The bean vadai and the doughnut (“donut” when spelt the American way) vadai (1) was great as a quick brekkie.

It was about 8.30am in the morning. Didn’t know what it was like outdoors but figured the weather was sunny as the house looked brightly illuminated by the sun.

We, the Batik Influencer, Jeannie; and I were set to make our way down (or is it up?) to Amcorp Shopping Mall In P.J. (2) One of the reasons I was eager to get to Amcorp Mall was because I had made arrangements to meet with Mahmud, the hat seller. I met with him last evening and saw a couple of hats that I liked. He told me that he had an orange fedora hat, whether I would like to have a look at it first before I made a purchase. I love colours. An orange fedora? (1) – that would be something. I held my purchase back to today.

I tried the orange fedora on. It was a nice fit, with a wide brim. The bright orange was a clean and “happy” orange. It was nice. The only thing was the hat was rigid, firm. It was not as flexible as the two green hats or the hats that I already own. It would be mean more care in maintaining it. I can be quite rough at times, carrying as many things in both hands as possible so not having to make more trips. I need my hats to work for me. I like the soft hats where I can roll up, and tuck under my arm or in my bag.

My decision was now left to the two green fedora hats. Both hats were made of wool, which is natural for fedoras😉. The olive-green model had a thicker brim, the brim was not as wide as the other one. It had a custom made dark brown, thin leather band with a black and white feather, and a tinge of an orange feather jutting out from it. It looked absolutely cool.

It did not take me too long to decide, really. Naturally, I consulted with my two world renowned fashion consultants, Jeannie and our daughter, Laura. Both of them chose the olive-green over the jungle-green wider brim fedora. I, too; decided on the olive-green model.

The many profile angles of me modelling this fedora olive-green mid-size brim, with leather band trim and a black & white feather with an orange accent that made the difference.

The jungle green wide brim fedora, had its attractive pull, too. However, it did not quite thrill me as its competitor did. I loved this hat, too. But only one had to be chosen.

I wonder if my new fedora hat is going to lead me to Indiana Jones type of adventures. The keys on the computer keyboards are being tapped / hit on at a furious pace…We will just have to wait and see.

NOTES
1. Vada, vadai, wada, bara, or bora is a category of savoury fried snacks native to India. In Malaysia, it is more commonly known as vadai (pronounced with the “i” ending [sort of third syllable] and dragging as thought there is an additional “i” or more like “vadai-ii”.
The actual name of the bean or dhal vadai is “Masala vadai”. It is also known as Chana dhal vadai or parappu (dhal) vadai. It is made of chana dhal, spices, onions and herbs.
The “doughnut” type vadai is a South Indian savoury snack made from soaked or fermented pulses moulded into balls or a doughnut shape and then deep fried. The resulting snack is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
2. Petaling Jaya or P.J. (as it is fondly referred to by many Malaysians and those staying around these parts.)
3. What Is a Fedora? (And How Is It Different From a Panama Hat?)The fedora looks precisely like the Panama hat when viewed at a passing glance. Both hats feature similarly proportioned crowns, bonds, brims, and tapers. The main difference between them is the material: a true fedora is almost always made of felt, usually wool. The fedora also has pinched sides and a lengthwise crease down the crown, creating its classic look. They can come in a variety of colors, with the band around the base often matching the color of the felt. Since they’re made from sheep’s wool, fedoras are a very eco-friendly fashion accessory to own.

Panama hats are made of straw.