14th day to the 7th lunar month

…which translates to 2nd September 2009, the day Chinese believes that the gates to hell opens and literally ‘all hell breaks loose’.

Actually not all of hell, there’s a complicated understanding of exactly which of the 7th levels of hell gets to go on a holiday while the rest get to wait in line, like I say, complicated.

During the month don’t be surprised to see folks burning joss sticks along the roads and offering prayers to the wondering hungry ghosts. It’s akin to bribing them with food so they’ll keep the living undisturbed.

Every year during this time of the month, whole Chinese communities put on their ‘No Fear’ T-shirts and hide under their bed. Wise man says humans and ghost don’t mingle well (obviously they don’t miss their dearly departed as well, literally ‘to hell with it’’).

Weird as it may sounds, people do believe that the only thing the ghosts wants to do more on their annual vacation is to go looking for more people to hurt. Logically this proves that 1) Hell is not that scary as we thought, karma be damned or 2) Hades had all of us bluffed by not letting any souls take a break, and all those released are actually his minions out on recruitment drive… Chinese please say CHOI!

Nonetheless it’s best to be careful during this time of the year. I just got word that my grandfather got into a car accident earlier (he’s ok, phew) and a few of my friends are not doing so well themselves.

Heck, even I’m feeling a little stressed this week. Lots of work, lots of unforeseen events, lots of problems all clumping into a big porridge of crap. Can’t wait for this weekend.

PS: I’m avoiding KL this weekend, feeling sick being around it. I’m planning to drive down to Melacca on a cari makan trip.