 4-March-2007 was the 15th day of Chinese New Year. It is also known as “Chap Goh Meh” or “Yuen Xiao Jie”. This day is for single girls to wish for a good quality future husband. According to tales, girls will stand on a bridge and throw mandarin orange to the river, wishing the other half will receive her wish. Guys will wait below the bridge and use net to collect the oranges. Those oranges carry the wish will connect both the girl and guy and make them a couple.

Some story told that guys can also throw apple to the river. Nowadays, girls will write down their contact number or email address on the orange before throwing it to the river. Pity MPPJ the next day. Wondering what will happen if the girl’s orange is collected by the MPPJ worker. She will marry him?

Well, I am not wishing to get marry at the moment. So I choose to have reunion with family instead of throwing orange on that day. I went to FGS Dongzen Temple with Jason, Thien, Pei and her bf, Maui (Thien & Pei are my younger sis), for CNY Lantern & Flora Festival 2007. All over the place is full of flower, especially purple lavender everywhere. Feel so comfy and nice there. Besides flowers, all over is hanged with lanterns and also some drawn by kids.

Under the lanterns, there are Chinese puzzles with number. We can write the answers according to the numbers and send for checking. We got 26 out of 44 puzzles and we won a set of FGS postcards. Besides games, there are exhibitions (books, cds stamps, photos, flowers and also stones) on both of the halls.

There are also parades of Buddha, Lion dance, Dragon dance, olden day’s princesses etc. We also went into the temple for prayers and light offering for parents. Later we went to vegetarian food fair to fill out our hungry tummy and rest our tired legs.

At night, all the tress are wrapped with lights and all the building are lighted up. Lights everywhere..! So nice..! There is a tower 5 storey high. But the wall is made of cloth. Everyone is queuing to get up the tower.. well, except me.. I scare it cannot support me =P

There are also 12 animals and are lighted up at the night. Little monks are everywhere for you to discover them. Mist is spraying from the lavenders and makes the place feel so heavenly. We are tired but it is really an enjoyable days. It is really a good place for sight seeing and shooting. I will go again next time..

For more information, visit FGS Dongzen Temple official site: http://www.fgs.org.my

For more of Cybie’s FGS Dongzen Temple photos, go to http://cyberialynn.spaces.live.com/photos