tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86895752163030178372024-02-20T02:47:10.623+08:00LAISILife As I See It...Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-82827801382963148082020-12-01T17:57:00.002+08:002020-12-01T17:57:47.514+08:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hostel Life in the 1960s at Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Mohamad Zawawi
Ahmad</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1968 Alumni<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prologue<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Accommodation was a major problem for outstation students
attending the only English medium school, Sultan Ibrahim School, in Pasir Mas
in the 60’s. Public transport then was inefficient and not many people could
afford personal conveyance like cars, motorcycles or even bicycles like the
present day. The solution to such problem was to find accommodation in a
relative’s house near the school (if you have any willing to provide), share renting
accommodations with other school friends or stay in the school hostel. In my
case, I experienced all those forms of accommodations. I stayed at the school
hostel in 1963 while </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">still<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">in Primary 6 at Sultan Ibrahim Primary School. My
accommodation reverted to the rented house again from 1964 to the middle of
1967. I rejoined in the hostel again until the end of my schooling days at
Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School in 1968.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lifein the Hostel in 1963<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My elder brother, who was a teacher, suggested to my parents that
I should stay in the hostel in order to enjoy a better living condition that
will provide amore conducive environment for me to study. He agreed to support
me with a monthly allowance of RM20 of which RM15will go to pay</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ing<span style="color: black;"> for the hostel fee while the remainder was for </span>my<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">pocket money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was easy for me to gain permission to stay in the school hostel
as the Hostel Master then, Mr. Vijaya Samaravickrama, was my Standard 6A class
teacher at Sultan Ibrahim Primary School. He nodded to say yes after a verbal
request in class.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Vijaya was </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a young Kirby trained teacher.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So on the same day, I carried all my worldly belongings comprising
the essentials; a mattress, a pillow, a single size white bed sheet, a pillow
case and other personal things, to the school hostel. A fork-and-spoon was a
must as eating with fingers was not allowed, especially for dinner. I had to
take a trishaw ride from my previous rented home, shared with my cousins and
friends at Lorong Pak Nik Man, not very far from the hostel. The bundle of
kapok mattress wrapped in a reed mat was too big for a small me to carry and
hence </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">there
was a<span style="color: black;"> need for the conveyance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
hostel was located within the school fenced-up compound just next to the school
field and adjacent to the school buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a light blue painted single<span style="color: red;">-</span>storey
wooden building. It was <span style="color: black;">equipped with thirty plus
double decker Vono steel spring beds arranged in two rows in a hall making a
dormitory. Each of us was assigned a cabinet or a smaller locker placed above
the cabinet. Being a newbie with very little possessions, I got a small locker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The same hostel catered for both the primary and the secondary
schools. As such, there was a mix of students, the smallest being from Primary
1 and the biggest being </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">from</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Form 5 of the secondary school. Either big or small, we
were all given the same treatment including doing toilet cleaning and watering
the hostel landscape plants on a rotational basis. We had a mix of various </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ethnicity</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> with Malays being the majority, a
few Chinese, an Indian and a Thai, all living harmoniously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1963, Lee Eh Hock,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">who was both the school and hostel Head Boy, his brothers Lee Eh
Hong and Lee Boon Lai and another Chinese boy from Tanah Merah (whose name I
could not remember), were the Chinese residents at that time. G. Palanivel, the
younger brother of Mr. G. Thanda whom he had </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">brought<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">along to study at the school
and little Nik Chanon made up the sole Indian and Thai resident representative,
respectively.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Living in the hostel was the most memorable part of my life. Food,
though some complained of not being tasty, was in abundance and we had four
square meals daily. This was something I could only dream of outside the hostel
or even in my own home in the village. Meals consisted of breakfast, lunch, tea
and dinner. Table manners, especially at dinner time, were strictly observed. Loud
talking and sharp clacking of forks and spoons against the plates resulted in
sharp rebukes from the Prefect’s table and pin drop silence ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time in my life too, I learnt
that burping in the presence of others was bad manners. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Till this day, I vividly remember the life we lived in the hostel.
