Visiting my parents

Well the time of the year is here .. no no, not Chinese New Year. Not Christmas either.....April.. for Chinese, it is the time to pay respect and remember your ancestors. This is my first year, well, my parents just passed away last year. So, it is kind of like new experience to do this. Of course my parents did this before when they are alive, but we are exempted from following. My father usually went on a bike with my uncle, so there can't be any rooms for me and my bro. And at that time, we don't owned a car.

We departed from home at 6.00am, reached my uncle's home at 6.35am and then leave for Bukit Beruntung at 7.00am. The journey takes about 45 mins. Quite far.. yeah and I am driving!!!! Usually you will need to go early, because there will mountains of mountains of people there paying respect to their ancestors and you don't want to sunburn your pretty face when the sun is up later of the day.

On this day, you can see people buying a lot of things as offerings. Food - roasted pork, chicken, duck, assortments of fruits, flowers, buns - you name it and you can find it. Then, as Chinese believe that you should provide your ancestors with clothing, money - that is why you see paper boxes that looks like chest full with paper money or gold in it, together with a pair of clothes. You can see that there is a paper seal on the box with name written (cool ha!!!). Some go for luxury, they bought their ancestors cars, TV ( I remember my father bought one for my grandma), VCR (not sure if they have DVD or VCD player).. shoes, gold watch, briefcase, handphones...But then, lately, people are getting more and more creative... I have seen canned food - 7-up, pringles, baked beans.. honest! I was like... O_o huh?! I am actually wondering if they have MP3 player, lap top next... hahahahaaha!

Anyway, we are buddhist (Tantrayana Buddhism Association). Simplicity, and we think the most important thing is the heart itself. I want my parents to be in Nirvana....but by buying all those luxurious stuff for them....gee, I guess they live a better life down there, who wants to reincarnate or go to heaven? Just a thought.

So, we only got fruits (4 types) while others got delicious chicken, roasted pork, vegetables, sweet bun and stuff on the table. We also got flowers and mineral water. I forgotten on candles... have to lit the jossticks with lighter.. pai seh.... then we silently chant a prayer and telling our parents we are there. Then, we have to burn the mantra papers we bought from temple (it contains the inchantations). I saw a lady burning a paper lazy chair (looks so real man!). When we start to burn ours, people keep looking at us... first is, we don't have a box, just keep tossing the mantra paper into the fire. Second, those mantra papers don't look at least a bit familiar. Must be thinking we are from God knows where... heheehehehe

Well, our things are done and can head out....people come pouring in. Look around, some was 'picnicking' with the food they have offered to the ancestors... you are to bring back, but eating it out like that is like an outdoor family picnic.. only that it is not in the garden or by the seaside but in the courtyard of your ancestors' tomb.