What I love about Malaysia.

There's this competition that's being held for a Malaysian Festival that's coming up end of this month.

I figured that I'll blog about it since the competition deadline is closed any ways.

I love our foodie culture.
I love how people make trips from Seremban to Johor
just for a simple bowl of Laksa.
I love how there's always a place to eat no matter what the time is.
I love how no one expects you to leave immediately
after you have finished you Teh Tarik.
I love how people gather together to watch Dato' Lee Chong Wei
for his matches.
I love how the view remains the same,
with images of banana trees and wooden houses flashing by
on my train rides to Kuala Lumpur from Seremban.
I love how we call people we do not know so endearingly:
MakCik, Kak, Anna, Macha, Auntie, Uncle, Popo.
I love how the faint buzz from the lights of the night market plays in the background whilst cries of bargains and the scent of food fill the warm humid air around people.
I love how people can converse with each other
using a language invented by Malaysians, for Malaysians.
I love how most of my family members are still there,
waiting for me to get back home so that they can cook for me.
I love how beautiful Malaysia is,
with its tropical jungles, amazing beaches and calm hills.
I love how Malaysia still has rational thinking people even after years of the implementation of an ever-changing wonky education system that never fails to astound parents.
I love how people are so positive with our blueprints, budgets and economic plans even if they might not be too realistic.
I love how the caring bus driver in Rasah Jaya talks to the oldies and makes sure that they sit properly before he starts moving.
I love how certain people never give up in even the most hopeless situations by writing emails to non-responsive authorities and eventually achieving something out of it.
I love how my niece can speak three different languages
fluently at 5 years old.
I love how there's a unity in people
to condemn opinions that are absurd and childish.
I love how the country is nestled between two neighbouring countries that guarantees it nearly invincible protection from natural disasters.

There's so many things that I love about Malaysia.
I could go on and on.
With tiny breaks in between.

Even though people have started to become ignorant to racial aptness
and insensitive to each other's wants,
by delineating actual meritocracy with a show of political power play;
Even though people have portrayed the country badly
on the international stage;
Even though trees are being chopped down at an alarming rate,
causing intense heat trap in certain areas of the country;
Even though crime rates have been reported to be down and I suspect that it is because people have not been reporting crimes as they should have;
Even though locally produced professionals
have earned my distrust in their skills;
Even though I get disheartened and disappointed by
news of the country from time to time;
I still think that Malaysia is amazing.

However contradictory that may sound.