more on “Believe It or Not?”

Pregnant Woman Should Not Carry Baby

It happened when you were just a few months old. We took you home during the weekends and at that time we were staying at Tanglin Halt in a room which we rented from mum’s cousin. It so happened that two doors away an Indian young couple was renting another room. Whenever we took you home, the Indian lady always wanted to carry you.

After the weekend was over, we took you home to Lai Ma and that is when she discovered that some of your hair was in knots. She told us that some members of our families are pregnant. That is why your hair are in knots. We could not figure out who in the family was expecting and we were sure nobody was.

This happened many times until we figured out that it must be the Indian lady who confirmed that she was expecting. It took us awhile because her stomach was not so obvious at that time. So old wives’ tales can be true. Believe it or not, but it happened to you.

Dogs Ain’t So Smart Now

In the old kampong days. It happened when your paternal grandmother passed away. The dogs will howl on the 7th day after she had passed away. The spirit will return one last time to see the family members before the spirit go down to hell for judgement. You can hear the sound of the chains dragging on the floor and the dogs still howling. I was shivering under the blanket and perspiring hard. It seemed like hours before the sound goes away. The next morning everyone will talk about it and sometimes we find that the drink or fruits was shifted at the alter of the deceased.

But today’s dogs do not howl or seem to see such things anymore. Maybe they are all short sighted or they cannot tell ghost from human. Or because we live in HDB flats so the dogs do not go down so often at night to attend wakes and they completely forgot what their ancestors taught them — to howl on the 7th day.

How to Have a ‘Braveheart’

To get a cure is to crawl under a coffin (make sure it is somebody you know or the coffin may drop on top of you while you are under it — Hee! Hee! just a joke). In the old days, coffins are placed on top of high stools so children can crawl under them. I don’t know is that the purpose of high stools? Adults do not do such things because they are supposed to be brave (I believe they wished they could also do the same). But I did crawl under my mother’s coffin and came out more afraid than before I did it. I was afraid that my mother will drop on top of me because I was a very naughty boy.

This is one grandmother’s tale that do not work for some people. I don’t know if it works for some because few of my cousins including myself claimed that it works and now we are not afraid of the dark or any ghosts. Ha ! Ha! trying to bluff the ghosts. Wait until we meet one then we will know.

Ok for now. Need anymore, let me know.

more tales!!

“Gong” with the Moon!

New gen children don’t do this anymore, but back in our time, whenever an eclipse of the moon occurred, children in the kampong will beat oil drums (because we could not afford proper drums), tin cans or anything that can make a lot of noise to drive away the ‘dog spirit’ from eating up the moon. Of course when the eclipse was over, there were cheers and shouts of joy because thay saved the moon from being eaten up. Ha! ha!

The More Oil the Better (not for cooking)

There were very few street lamps in the old days. Worst of all was walking through the kampong late at night when all are asleep. Make sure that your hair does not cover your forehead. For that is your passport to ward away any unwelcomed spirits (there seem to be “a lot” in the old days, I don’t know why?). So the more shiny your forehead the better! (On the peakcap of any uniformed personnel there is a royal crest which all evil spirits are supposed to be afraid of, it is still held to be true, even today). So don’t think having bangs/beatle cut is cool.

Singapore Idol?

Like to know if your future spouse is good-looking? Live in a kampong and sleep in a bedroom with a window that is next to a banana tree. Use a needle and thread. Poke the needle into the banana bud with the thread leading to your pillow. At midnight your ‘Singapore Idol’ will appear in your dream. It is better than eating a silly apple and looking into the mirror at midnight (you might break one of your teeth biting the hard apple). Anyway you may be too sleepy at midnight to clearly see your idol. It may turn out to be your mother trying to find out what the hell you are doing looking into a mirror at midnight?!?

Finger pointing!

It is rude to point a finger at anyone, and especially at the moon. Try it and you will end up having your ear cut on the inner side at the top ridges. Belive me. It happened because I used to have the cuts when I was at a tender age. Or maybe I did not wash my ears clean enough. Today, children do not point at the moon but at people instead.

Nails and Mango Tree

We used to stealed mangos from our neighbour’s tree. We were caught many times and the owner will complain to our mother which will lead to caning. So in order that the owner do not get to enjoy his mangoes anymore, we nailed the tree with many nails. When the tree bear fruits, all the mangoes will have black spots and some worms attacking it. Sometimes the unmatured fruits will just drop. It is true but a cruel thing to do. Children must be taught to do right. (Must not post this on the web)

Wish for an Ugly Duckling

Do not wish for your baby to be very, very beautiful at birth. Moderate looking will be fine. It had been proven that most beautiful babies turn into ugly ducklings when they grow up. A good example was your cousin-outlaw. I even had her modeled for an advertisement when she was a baby. Everyone who saw her commented that she was the most beautiful baby they have ever seen. But look at her now! As for my ugly duckling, she has turn out beautifully as she grow up. (that’s your parents’ view only, but I think you have to show pix of yourself when you were a baby — the botak pix and the present pix to prove my point).

Will update you of any new happenings.