Five Things To Look Forward To In Malaysia

So here I am. Just a few days away from ending my stint here at the United States of America. Before I start babbling about the things that I'm gonna miss here, I'd like to preview the things that I really look forward to once my MH 0095 touches down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on May 30. I'm not gonna mention food because we all know Malaysia has the best foods ever (except the Philly cheesesteak & Primanti sandwiches, of course)! 

1. The Call For Prayers / Azan - one thing that really strikes me here is that I was living in a nation where Muslims are the minorities' minority. Other than major cities, finding a mosque is pretty difficult more so hearing the call for prayers. Malaysia, being a predominantly Muslim country, has plentiful of mosques & surau such that the azan can be heard five times a day everyday. What I love about the azan is how it separates the day into different time frames & how Malay-Muslims would shape their day based on these segments. Lunchtime is usually set around zohor, evening activities set after asar & the end of these activities set when maghrib begins. You would definitely have heard or used phrases such as "Let's play football with the gang after asar" or "I have to be back home by maghrib," no?
2. Tropicalia - I have to admit: I have the warm tropical blood in me. The blood that thrives on the abundance of heat, humidity & sunlight. Some of my fellow brethren complain about the excessive heat nature sometimes put upon us but I'd rather take that than going through a dark, cold & unforgiving winter. Yes, I do get SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder or what you mortals call "winter depression" & yes, I do realize that I was not built for that climate. As much as I love the changing of the four seasons, I prefer mine to be hot, sticky & bright all year long.
3. Rainstorms & Monsoons - But at the same time, I do enjoy the annual monsoon season back at my hometown of Kuantan. Usually reserved as an end-of-the-year event, those gloomy clouds literally pour their hearts out sometimes a week without end but mostly days before the sun peeks out to check on how everyone is doing only to be shooed away by more gloomy clouds. The incessant barrage of water makes it a perfect mood to be melancholic as you sit down at your verandah sipping a cup of tea enjoying the grateful croaking of frogs while the noisy rain eventually turns out to be soothing, later becoming a background to the wet days ahead.
4. Barclays Premier League & 24-Hour Mamak Culture - what's the cheapest best thing for a Malaysian male to do on Saturday night?  Watch English footy at your local mamak shop, of course. Yes, there are "high-end" places for one to watch football but that's only reserved for rich poser snobs. Everyone knows that it is totally acceptable for anyone, from any race, religion or social class, to watch a game at a mamak shop. The food & fan fare cannot be missed especially when a big game comes around as you can witness a bunch of Asians, who most have never set foot in their teams' stadium let alone set foot in England, celebrating a goal scored by a team halfway around the world. Globalization, eh? Oh, and about these mamak shops open for 24 hours: well yeah, it's good that late night junkies can get food at odd hours but it also contributes to us Malaysians having an unhealthy diet of oily foods & sugary drinks. But isn't that other countries' problems too? Globalization, eh?
5. Hey Little Girl, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - Out of all the things that I'm looking forward to when I come back, this must be the most exciting for me. I'm venturing into the uncharted territories of being in a relationship ever since I asked her to be my partner (which she comically accepted) on new year's day (talk about an easy anniversary date). Why uncharted territories, you ask? In my 23 years of existence, she's the first. I will now finally be able to see whether I can fully cherish another person other than my family, meet that green-eyed monster called jealousy & explore a previously undiscovered side of me. The realist in me knows that good times and bad times are ahead but here's to the future with you, Ayumi!