...and what an exciting weekend at Palm Villas

Absolutely enjoyable!

In true camaraderie spirit with neighbours in our community, we played hosts appeasing ghosts! We extended our bonhomie to ghosts left in the wilderness; wandering ghosts, spirits and lost souls.


Our neighbourhood is a new “one-year old” gated-community complete with swimming pools, playgrounds for the kids (and grand-kids), gymnasium and an aptly spaced community hall which we are using for the first time for a cultural tradition that is a “must-do” especially those into Taoism. It was a great success, with all ghosts appeased by the generosity contributed by friendly residents including non-Taoists!

The "day-before-the-ceremony” started at 7:00 pm with prayers to our in-house “Dato-Kong” at his good-looking and well-kept shrine. Members of this first ad-hoc committee worked through this ritual and paid homage to “Dato-Kong”, offering food and prayers for the well-being of all the residents.

There was not an iota of nonchalance.

As “Dato-Kong” feasted heartily, members chatted excitedly about the events for the big ceremony to be held the next day. We discussed the protocol, led by Mr. Hee. Other members included Judy & hubby Mr. Loh, my neighbours directly opposite my unit Mr. Wong Ying Kuen & spouse, another Mr.Wong who is living next door to AhHee (not Alice), Mr. Neah Pai Cherng, maintenance management rep Mr. Chin and yours truly the feel-good blogger :) CS Cheong.

The short ceremony ended 45 minutes later, and the whole crew continued discussions on the roles and responsibilities for the main event to be held. Matters arising took the most time, hahaha!

....because we started sharing our experiences with doctors, about growing up, hilarious rubber-tapping episodes and ghost stories that took us through till 10:30 pm! (lights were on, kekeke!)

Sunday 22nd August started early at 7:00 am and members, including a great help in Mr. Tan, were already arranging table & chairs in the hall and laying the offerings on a table-height altar platform – to be ready for the 9:00am ceremony.

Scrumptious food and fruits, Chinese style “kuihs”, and drinks including beers (yes! ....beers!) were offered.






The main dish, two 35-kati whole roasted pigs,

 a pile-full of “ong-lai” (pineapples) and bags and bags of high-quality AAA Thai fragrant rice topped the icing on the cake! It was a sight of delectable gastronomy to behold. The ghosts will be pleased!

The first prayer started at 9:10am, good hands chipped in to help out with joss-sticks and miscellaneous work. A hive of activity starts to build up as residents thronged in.

I had to leave at 10 am to drive over with wifey to offer prayers for my late parents at a temple in Penang.

The roads to Penang appeared ghostly, almost completely free of traffic, as if the ghosts knew about my intention to return for the closing ceremony activities!

My late parents weren’t fussy either, they quickly accepted our prayers of respect and reverence rendered; and they quickly finished offerings to them as if they knew our itinerary as well. In no time, we were on the way home.

Like clockwork precision we returned at 11:55am, and the closing ceremonial activities soon begun.

“Gold”, "silver" and “money” were heaped and burnt for the hungry ghosts, wandering ghosts, lost souls and spirits to make sure they have enough until next year, same time.

We made sure that they “ta-pau” (take-away) too - by tossing more fruits, rice, and tea into the inferno of goodies!

It looked like not only the ghosts have been appeased, but the residents too – everyone looked pleased! The sincere event and the goodwill generated more than assured that evil spirits, lost souls or ghosts will let our community live harmoniously, peacefully, happily with much prosperity; and not go through any enigmatic “ghostly” experience.

The mood after prayers was really highly “spirited”.

At the community hall, residents tucked in food with choices of mineral water, wholesome beverages or cold beers to wash it in... :)

Friendly chatter and laughter filled the air, and the “satay” man engaged to BBQ a thousand sticks of marinated skewered chicken meat was suddenly the most popular guy around!

I say a big thank you to Mr. Hee, the organizing and protocol chief; all the hard working members of his ad-hoc committee, and all residents of Palm Villas, Butterworth, Penang who helped in one way or the other.

We had our tummies filled too, the share of the food and cold beers. Good neighbourliness became the order of the day; everyone got the chance to get to know each other better.

...and many of the residents are now calling for more events to be organised. Residents now look forward to the mid-autumn festival – a traditional Chinese lantern festival for the kids (and grand-kids) to have fun and games by the pool-side next month.

Since there are so many festivals celebrated by this melting pot of a community, I can bet the mid-autumn festival,

                                                         Christmas,

 

Hari Raya,

                          

                                                                            Divali,

Chinese New Year,

will become focal points where residents gather and celebrate together.

To end, I substitute the word “dream” on John Lennon’s famous quote with “festival” & “celebrate”..... “A festival* you celebrate* alone is just a festival*. A festival* you celebrate* together is reality”

Have fun! ...life is for living!

Life should be a fun and wonderful journey for everyone!