In 2002, I was living in down under happily clutching my bag of books and notes merrily without the slightess idea what may come. Life was good… not much worries except the coming examination which I have to deal with in less than a month time. No big deal since I don’t have to sit for that many papers as most of my work are project based.
Then the bad news came.
There has been news of bombing by some terrorist in Bali… a place where the Aussies love so much for its beautiful beaches and a place for a little getaway. The news channels were blasting with images of flames everywhere in the once peaceful town of Kuta.
All of us were staring at the box gawking away while listening to the news report every day. There were death… many of them and it was a horrible scene. We saw people dying and some heavily injured and on last count, more than 200 lives were taken.
Our life started to change… Being Asians, we are often labeled as one of the ‘terrorist’ since we came from the vicinity. We still do not know who threw the bomb at that popular bar in Kuta beach but tongues started wagging then with lots of assumptions.
Anyway, my cousin was there with me to pursue his studies too. And being a young and ignorant boy man that he was then, I can’t helped but laugh at his antics. His mom was very worried about his safety… well since he was such a mommy’s boy, he’ll do whatever his mom asked him to. His mom told him to be careful and remember to not tell people he came from SEA.
Being curious, I asked him… ‘So, if your mom don’t want you to tell others that you’re a Malaysian, then where should you say you are from?’
Guess what was the joke?
He told me happily… ‘My mom said, if anyone asked, just tell them I’m from Hong Kong lor!’ 
Sometimes I just can’t help laughing at him… standing at 6 foot 2, double my size but has a heart smaller than the little chick! *faint*
