Just read a friend's blog where he shared his experience of going to Geylang. I realize that I have arrived at an age and a certain social standing where I become quite embarrassed of the fact that I visit Geylang. Because, I did go to Geylang this last Saturday (no less) and I'm frankly embarrassed. After all, Ramadhan is supposed to be a month of worship, Quranic recitation, quiet contemplation and if all else fails, plenty of sleep. As such, Geylang is sort of a bustling, stark-raving contradiction in this context. But we've got to buy our 'raya' clothes, those little green envelopes and most importantly, deng-deng somewhere; so I guess, I must acquisce to the mass-Malay commercialised mania and join in. Besides, in my defence, I did perform the Tarawih prayers first, and then watched a movie (which is also incidentally very much un-Ramadhan like and the fact that I was salivating over Jessica Biel really compounds matters) before going to Geylang shortly after midnight. The crowd sorta thins out after midnight - I repeat, sorta.

Let me be honest. There are actually two main reasons why I'm not too hot about going to Geylang. Socially, I refuse to be part of the Mat parade, which inevitably I would be, bearing in mind my skin colour and the simple fact that I'm in Geylang. However, my saving grace would be perhaps my lack of hair which does not compute into the blonde/brown/red Mat variety. Practically, it's really too bloody crowded. Some years, I do get excited about going to Geylang, especially thinking about the exhaustive selection of food, or maybe because I'm desperate to buy something to wear for Hari Raya, but once I'm there, I suffer from rapid diminishing marginal returns. It's incredibly hot, people keep bumping into you, and especially now, I just might bump into students which I did, incidentally on the said Saturday.

Anyway, midnight on a weekday night means that I've got to turn in. Till the next inspiration. Make full use of the last remaining days of Ramadhan. As you may well know, we never know if we're gonna see the next one. No more Jessica Biel for me. Sigh. Her ass is incredible.

P.S. Do you think God gives more points cos I have to struggle so much to stay on the path of the righteous?