Going Bald (sound as 'bawd')...Just to Blog

Are you running out of blog topics and do not know what to blog about? Come join me to do something crazy....like going bald :) 

Some men are more open to having a shaved head than others and often they like the feeling of having a bald head. In some cases, older men opt to hoave their hair shaved off because they feel that their hair has thinned out too much and it is better off to shave their heads. 

Men with receding hairlines and bald patches also think of shaving their remaining hair off instead of trying to think of a hairstyle that can cover up their baldness. 

Since my childhood days, I've never sported a 'botak-head' hairstyle. So why now? 

Firstly, this is a 'recession-proof' hairstyle; 

Secondly, the heat is getting unbearable these days, too hot to keep long hair; 

Thirdly, the price of hair shampoo, hair-cream is increasing. I don't need to carry a comb with me anymore. 

Actually, I just want to know how it feels like to go 'botak' to practise "emptiness" when I don't have to worry about my hair. 

There are more meaningful things to worry about in life, I believe. 

Someone once told me that the reasons why monks shaved their heads is because they will not be distracted by their appearance...or to worry about keeping up with the lastest trendy hairstyle so that they will look fashionable :0 Makes good sense! 

How else could the monks meditate when they keep looking around to check out the best hairstyle for them? 

Before I sound like a sour-grape who tries to justify my need to have a shaved head, ostensibly to save money (don't let my barber friend Zali hear that :) 

I would rather blog about my 'go bald' experience at the barber this morning. When I entered the shop for the haircut, Zali asked me: "Uncle, macham biasa huh?" I told him that I wanted a 'botak' hairdo. He asked: "kosong"?, sounding surprised. [kosong in Malay means empty or nothing...reminds me of Jean-Paul Sarte's "Being and Nothingness"] 

Before actually landing the electronic clipper on my head, he asked me again..."kosong? confirm?" as if he is going to format a hard-disk to delete all files, once done cannot be undone! I said "confirm" and closed my eyes while he shaved off whatever little hair I have on my head. 

The whole "kosong" process took less than 10 minutes. After the haircut, I felt that my head is so light, so clear... 

The following are some reasons why a person is bald... 

1. As a newborn baby on the first day I came to this world, I did not have any hair. 

2. When ordained as a monk 

3. Under chemeotheraphy treatment 

4. Suffering from scalp-related diseases 

5. Hair loss due to old age 

6. As a fashion statement 

7. NTUC Love Project...going bald to raise funds for charity 

8. To have a taste of 'shock therapy'...like when my friends couldn't recognise me :) 

9. To be part of the project of the Children's Cancer Foundation. 

From now onwards, I will watch the reaction of people who have never seen me bald....its gonna be fun :)