These come in threes...

Awrighty then~

Since I have managed to finish my project sliiightly earlier, it is time to update :D

Oh yeah, about the negative experiences.

Just as I was returning from my trip to Bandung, I had a bad case of Stomach Flu. It could be that I needed to reacclimatize my stomach to the local food (as I have not been back for 3 years), or I was just too tired from all the travelling and did not have enough constitution to withstand the cooler air in Bandung. We sually call this "Masuk Angin" in Bahasa Indonesia, and I am not sure what would be the equivalent in English.

The usual treatment for this type of illness is what is called "Kerokan". That is where a mixture of "Kayu Putih" oil and Vicks Vaporub (or other medicinal oil) is applied to one's back, and then a hard, smooth object (usually shaped like a small disc) is used to "scratch" lines on the back. Just several passes is usually enough to make the back look like a zebra crossing. This treatment is purported to release negative energies from the body.

The weird thing is that after the treatment, I began to have really bad ache on my shoulders. This has never happened before. The ache remained for quite a few days. The treatment did help with my queasy stomach though, but I ended up not being able to sample much of my favorite foods back home. (What a waste~!)

Thinking back, that ache might actually have helped me avoid another problem. The thing is, I received quite a few of the "dreaded queries" and "well meaning advices" when I went back. Thankfully, there weren't any "recommendations". (Wait, there were two, and one did not follow through) From my auntie, my neighbour, and verious friends of my parent's. Being sick gave me the excuse of not being impolite for not being enthusiastic to discuss the issue further. I managed to deflect all the queries pretty well I guess. Although I was quite miffed by one of them who suggested that I am a "total loser" in my current status. I plead excruciating pain (which was only a slight exaggeration) and escaped when he tried to regale me with his exploits as a young man. (This guy seems to have been educated in America. Go figure.)

I have to say though, it is not reassuring to know that these line of queries would not really stop even after the first issue is answered. It will then just mutate into another form...

Every cloud has a silver lining.
Watch out for the lightning. :P