I spent my Christmas in Melaka, the beautiful, historical, colonial, natural, provincial Melaka. I stayed over an officemate-friend's house and went around wherever they take me (coz I'm kaladkarin as always). I enjoyed their company a lot especially the kids, my friend's nephew's and nieces. They would crowd around me trying to compete for my attention. These kids are fun to be with always... They make a lot more sense (crazy sense) than adult does sometimes.
On the 24th, we went to the Portuguese Settlement in the heart of the city to take a peek at how they celebrate Christmas. There was a competition in the neighborhood for the most beautiful Christmas decoration. Indians, Malay and Chinese alike also went to the area to celebrate Christmas. People sprayed each other with snow-producing aerosol-like canisters while greeting each other merry Christmas... It was fun! WE were a little late for the festival but we still got to see the beautifully-decorated houses. It felt like home, almost.
I also had a chance to experience a traditional Indian meal on the 25th of December (Christmas Day). So it was really Christmas lunch for me. We ate using our hands and used banana leaves for plates. The meal was sumptuous comprised mainly of curry and sambal and tose and vade and other local food. It's always fun eating especially with good-natured and welcoming people such as them...
Last was a visit to the Melaka World Heritage City. The place is truly a melting pot of cultures. It has been colonized by the Asians (Chinese and Japanese) and Europeans (Dutch, British, Portuguese, French) and it has embraced the colonial culture and made it its own while still preserving it's very unique culture. The houses and mosques or masjid in Melaka has a very distinct look from the rest of Malaysia.
So such was my different way of celebrating Christmas. A little cultural and a little unusual from the way I celebrate it back home but that's the point. Do as what the locals do it and you'll surely have fun, and I did.
Looking forward to the New Year's celeb!!!
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