Dumpster Divers Unite!

Yesterday I was determined to fill my day with labor intense tasks. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon I've accomplished so much. It really helped that the night before going to bed, I've listed down the things I wanted to do. I made lists for almost everything before this but after reading Doris #15 which I recently got from Noly and Shah distro, I felt a fond feeling that I was on the "right" track. Having control over my own life. Not letting anything slip away with so much time on my hands. These few weeks, I was kind of in a honeymoon period because of this new found love. Being alone jolted my inner conscious to get on/over with this mushy limping feelings we let seep in our subconcious when being in a relationship. Relationship empowers when the foundation is strong. Sometimes we just got to be apart to realise that we're drunk in our own potion of love. We need to quickly snap out of it but not being a robot and let emotions aside whenever the moments comes.

Getting out of bed this morning was really a pain but 30 minutes after the alarm clock was hit to snooze a couple of time, I sat down while still not wanting to wake up. I thought to myself, if I wasn't going to follow my own plans of the day which is not to serve anyone and go to work for someone else but myself, I would feel horrible and failed. So I jumped out of bed. Sore neck. Sleepy.

Whenever I'm home, I don't shower when not neccessary. So instead, I wrote on my list that I will wash my clothes the first thing upon rising. Part of it maybe to be in contact with water. To allow my body to be alert. I soon realise that washing towels manually using these bare hands is damn hard and tiring! It took alot of strength to squeez the water out of these fabric. They are etremely heavy when soaked. I was showering with my own sweat. It was awesome.

*~DUMPSTER DIVING~*

Last week, me and Arip went to the local wet market behind Noisy to scout for vegetables in the dumpster. We made a mistake and came too early about 10 a.m where the vegetables were still on sale and not many were discarded. So we went back and waited. At about 12.30 noon we came back but the garbage truck had taken away the discarded vegetables. We only managed to find the last stack of vegetables wrapped in plastic bags which the last vegetable stall discarded. A fellow scavenger, an old Chinese auntie in her 50s who was also at the dumpster site, tipped us off that the best time to come and dumpster dive is at 11a.m before the garbage truck takes them.

So out with another attempt! Yesterday I had gone to the market at about 11.30a.m to try my luck but the garbage truck was already there. I cycled around the market to find the remaining vegetable stalls that were not yet closed and found a nice Chinese aunty with still loads of vegetables on her table. I bought some chillies, ginger, and petai so that I could communicate with her. I asked about the vegetables on the ground of her stall whether they were going to be thrown away. Suprisingly, she said some of the unsellable vegetables will be sold to restaurants with cheap prices. In my head I thought, owh! the might been thrown away vegetables are served in possibly posh restaurants where posh people dine not knowing that their vegetables are the same quality (near dumpstered vegetables) as our free food we gave to the homefree and poor people. heh~ or maybe she sold it to normal mamak restaurant kot.

Anyway, I told her of our plan to set up a free food distribution chapter in this vicinity. We need loads of free vegetables. Then she said sometimes she gave her leftover vegetables to someone living nearby too. She generously gave away her vegetables and totally support the idea of free food. Now we got loads of tomatoes, lady's fingers, cucumbers, long beans, some chillies. Enough to feed easily 30 people or more. The bag was so heavy that I had to send back my bicycle and come back to carry it by foot to Noisy.

I made tomato paste/sauce for pasta out of these tomatoes. I'm calling people to come and eat with me. We just need people to bring spaghetti or the like so that we can eat it with the vegan bolognese tomato sauce. Maybe (if can) also any ingredients (of non animal please) we can put in the sauce as extra lauk (i.e oregano, mockmeat etc). While we're enjoying the delicious food, we can also discuss on how we can cook together next time and distribute food on the street. We can bring our party outside!

I've just got an sms from Ekin inviting me to do some scavenging / hijacking? one night market. I'm bringing the food there so we can eat together.. (^_^)

(A) REVOLUTIONARY LOV(E)

There's a surging feeling within me that I've made a contribution, one that really matters. My life is unique, and no-one else could have made this journey the way I have. The world is full of experiences. There are so many things to tell for those who are willing to read my version of stories and experiences. Some things must be remembered and shared.

Sharing a day breathing in each other scent while getting comfortable with each others skin. Breaking boundaries, exploring thoughts, studying habits, learning love. Planning our next move. Dreaming the future. Weeding through the past. It was a parasitic communicative act of the dire need to devour each other feelings of each epic moments in our lives. Elicit and consume.

Cooking is an essential skill required for vegetarians if we were to get complete satisfaction and nutrient from our meals. We get to choose the vegetables to put in our dishes (for me, color play important part) and mockmeat to compliment the overall texture. Spices and sauces are the key ingredient to entice the taste buds. Most people have false assumptions that vegetarian food are tasteless and bland. If we are willing to experiment with the ingredients, we'll find most of the meals we buy outside are lame and filled with unnecessary flavorings (MSG) and oil. We are raised to consume excessive flavorings especially from manufactured goods so much so that we find raw and fresh food tasteless when we don't get that blast of flavorings in our mouths (because we don't know how to make it so). We find food that are tasty because they actually had been flavored with chicken stock! We neglect the nutrients aspect of our food and we accept overcooked, prepared hours before and left heated throughout the day, fried, oily, over-flavoring dishes as part of our daily energy intake. We forgot how nature provides the goodness of fresh, crunchy and juicy vegetables and fruits ready for us to savor without prejudice.

