Sniff

Some of my memories are made up of smells.

909 soap: Sahabat 16 Estate house (Sabah), 1989

I am 8 years old. Dark and cool rooms in a one-storey bungalow (my favourite type of house yet), dusty road with Koperasi (sundry shop) at one end and school at the other, jetty and the beach with jellyfishes, my mother: young, very pretty and very fierce.

New paint: Kluang house, 1992

Coming to think of it, there's plenty of new paint in my lifetime this far but somehow this one sticks. One and a half storey house with the kitchen downstairs, isn't that odd? Fresh red-bean buns from the bakery at the back, four-angled beans on the chain-linked fence, Canossian Convent, Sister Mary and breaking my front tooth.

Asam laksa: Taman Bukit Maluri, 1995

I am 14 years old. Sordid school stories, school gang fights (in the canteen involving chilli sauce and chocolate biscuit rolls..lol), 50 roses, taekwondo, RenHorng & Pak Lim - okay fine, you guys ARE the best of the best, despite it all.

Cold air + good Donburi: HydePark Towers Sydney, 2002

Melissa - my housemate who made a home for me, EasyWay bubble tea (KLCC also got), Pitt Street Mall, Sonia, Joseph - love your apartment, still hate avocados, Paddy's Market, Bondi..Debbie (inseparable memories), Michelle, Oatley and train rides.

Must not forget; mardi gras umbrella, literally being blown off your feet, che2 at year-end, Ralf & crazy airbed, cute greek waiters and great spanish food. A lifetime of memories in ONE year - time's fun when one's having flies like ns would say (god, these days i don't even cringe at such statements anymore..that IS a bad sign)

Basil: Cambodia, 2004 & 2005

Tuk-tuk rides to everywhere, people who are somehow simple, hard, jaded and innocent all at the same time, sunburn at AngkorWat, markets and papaya bags, Pimms No.1, and singing English oldies with friends Sony and Vanlin at the back of pick-up trucks. Oh yes, and work..of course.

Fish pond,cement still new: Nge Seng's garden, 2006

I am 25 years old. Ballon mollys and swordtails. Bright weekends and long breakfasts. After-dinner walks around the neighbourhood. Phonecalls and U2. Also Oasis, which I'm listening to right now. Stand by me, Nobody knows..yea-eh-eh, the way it's gonna be. Getting to know you may be one of my biggest adventures yet, aren't you lucky? *wink*