Life in the hostel was bliss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the
life of brotherhood, irrespective of your skin color or religion.There was not
much bullying from the seniors and we the small kids were left much to
ourselves provided we do not break any rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regular night study hours, or preparatory class or better known as
prep time, started from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several school classes were expended as prep classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lights were switched off as we readied for
bedtime at 11.00 pm.However, those who were in major examination year were
allowed to stay up to study for as long as they wish.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making up bed was the most important ritual in the morning. An
inspection by the hostel prefect on duty with everyone standing by their beds
ensured that all beds were made before residents were allowed to go for breakfast.
Bed sheet must be unruffled and the sides firmly tucked under the mattress.
Dirty bed sheets will not be tolerated. The blankets must also be neatly folded
and placed at the feet end of the bed. Anybody who failed to make up their beds
will be punished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally they were made
to clean the toilets the next day, much to the delight of the persons on roster
duty assigned to do the job. The toilets were also inspected <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>too, to ensure that those on roster </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">duty
<span style="color: black;">did it properly. Failure means having to repeat the
cleaning before being allowed to go for breakfast. The prefect may also
announce locker inspection and everyone were to stand by their lockers for the </span>purposes
of checking.<span style="color: black;"> This ensured that lockers were neatly
kept at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The harshest physical punishment </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">meted<span style="color: black;"> out by the hostel prefect was for those punished to crawl under
the steel double decker bed. With just about a one and a half feet clearance
from the floor and having to crawl under 15 beds from end to end, any knocks of
the head against the steel frame can be very painful. The agony of the crawling
was not as bad as the bruise to your pride as you were being watched by the
rest of the residents including the small urchins from the primary school. Such
punishment was meted for the most severe breach of the hostel rules, such as
being caught smoking cigarettes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Hostel Master could mete out and even worse punishment like
expelling residents from the hostel. Once a senior resident returning from a
night out for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dikir barat </i>performance
outside the school compound, found his bedding missing. To his dismay, at
daybreak, he found his bedding at the foot of the hostel steps. He had been unceremoniously
expelled from the hostel and had to find accommodation elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such were the regulations in the hostel. The hostel prefects were
the enforcer and not many dared to break them.That was how we were disciplined
in those days.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those who were on roster for the day must also water the hostel
landscape plants using either watering cans or water hoses. The older students
usually get to use the hoses and the smaller kids had to use the watering cans
or pails. Those who were not on roster </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">duty <span style="color: black;">were
free to play games or practice for the sports events.Those on roster duty must
complete their chores before they can indulge in any games.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Very few of us could afford to send our clothes to be washed by
the cleaners.We washed our own clothes and weekends were washing days for most </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of
us<span style="color: black;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friendly Quarrels and Mischief<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My most unforgettable incident that year was when I set a ‘booby
trap’ to catch the person(s) who had been lying on my bed when I went for class
in the morning. The bed was not remade after I returned from class.The primary
school was a single session morning school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Due to the shortage of classrooms in the secondary school, students of the
lower forms had to attend the afternoon session class. It was twice that
somebody from the afternoon session had been sleeping on my bed after I left
for school. Upon the advice of a friend, Abdul Halim Abbas, I planted a pin in
my kapok mattress with the sharp end barely protruding from the mattress. Abdul
Halim </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">even<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">lent me the pin. If anybody
were to sleep on that bed after that, he would have a painful prick on his
back. True enough when I returned from school in the afternoon my bed sheet was
disheveled and the pin was roughly pulled out from the mattress leaving a small
torn hole. The trap worked! I know I now had to face the wrath of the person
involved. I was in fear but there was nothing much </span>I could<span style="color: black;"> do about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the afternoon session students returned, I was confronted by
the student who had been my victim. My victim turned out to be the person who
had been treating me very well all these while. He was Wan Hussin Wan Ali! I
was expecting a whacking from him but when told that somebody had been messing
my bed, he felt guilty himself and the matter was laid to rest. I was so
relieved that I slept well that night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later in life, when I met Wan Hussin and relat</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ing<span style="color: black;"> to him about the incident, he could not even remember it.