Given how time consuming and elaborate preparing a meal can get, many people opt to enjoy their food at restaurant. But nothing really quite nurtures the soul of a family as a lovingly prepared home cooked meal, filled with the best intentions. Furthermore, cooking with/for someone you love is enough to add the sweetness on top of every dishes and joy in our bellies. (Rice) and (Stir fried broccoli, Chinese veg, mocklamb in mushroom "oyster" sauce) and (black pepper mockchicken) and (home-made bean sprout) and (carrot soy). There will be more...

That day, we experimented making sweet buns but due to inexperienced us, they got burnt. It was all part of the fun learning process. Baking is a new thing for us. Everything went well except for the oven's setting because we didn't know the appropriate adjustment. The buns turned black but the filling still was edible. Arip gave his friends the buns and they gobbled every last piece of it like starving vultures (even the top black crust!). Freegans!

Destiny is grotesque. If it wasn't we won't have this moment. Details of strange obstructions of us meeting each other at many events puzzled us. For me personally, I felt a greater force is at work. Finding the right moment to meet us. Now that we did, I'm grateful from the depths of my heart.

Meeting the other half is a gift. Falling in love is a revolution.

Our journey continues with burning desire of getting things done. Moving in a new space and recreate hope of a community, nesting new interests for our self and others, most importantly provide shelter for enthusiastic lovers and friends.

More baking, cooking, gardening, bicycle and DIY projects, music making, art, sharing etc.

Now is the time to repair, repaint, fixing, building, construct, and decorate!

(A) space of infinity.

Massa Kritikal

27 May 2010 - Massa Kritikal rides every Friday of the last week in each months. This month's ride was publicized fairly wide that two or three fliers came out to promote the event. I was informed by Arip early on the week of the ride as I did not have internet to get the latest updates. We had planned how I can get a bicycle because my bicycle is still in Hana's house in Shah Alam. Arip was too kind to help me borrow Salleh's spare bike. He even helped me fix the bike to make sure it works fine during the ride. There were some problems with the tire and brake pads. They collide with each other whenever the back tire spins.

The meeting point was at the mamak restaurant at Annexe, Central Market. Arip and I were the first few early birds after Zul, Prop and another dude. Prop was one of the documentors for the event. As cyclist came one after another, the number multiplied from 10 to 30 people, I could already feel the soon to be hypeness of the event's atmosphere. Fellow female cyclists came soon after. There were about 13-15 grrrls that stand out from the "mob". Yes we were the mob rioting out the boring streets populated by fast-moving-smoke-excreting vehicles.

I've missed out most of the previous rides but I'm really glad that I managed to came to this one because we had made herstory. There were 80 cyclists all together making this event the biggest ride ever held. We did not made headlines in the newspapers nor appeared in the 8p.m TV news because that was never the objective. We were aiming to reclaim streets and to wave and greet the people with our smiles. Making our presence known. To inspire and to spark tiny sense of awareness about how fun cycling can be as a form of transportation. Although there were no mission statements on banners that night, the number of cyclists that roamed the streets were enough to give an impactful and bold statement about our stand on fossil fuel.

That night cyclists conquered the roads. That night we blocked engine powered machines that were 4 times the size of bicycles (or more) from going faster than they normally would. We felt the city was ours the few minutes we passed by each buildings, pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, tourists, shopping malls, clubs, houses, restaurants and streetlights. Cars had to wait to get through the mob. Some of them were pissed off at us while some honked for support. Some even pulled down their windows to cheer for us. Some had taken the liberty to ask questions like where we were from and to which group we belonged to out of simple curiosity.

Actually, we had deliberately spread across the street and pedaled slowly to block cars from passing through. I think this was a good strategy as it made them slow down to our humble pace and at the same time share the huge patience we cyclist normally have when we ride our bikes on these dangerous streets. Busses were the usual road bullies. It is because they are big. It is similar to the animal kingdom where smaller creatures often goes below the chain. It was a vicious terror as these mammoth often care less about other road users. Lowered, modified cars with large and loud exhaust pollute the air with smoke and noise. A few did actually forced the cyclists to the side by tailgating them and after they had managed to pass through, they sped off leaving in dissatisfaction and anger as though their clubbing nights were ruined by these mischievous but nice and well aware cyclists.

There was one tall bike that night. It was Roby's white and green tall bike. I've heard this a dozen times... Friends had talked about building tall bikes. We've got space and tools to do this. Now we need to plan to find old or scrap bikes. Emm.. I want to join in to assemble the bikes. Nak blaja welding and make community tall bikes. Weee!

