This Month
Sunday, August 22nd, 2004 @ 12:59 am | Diary-writer
The 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar seems to have brought so many horrendous omens with it. A colleague of mine passed away on Wednesday. The prelude to the month's beginning was speckled with daily quarrels and arguments. My mum and me also quarreled a lot.
Many people have written in concern.
I'm fine. SL is fine. My mum okay. Sure there are bits and parts of icky yucky things that I hate about my job, but am still thoroughly in love with the written word and love the fact that I make a living out of the language.
But this month. Urgh.
I shall overcome you!!!
August 22nd, 2004 at 9:44 am
some pantang more than others.
I just heard today that my friend won’t each chicken rice from hawker stalls because he said the hungry ghosts will lick the chickens that are hanging on display… and hence, (according to him) the meat tastes different.
… I hope the food goes on cheap discount… so that I can eat all.
August 22nd, 2004 at 3:07 pm
don’t play play with this pantang thing.
a group of us went to a small island three years ago for a short holiday only to find people praying everywhere. it dawned on us that it was the eve of the pantang day. my friends were skeptical. we checked in at a new small budget hotel (don’t even have 3 star hotels there). one guy decided to be ahero and took a room one floor above all of us. that night at 1.30 am we received a phone call. his voice was trembling with fear (mind you, he was a huge guy). every time he fell asleep, “someone” pulled his leg to wake him up. in anger he shouted some obscenity and expletives and a figure in white with long hair and red flaming eyes showed itself to him. after the call, he stayed with us until the next morning and went home after breakfast.
and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a true story. it is unembellished and some scary details have been left out.
August 22nd, 2004 at 6:27 pm
Don’t get me wrong… I believe spirits are everywhere ALL the time.
So in contrast to those who only remember to acknowledge them once a year… I acknowledge their presence all the time.
I see this month no different from any other accept people making offerings.
I’ve lived this long with this philosophy and I don’t think I’m offending anyone or “anything”.
August 22nd, 2004 at 8:20 pm
but this Is the month when the spiirts are let out to roam and they have to return by a certain time before the gates close. woe unto those who miss the last call and woe unto those who cross the path of those who miss the last call.
that’s why, don’t play play with the spirits.
August 22nd, 2004 at 11:13 pm
so would you advise against going out late nights when it comes to near the 14th/15th day?
August 22nd, 2004 at 11:54 pm
nah. go where you will. just have a healthy respect for them.
as for me, i paid them some protection money earlier. i’ve got a special pass.
August 23rd, 2004 at 10:16 am
What if they are not interested in money? But ‘other’ thing?
August 23rd, 2004 at 10:07 pm
then god bless you. if he doesn’t, then good luck!