I guess the pain was not bad enough to merit a space in his memory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though the camaraderie and brotherhood were evident among the residents,
some serious quarrels did occur among the residents. Later things were amicably
settled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would consider raiding the teachers’ left over dinner as
mischief by some seniors. The hostel kitchen did provide food for the resident
teachers. Every day the workers from the kitchen would deliver food for the
teachers and set them up on a table in the teachers’ side of the hostel. The food
were slightly of better quality than those provided for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teachers’ room was accessible from the
dorm. It was via this door that some seniors would sneak in to take the food.
It would be alright should these raids happened after the teachers already had
their meals and only leftovers were taken but sometimes they were late for
their dinner. After such a raid, those teachers who have yet to take their
meal, had to walk to town to have their dinner. On one occasion, the teachers set
a trap to catch the raiders but the raiders were usually on the alert and
avoided being caught; those naughty boys.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometime in the middle of the year, Mr. Vijaya left the school and
the hostel to further his studies at University Malaya. Mr. Thanda Govindasamy,
another hostel resident teacher, was appointed as the Hostel Master filling the
vacancy left by Mr. Vijaya.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A 1963 picture of the hostel dwellers with Mr. Thanda (Hostel
Master) and Mr. Peters (a Peace Corp Volunteer) flanking Lee Eh Hock<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the School</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cum</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hostel Headboy. The primary
school students sat cross legged in the front row with yours truly seated
directly in front of Mr. Peters.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I left the hostel after the Standard Six examination and at the
commencement of the end of year school holidays. My reason for leaving was
because I could no longer afford the RM15 monthly hostel fee as my brother who
had been supporting me was getting married.Even though RM15 was dirt cheap as
it covered all the meals and the roof we were under, but for poor families like
mine, it was a small fortune to be paid out on a monthly basis. I went to stay
with my sister who was studying in the same school but renting a house with her
friends.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0in;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4"
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hostel residents at their leisure time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind them were the cabinets and lockers lined
along the corridor where the residents belongings were kept.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life in the Hostel in 1967<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My second stay in the hostel was in 1967. I could afford to stay
there because by then I was awarded a Federal Minor scholarship worth RM20 a
month, a big amount back then. My classmate Ashaari Amin was instrumental in
getting me to return to the school hostel. Prior to that I was staying with my
foster mother on the fringe of Pasir Mas town. We were in Form 4 then. Reading
story books was my main passion then compared to preparing for my examinations.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the Overseas School Certificate
(OSC)/Malaysian School Certificate(MCE) examination was only due in 1968, I
thought preparing for the examination can be done during the examination year
itself. During a Biology discussion, Ashaari asked me to describe the
alimentary system. He was horrified to know that I could not describe it. The
alimentary system was elementary to students of a science class who were due to
sit for the OSC/MCE examination in slightly less than a year's time. He
immediately asked me to move into the hostel and promised to talk to the hostel
master for a place for me. I definitely was qualified to stay in the hostel
with my home located 10 miles away, compared to Ashaari whose home was just a mile
away from the school gate. A short letter addressed to the Hostel Master, Mr.