I remember how I felt that night. I was so happy and at the same time excited to be in the mass of bicycle loving people. I've never felt safer cycling on the road than when I'm riding with them. It was so relaxing that I got the chance to tilt my head up to stare at the sky and admire the trees' silhouette the foreground of lighted tall buildings. It was a rare feeling. I can see in the sparkling eyes of fellow cyclists and their glowing drops of sweat on their faces that they were really enjoying themselves. The bond of heartfelt solidarity was strong. We were street kids with a purpose to breed interest and spread our love of these revolutionary vehicle.

Cops did not hassle us that night. Maybe they did not receive complaints from any informed citizen. We were after all harmless cute bicycle kids. Hehe.. I heard someone said that if they were to stop and arrest us, they would not know under which offense to charge us with. We were helping the traffic to be less speedy and more cautious thus preventing accidents on that crazy Friday night. I remember Yuen told me and Hana on the way back from Sg. Tekala the other day that when he was in one of the Sarawak's village, the roads were generally in bad condition. In 10 years there had not been any major accidents because people drove slowly on those bumpy roads but when the government paved the road and made them flat and smooth, accidents occurred almost everyday. Speed kills!

As for the route, I was not sure whether they had pre-planned it or just following some of the usual crew. I'm not active in cyber space of late but I'm pretty sure they had discussed it online and informed people about the route. It was a discentralized event. No leaders only volunteers from the usual Massa kritikal crew who helped with security and traffic. It was necessary because we ran plenty of red lights that night. Haha.. I felt that sense of above the law the few seconds stopping cars from the other road as ours had turned red. Civil disobedience.

ERROR - Alak's chain fell off as we were about to approach Chow kit. A girlfriend cyclist, Ned had fell from her bicycle nearing Brickfields. But all in all, the ride went on without major problems.

Almost everyone had brought their gadgets to capture this herstoric event. This was the time to get every angle of everything. Phone camera works at this time of need. Ekin helped Karen to take video because Karen was sick with a fever. Onie drove Ekin. I think Karen will edit and upload in Facebook like some other people had. Thanks to all who had uploaded, tagged and shared the footage and photos of the event. You're all tots awes!

The last destination was Telawi food court where we had replenish our energy with awesome nasi lemak. We filled two long rows of tables and chairs. Macam kenduri pulak. Our bicycles were parked everywhere.. The place was not full as the usual weekend nights coz it was only Friday night kot. Memang meriah! I read on the Massa Kritikal's blog, someone suggested that the next ride it'll be cooler if we stop at some lake/garden or field and bring our own food to share together. I think that idea is awesome. It'll be interesting to share food made from each participants. I'm thinking soggy sandwiches, cold nasi goreng and dishes, cakes! and drinks. Kena ada panniers. It'll be superb to chill on grass and not have roof on our heads. Only Explosion in The Sky~ Haha. (^_-)

After, a few of us went to Karen's place for the next chillaxing and get together with close friends session. Karen's garden was perfect place to lie down because the plants provided cooling and ambiance feel of the night. It was open air. The neighborhood was quiet. The only thing that made the street visible was the dim orange street lights. It was very romantic as someone told me.... Karen's sofa mattresses from Thailand were the envy of everyone who visited her house. Memang best! It was even better when you have your friends and love ones to share that moment of comfort with you...

Thinking about the moment when we cycled to get to Karen's house, we held hands while riding our bicycles. Arip and I cycled to Shah Alam that night to Hana's house because we have a sewing circle activity together with the Coathangers Revolt geng the next day. We left at 2.30a.m. It was a very...... very........ very...... long ride.......... It was cold... I was tired and sleepy... I think we arrived at Hana's house around 6a.m because we got the chance to catch the sunrise together at the emo lake~ Everything was beautiful. Setiap hati itu dibelengu awan yang menutupi mentari. Apabila hilang awan, bersinarlah ia.

Young Folks

When someone goes to a certain extreme for you, you can't help it to feel really special. It was raining half the night inviting the two souls to converged and poured out their heart's deepest calling. Explosion in the Sky made the moment of quiet night where only the raindrops tapped the clock away. A clock that beats the multiple pulses of the earth. Hours passed by but yeah we didn't care. The only thing that was on our minds was this lovely magical moment with the person who stayed behind to share the coldness of night and rain. The greatest gift from the Divine. When we ignored the clock, we measure our existence by our relationship with each other. When our hearts beat with one another, we are having the time of our lives.

If i told you things i did before
told you how i used to be
would you go along with someone like me
if you knew my story word for word
had all of my history
would you go along with someone like me

i did before and had my share
it didn't lead nowhere
i would go along with someone like you
it doesn't matter what you did
who you were hanging with
we could stick around and see this night through

and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' 'bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you

usually when things has gone this far
people tend to disappear
no one will surprise me unless you do

i can tell there's something goin' on
hours seems to disappear
everyone is leaving i'm still with you

it doesn't matter what we do
where we are going too
we can stick around and see this night through

and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' 'bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you

and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' 'bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you
talking only me and you

talking only me and you
talking only me and you

Hmm.. when did I changed? when none of this mattered before....