Mature Age
(When Their Hearts Were In Bloom)
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| Mature Age |
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| Flowery Expressions |
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| Ocean Of Love |
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| Lovely Journey |
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| Social Norm |
Those were the days, when a teenager of
Sungai Choh was looking for a partner. It's said that mature
age was ideal to find a partner, when his heart was in bloom and his
words were full of flowery expressions. Even in
his dreams he always floated in the ocean of love. So by all means That young man would make
every effort to win the girl's heart. Of
course, once her heart was stolen, the girl began to dream of a happy life.
This dream was the beginning of a lovely journey to a happy ending. However, the
love-struck couple had to meet under their parents' eyes. This was the social norm of Bengkulu that should be
unconditionally obeyed. So there was no free dating whatsoever. No handphone,
no whatsapp and no face book to make a free contact. That's why sometimes
seeing the roof of her house was enough to care for the longing.
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| "Expiry Date" |
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| Traditional Therapy |
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| "Pantang Larang" |
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| Body Treatments |
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| Cosmetic Surgery |
However when the virgin
status approached the “expiry date”, a Bengkulu girl had to undergo traditional
therapy of “mandi bunga”. It was said to get rid of bad luck. So Mak Andam
would teach her the secret of how to keep her face and body attractive. Because
love started with the eyes, then from the eyes it went down to the heart. So
was a few dietary guidelines and
"pantang larang” to be obeyed as well. Simply to form a beautiful and
attractive body. However, nowadays spa therapy
is more on facial and body treatments. An hour's treatment is enough to
change their appearance as well as their
confidence. However some are too obsessed with self beauty, they even go to the
extent of cosmetic surgery. Yet beauty is only in the eye of the beholder and
what’s more, different opinions will make different interpretations.
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| Everyone's Priority |
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| Focal Point |
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| Women's Face |
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| Eternal Beauty |
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| A True Being |
No wonder nowadays, looking beauty is everyone's priority. As if beauty is the focal point of feeling and thought. After all, beauty
is what makes the world go round and and glamourous with women's faces. Yet, nothing more than just a race to
look beautiful round the clock. It seems that beauty has no age in modern
times. Indeed, beauty is a legacy of this century. But Instead they are
unconsciously trapped in the myth of eternal beauty.
However in those days it was not a matter of beauty but the inner self. It's
the mind, soul, and nature of a true being.
That's why in my days, in the fifties
and sixties, courtesy and honesty were all parents' favorite, especially to
find a daughter-in law.
(Mentera Mandi Bunga)
Bau-bau arang di hutan
Kayu arang di seberang tasik
Ribu-ribu orang di jalan
Aku sorang dipandang cantik
