My mum looks at me unimpressed
I’ve told her I’ve left my clothes out to dry
overnight
According to Chinese belief it means
bad luck
Just like when I’m 20 years old and cut
my nails at 8pm in my aunt’s condominum
in Melaka
and she looks at me with horror
exclaiming I immediately need to stop
I’m 19 and my mum tells
my relatives in Malaysia
that I’m travelling to Kuala Lumpur to
travel around South East Asia on my own
They send my cousin Cheryl to meet me
at the airport
and it takes me at least a month until
I am able to go to Bangkok by myself
to spread my teenage wings
and expand my world view
without the watchful and worrying
eyes of my family who believe there
is only danger out there for a young
girl like me
My Maddy Travel 