The Economy, Festivals and Holidays!

Around a month ago, when the month of *Ramadan first started, the shopping mall where the gym I go to is located put up an abomination disguised as a festive decoration commemorating the festival - a giant rabbit dressed in a green traditional Malay costume. Decoration, ok. Traditional Malay costume, ok. But a rabbit? Seriously?

Same question here, but since I'm a local resident, I know for a fact that said rabbit was happily recycled from the Chinese New Year decoration earlier this year. On one hand it can be seen as an act of prudence in the current economic climate, but on the other hand, the ugliness of it is just too hard to bear, especially since we have children pestering their parents to take photographs of them posing with the rabbit, and also tourists standing to gawp at it (and take photos) - either mesmerised or horrified, we'll never know. (I've been meaning to take a photo of the offending rabbit for ever so long, but I keep forgetting. Besides, I don't want people mistaking me for a fascinated tourist or something!)

I'm currently enjoying a Monday afternoon at home, purging my brain of anything work related as the company I work in has decided to have an annual shutdown for the festivities, which start tomorrow, and Independence day which falls on Wednesday. It'll be a good opportunity to shutdown my brains as well.

So, here's wishing Eid Mubarak to those who celebrate and Happy Independence Day to all Malaysians.

*The holy Muslim month in which Muslims fast before celebrating Eid.