TO NEW DISCOVERIES AND ADVENTURES
SHAKILA RAJENDRA
Sustainability consultant, world traveller and tree hugger; 38, from Penang.
“THE best thing about having an older brother is that you get to grow up with someone who will teach you to do all the cool things that most girls won’t get to do. My brother taught me to ride a bicycle, to skateboard and to play basketball. He even taught me how to rollerskate and use a pogo stick (It was the 1980s!).
My best memory is finally succeeding in riding a bike after many failed attempts and making my brother proud as I could then join him and the neighbourhood kids in riding around the neighbourhood and be part of the gang.
The worst thing about having an older brother is that you’re constantly bullied and being left out of the fun as a child. As a kid, my brother’s nickname for me was ‘Small Fart’ and he would make me cry for no reason.
I was ignored because I was just never cool or big enough for him. Thankfully, this hasn’t translated into adulthood although there are still times my brother would ignore me or expect me to run around after him.
When it comes to our ageing parents and facing our huge complicated family and its associated dramas, I’m immensely grateful to have a sibling to turn to whenever there’s something to laugh or cry about.
People have told us that we get on unusually well as brother and sister. In recent years, we’ve taken to travelling together as we both have the sense of adventure and appreciation of different cultures and histories, and a fascination with ancient civilisations. Our favourite trip together was to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Our dream is to go to Machu Picchu or Egypt one day.
To my big brother, thank you for being my first best friend and here’s to more adventures and discovering new worlds together!”