EDUCATION OF DEVAN

During this trip, Sheela and Shanti were great tour guides concerning the history of Malaysia and India as well. Sheela showed me this book of the history of Pudukkottai. These books look very fresh without torn covers since it appeared to be from the 30's or 40's (I could be wrong). They talked about this museum in Pudukkottai where they save things from over 2, 000 years like spears, pots, paintings, and many artifacts. They had records of kings who ruled Puddukottai. The Pallavas, Pandyas, and Cholas ruled before Christ and after. I visited that museum with my cousin, Senthil, before leaving for Chennai. Likewise, I visited the king's fortress created by Thondaiman dynasty, the last kingdom before independence. Bless your heart, Molly Fink.

Sheela and Shanti took me with Aish's friend to this Murugan Temple called the Batu Caves Temple about 12 km from Kuala Lumpur. I don't remember too much history about this Murugan God. I do know know that Thamboosamay Pillai was a miner and philanthropist during the 19th century. He discovered the cave. Actually, it was discovered by indigenous Malay group, Orang Asili for shelter and used by Chinese settlers to excavate guano for vegetable fertilization. Anyway, Mr. Pillai decided to dedicate this cave to Lord Murguan. Great? Didn't you already built another temple for your Hindu family? Okay, you didn't live to see that one and that you were going to be dead at 50 years old. What about you donating money to St. Mary's Cathedral, an Anglican church (I got soaked in that parking lot during a rain storm)? What the hell was that for? Opps, shouldn't say hell.

It was everything I expected. Absolute hell for me. Should have known, it had to be a Pillai who would have done this to me. I was sweating it up and breathing heavily. As you get closer to that temple, monkeys started appearing, begging for food. When they didn't get it, they snatched it right out your hand. When we got inside the cave, I noticed a concession stand and ran to get some water. I brought my wallet with me with some Malaysian ringets. Meanwhile, my cousins and Aish's friend walked up the place like a walk in the park. They didn't even ask for water.

The weather was hot to begin with and since this temple was on a mountain cave, I had to walk some major steps on a incline. As for me, I hoped my training for walking the steps at the 72 Marietta Street Building and Restore would help me. If not, my ego wasn't going to get bruised because I had the experience of trying to climb the Pucon Mountain in Chile and didn't do it. I had to stop, my hamstrings were aching and hell, I lost to a girl before (Make sure to lose to an Indian girl as well). Man, did I get teased by my sister, Rathi, and her climbing group. They went up the mountain, looked around, and passed me on the way down. That experience really helped me for dealing with insecurities.

After my long water break, there was a gathering at this shrine with the priests in hand. My cousins bought this tray with flowers, coconuts, and bananas to be blessed by this priest. He would chant something in front of this Hindu God or Goddess statue then mention my name or my family. I don't remember too much. Hopefully, whatever I blessed for, came true. Then with Aish's friend, I climbed some more steps to see another shrine of a temple God. Don't know if its Murugan or somebody else. We didn't stay long, the monkeys took over the place and got territorial with the visitors.

When we came down the mountain (thank God for railings), there were coffee shops and restaurants. I ordered lemonade while my cousins ordered hot tea and coffee. Can't remember what the friend ordered. We started chit-chatting a bit. My mind wandered at that Gold plated, Murugan statue that stood right on the entrance. That sucker was at least 140 feet high. All I could think about was that Michael Jackson video with that statue of himself falling down. As we headed out, I noticed this building and a old lady begging for money coming towards me. My cousin gave her some. Time to get out.