Curiouser and curiouser

The day began ordinarily enough even if the air seemed particularly bad for that perennial smog. Argh!

After capati and milk tea at Restoran Bukit Merah opposite the Ipoh Garden Post Office, I happened to see Denis's bomb of a KIA behind his shop and decided to drop in for a chat. Martin was there: the late great Michael Yeh (who BTW has a nook named after him) had introduced us a couple years ago. So was Peter Chong Hoy Wah - who's even more blur over computers than I am -  and whom I'd worked with in an architect's practice back in Ipoh late '60s. 

Denis was regaling them with his travel yarns and had his laptop open to Google Maps displaying Thailand and Cambodia. 

"See how large they are, Malaysia's nowhere compared to them," he exclaimed, scrolling the map down to make sure we all knew what he was driving at. 

"Hey Denis, someone told me that your shop is known as the Cheers of Ipoh," I teased, and suggested he look at Alex's last Navel Gazer column January. He didn't make any comment but Martin offered that Alex knew Terry 'Orgynizer' Yip, which made her laugh when I SMSd her.

"Small world, he's my neighbor!" she confided.

Just about then, Adrian and Julie turned up for lunch at Woolley, so I went along with them for the company. They were out looking for 1 of those large industrial fans, the sort you might see in almost any coffee shop: plain-looking but bearing an 'honest' appearance with no pretensions to style whatsoever. And so, mixing banter between designers who'd known each other since the 80s and window shopping, an hour quickly passed.

Back home and alone in my sarong (which ha ha has space for 2), listening at 8 to BBC World Service, I suddenly began rocking in several axes, throwing my arms and legs about in some sort of epileptic seizure. And almost shouting incoherently.

It wasn't completely unexpected of course. I had earlier entertained thoughts of visiting Kumar's temple but decided against it for that infernal smog. But it seemed that Kali decided to visit me instead.

What an entertaining half-hour it was!

My everyday ego remained whole and intact but my personality had 'expanded' to include another, one that was much more ebullient and who spoke in tones and rhythms quite unlike my demure ones. Kali, or at least what that rush of energy claimed it was, offered warm greetings and information of an intensely personal nature. 

During a quiet pause, Paul next door thanked me for switching on my porch light to help him see his way to his gate, but Kali eventually left me to the dulcet tones of the news announcer.

Now in previous weeks I had been following Steve G Jones's pitch for his Astral Projection products. So was I somehow imbibing and interpreting ideas and feelings of transcendence unconsciously? 

Perhaps, but I'll wait and see if that personal message pans out. Until then, I'll just have me a loud guffaw and keep on keeping on as best I can.

Mother Goddess Kali in the shadow of Sg Pari Tower

It was a hot but easy walk from the Kidd Road bus station and up the concrete bridge that replaced the majestic Vierendeel truss girder of old.

(That bridge was done 2 times, the second when Malaysian Railways' double tracking went on stream and required a larger span.)

Before long I was in familiar surroundings and at the door of what I recalled was his humble abode, I called out "Kumar!"

A short Indian woman - 1st wife in all probability - emerged whom I addressed in Malay, but to my mild surprise she answered in English, "Kumar now lives in the First Garden flats with his 2nd wife."

"Ah, that's news to me. His daughter used to translate Kumar's answers from Tamil into Malay when he spoke in trance. Apparently he could see into someone's future as if it was happening on a TV screen."

She gestured vaguely towards Jalan Sg Pari saying, "Punitha now works in a shop back there. And I recall Sumitra* with whom you came."
 
"Is he still offering trance sessions for those who seek comfort and advice?"

"Very few Chinese turn up, but do come in the evenings 7 pm thro 9 pm if you want to meet Kumar. He's still trancing though he's now 57 and retired from MBI. He came into some money and runs his own refuse collection business now."

There is evidence of material wealth not seen at my last visit many years back: there's what I thought was a Proton Waja tucked under the low porch roof.

"The temple is now much bigger, I remember a coconut tree with a sari tied around it. May I take some pictures, Makcik?"

"Yes, though Kali's shrine is now locked up. It will be open and lit at night if you want to take photos."

"Do you mind if I stepped into the temple?"

"Of course not, but do take off your slippers first," she cautioned, and showed me around. "As you can see, there is a total of 5 deities honored temple, including a small alcove dedicated to Kuan Yin. It's very peaceful here, and no one dares create any disturbance!"

I pressed my palms together in the traditional gesture towards the main shrine dedicated to Kali and asked, "What about the small one at the entrance?"

"Oh, he's guardian of the property, and we now have legal rights to it from MBI."

I soon took my leave but not before offering Mrs Kumar a cash token, which she said would be spent on oil and incense for worship.

At some point on the bus journey home, I started to fidget violently in my seat and had to restrain myself from blurting out loud what I seemed to 'hear' from a discarnate source.

Power spots such as the one I had just left seem to affect me that way: perhaps more about that anon.

Meanwhile, here be stories that may curdle the blood.

Kali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali

Mother Goddess as Kali - The Feminine Force in Indian Art
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/kali.htm

*Su's alter ego in her Indian incarnation.

Sacred Heart prayer 3rd iteration ended Monday 31st Jan

It's now Friday 4 February, the 2nd day of CNY  with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Unless of course you say that the everyday is an extraordinary and miraculous world we have all taken for granted.

But girl cousin Peg in her inimitable style treats me to a great lunch at Polyluck Restaurant in Silibin Road. And hands me a bag of goodies plus ang pow as well.

My cup runs over, as they say!

On top of that, she wants me to design a calendar that boy cousin Victor suggested over lunch. And I'm going to get paid as well.

Do you suppose this might be an answer to a prayer that's 'never been known to fail'?