The Nest

 When I feel old; really old... I will try to decipher what my parents are thinking.Then I ask myself; who can claim to be the older one? Then I will shut my mouth and consider their ways. One thing I know is that they are always thinking of bettering themselves in life; no joke. Even when many their age have given up on life they choose to take the path less taken.

To keep themselves from indulging in self pity they dig into aspects of life that will improve family values but even more so into business ventures. Sometimes the ventures do not produce the fruits they want but they will not curse on the unfairness of timing and chance but instead they will say the experiences have enriched their lives.

Some years ago, the old folks said they must tap on the trend that was prolificking in the sleepy town...nurturing homes for the swiflets. Located at the mouth of the Muar river, the town is perfect for the swiflets to build nests. The building of decades old are cool, damp and provide good shelter for swifts to produce and make nests which when harvested can fetch high income for the breeders.

The roof tops of these buildings are perfect shade for the swifts to build nests from their saliva and the Chinese will use the nest to make drinks and soup for health and beauty. The concoction is especially renown for healing lung ailments and coughs. So much of the nests are exported overseas; the traditional one being China. 

So Por being the bolder one insisted on a site for the swiflets too ! I need not go into the messy details of the renovation; the mud and the bricks but put your imagination together and think. If you happen to renovate a little part of your house you must be prepared for everything dirty. They will gruesomely stand the mess, dirt , inconveniences just because they believe a dream will come true.

True grit.

So the day came when the abode was ready.

But the birds will not just come. They needed to be persuaded.So things are not so plain and easy but the best is they never gave up. They like to wait and hope.

So I learn that in life you need to wait and hope for things to happen.

Patience is the key.

For many years the birds did not come.They even had a monitor to see if any came. 

None came despite the special music...

This flight of steep stairs will lead to the unknown?

Yes, it leads to the home.

Looking so forlorn as though the place is a forsaken dungeon, I peeked sneakily at it.

Oh it indeed has a foul smell from the dung and not very pleasant.

But the conditions are necessary for the swifts.

Of course the old folks will devise a way to handle the challenge; they always find solutions.

They sub it to a managing agent.

Ha... no mess for them !

But no birds too...for years.

Yet, not everything is gone.

Last week I saw some harvesting !

 Yes some birds have appeared and some nests were harvested ! Not much but it points to some hope. But I was informed that the demand has decreased. The traditional importer has put a ban on it so as economics say; low demand with status quo supply ; the price drops. The amount harvested was only worth a hundred over ringgit whereas in the past it would have fetched more than four hundred or more !

 This nest harvester will diligently weigh the amount and he is known to be honest and full of integrity. 

Nothing more; nothing less.

 So what do they do with the nest? No, not for export. too little. So, they collect them for good feelings and maybe when in sufficient weight will turn them to the dealer to process them into bottles of bird's nest for...

home consumption.

Not everything done will turn our economically well. But it's alright. Life's experiences. 

So, again I learn that we can dream but not every dream will come true.

It is sufficient though to see the grin in Kong as he candidly puts it ...  

Song mah ; ngai teng kong tau gniau pee loy; sit ka ki yen wor...

...It is good feeling to see the birds come and we consume our own harvest...

Life's ventures; all in rich experiences.