The tinge of nostalgia always come to me when I am back in Ipoh. Everything just comes back to me when I am in this old house. The time I recall most is when I’m 4. Or 5. It’s been yearsss, but I remember exactly where I used to hang my toys and where I vandalized the walls even beneath the new coats of paint. Where I have my afternoon naps. The house doesn’t even smell the same anymore. 
The kitchen used to constantly have strong fragrance filling the air. In the morning, the smell of something savory being made for lunch. Stew pork or something. And there will always be the scent of herbs in the afternoon because we always have soup for dinner.
I remember what games I used to play with my cousins and Mom – Scrabbles, Happy Family, Snap and a whole bunch of card games. Occasionally, they’d play Lego with me too. But Lego was something I was really proud of and enjoyed building myself. Haha the little architect I was! When I was 5, my family were my best friends! My childhood was built around them and though I was little, I know how highly significant each of the relationships felt like. I become 5 again when I rest my head in this old house. Mom used to read me the newspaper under the fan where we used to hang all the family photos. The whole wall was filled with the framed snapshots of memorable days and more memorable people. Weddings and graduations. Not sure if the photos will be put up again. When they do, maybe I’ll get to make it up there too.
