Questa è Enida

Much has been said about and on this Merdeka Day. Almost way too much. It has, like any other celebrations, become too commercialized for me to comprehend at times. When moderately and modestly done, nonetheless, this whole Merdeka event does bring tears to some eyes. Mine included.

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This Merdeka…I have no flag flying for the first time in the last few years. My Jalur Gemilang is still in the shipment, finding its way to St. Petersburg Port. And I have no idea when it is going to make its gemilang sailing towards Port Klang. But I am here. Dengan gilang-gemilang. Dan dengan hati yang merdeka. Saya di sini. I am home. And that’s all that matters this Merdeka.

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So today, in the spirit of Independence… I am taking my precious Malaysian Canadian children to Banting in the hope to see a little bit of some real kampung that I have not seen before. Who knows, maybe this is a prelude to our next Kampung Adventure Gear comes Raya. (I know for sure we will be in Cha’ah for Deepavali.)

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And while I follow my Garmin GPS to pick up my rider buddy, Ida Biker in Cheeding – no kidding and no cheating here – I am going to have some serious thoughts on Merdeka. Maybe I can come up with quotes like:

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• “To free a nation, free the people from dirty toilets.”

• “An independent nation is a nation who uses the public toilet just like their own private toilet.”

• “Bukti kemerdekaan terletak pada kebersihan minda dan tandas kita.”

• “Merdekakanlah minda kita dengan memerdekakan tandas kita dari jajahan kekotoran.”

• “Tandas anda mencerminkan kemerdekaan minda anda.”

• “Negara telah mengambil masa 53 tahun untuk membersihkan minda kita. Tetapi tandas kita tidak turut serta. Serang!”

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Well, you see… I have my own Merdeka Mission for next year already! The clue is : Education, Education, Education!

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