G. Thanda, and handing the letter personally to him was all it took to enable
me to join the hostel life for the second time. I cannot recall the exact date
of my return to the hostel.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3"
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of
the hostel boys in 1967<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Squatting
L – R Awang Che Seman, Suhaimi Jaafar, Unknown, Aziz Ahmad, Noorudin Ramli,
Unknown.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standing
L – R Ghani Senik, Muhamad Jusoh, Mahmood Awang Kechik (Dato’ Dr.) Abbas Akbar(deceased),
Bong Lot (deceased), Unknown, Rahim Jusoh (deceased), Che Ahmad Che Daud.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A 1967
picture of the hostel residents on one of their free days. Only three persons
can be identified, Wan Kassim(Dato’), Abbas Akbar (deceased)and Ariffin
Ibrahim.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:244.8pt;height:157.8pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title="Gambar hostel nak ganti"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="210" src="file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1031" width="326" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hostelresidents having lunch. Being photographed was truly
exciting and everybody wanted to be in frame.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nearest to camera: Che Ahmad Che Daud.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standing: Nasir Che Mat(deceased), Wan Ali Wan Mat, Wan Kassim
(Dato’)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being a school prefect, I was automatically appointed as the
hostel prefect. A prefect had slightly more privileges. Life changed for the
better for me since now I will no longer be going to class with an empty
stomach. Meals will be regular. There will also be games in the evenings and prep
after dinner till 11 pm for the seniors. Those who were in Form 5 and preparing</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for
the OSC/MCE examination <span style="color: black;">will continue studying until
the wee hours. A more regimented study hours and studying with my peers helped improve
my grades. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. G. Thanda demonstrated how to be an effective Hostel Master. We
rarely see him around the hostel except during his occasional walk around the
dorm. One night during prep class, Abdul Rahman Hassan Koya (deceased)was fooling
around by going out of the prep class and was making some silly dance moves.
The next minute, we saw Mr. Thanda walked over to him and in the sight of
everyone gave Rahman several tight slaps on both cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rahman felled down and Mr. Thanda helped him
up to his feet and the slapping continued. That was the one and only time that
we saw Mr. Thanda punished any one of us but the impact was long lasting. That
served as a strong reminder to all of us that though unseen, Mr. Thanda could
be somewhere in the darkness watching us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Playing Pranks</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another memorable incident in my hostel life that year was when one
night I got drenched while in deep slumber. I must have been boastful after prepand
somebody thought that I needed to be taught a lesson. The way it was usually
done was to place a container full of water on your mosquito net while you were
sound asleep. The weight of the container filled with water will gradually
lower itself until it finally reached a certain level whereby any body movement
will cause the container to spill its content on you. It was more like a time
bomb that will drench your body,the blanket and the mattress. I got mine on the
night when Pasir Mas was at the height of the monsoon season and flood water
was close to overflowing the Kelantan river bank.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was so frustrated that I took my revenge on the most innocent of
persons who happened to be sleeping on the bunk above me. The victim cursed
aloud and the dormitory light was switched on. With lots of guilt, I pretended
to be asleep. The person who slept above me was none other than my best friend
Ghani Senik (now Tuan Haji). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Tuan
Haji, I was the one who caused your cold discomfort that night. I believed many
knew that I was the one who did it but they just did not point me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snitching was not our way of life in the
hostel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later I found out from Ashaari Amin that it was Suhaimi Jaafar who
set the water bomb on me. When I met Suhaimi in London in June 2009 and related
him the incident, he could not recall it at all. Suhaimi had migrated to
England and he must have left behind all memories of Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meeting
Suhaimi Jaafar again (beside me in dark suit) after 41 years. If you are
curious about the persons in front of me, they are of Wan Hulaimi aka Awang
Goneng the famous Malaysian reporter</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> cum</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">writer based in London and his spouse Kak Teh, another famous
correspondent.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Teachers Went On Strike<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was not really much to recall for the year 1967.The Teachers
Union went on strike over some dissatisfaction over the teachers’ terms of
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teachers carried placards
and hangout outside the school compound. However,classeswere conducted as usual
and there was no disruption to our studies. However, the teachers boycotted all
extracurricular activities and we were left very much on our own as far as
these activities were concerned.There was no Sports Day and even, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sempana</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the school magazine was not published.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The end of year school holidays gave us all a chance to return to
our families. I went back to my village to help my parent plant tobacco, the
main cash crop in Kelantan then. Tobacco planting was a lucrative industry then
and the crop was planted on a large scale with a ready market ensured by
Malayan Tobacco Company.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life in the Hostel in 1968<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The year 1968 was my final year of stay in the hostel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consider it as the most memorable part of
my hostel life.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0in;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7"
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 1968
hostel residents. In blazers, from left, Aziz Ahmad, Mahmud AwangKechik (Dato’
Dr.)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Loo Hock Guan, Che
Ahmad Che Daud, Mr. Thanda (Hostel Master), Ismail Yusoff (Dato’, deceased;the
School Headboy</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cum</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HostelHeadboy), Mr. Yussof Ghouse (deceased; the school Headmaster),
Abbas Akbar (deceased), Mr. Maniam. Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad and Mr. Pang Chok Chu
(deceased).</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of us were being cheeky. Whenever a group of girls were to
walk along the road in front of the hostel on their way to class, they will be
taunted with marching chants from the hostel residents of ‘left, right, left,
right, left, right’ making it most uncomfortable for them to walk. Most of them
ended up running to the school or avoid</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ing<span style="color: black;"> that
route in front of the hostel altogether.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
teachers had ceased their boycott of the extracurricular activities after theirUnion
dispute with the government was resolved.Everybody seemed to be making up for
lost times with <span style="color: black;">the school calendar full of
activities. All school societies were moving at full speed. Every weekend were
slated for at least one activity, sometimes two. So much so that we were hard
up to find a place to hold our activities. Even the hostel dining hallbecame an
activity venue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of the hostelresidents were active in sports and were
represented in almost everysport. An obvious sportsman was the late Abbas
Akbar. He was an icon of a sportsman and excelled in almost every sport, be it
athletics or team events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Bachang Tree <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once a week</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> we had a free night where we were free to do our own things and
could opt not to attend prep. One particular free night we had nothing better
to do and we were hungry. Some of us decided to collect unripe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bachang</i>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mangifera foetida</i>)fruits,a poor cousin of the mango. The tree was
located at the fringe of the school field on the side of the primary school and
almost immediately in front of the semi-detached quarters occupied by both the
primary and secondary school Headmasters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Ahmad Rahman, the primary school Headmaster</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> was the first to notice our group of raiders
and he informed our Headmaster of what we were doing. The late Mr. Yusoff
Ghouse, our Headmaster, came towards us and told us to go back to the hostel.
He told us </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">there
were ghosts on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bachang</i> tree which
of course we didnot believe. Out of respect</span><span style="color: red;">,</span><span style="color: black;"> we backed off carrying with us the few fruits plucked by
the climbers. Everything would have gone off peacefully if not for the
realization that one of the three climbers was thought to be still on the tree.
He was Ibrahim Hussein.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of us decided to go back and to look for him. Instead of just
a few, almost all of the 60 hostel boys followed makinga real dinthat Mr.
Yusoff thought we were defying his orders to leave the fruit tree alone. By
then</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Yusoff was already running after us.
Pandemonium broke loose and we ran helter skelter in every directions. He
angrily chased after us but we were too fast for an old man of his age. Further,
the school compound was our home and even in the darkness of the night we easily
outran himto hide behind the many school buildings. He finally went back to the
hostel building, and surprise of all surprises, he managed to catch hold of Nik
Hassan Nik Mat. Nik Hassan could have easily escaped from the Headmaster’s hold
had he wanted to but out of respect Nik Hassan apologized and followed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later in life, Nik Hassan’s last post prior
to his retirement was the Officer-in-Charge (OCPD) of Shah Alam Police
Contingent!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With Nik Hassan in his hold, the Headmaster called the hostel
master Mr. G. Thanda and asked us to gather in the teachers’staff room. Prior
to the gathering, Mr. Thanda asked us to meet in the hostel's dining hall as he
wanted to know the reason for the commotion. He called on me to speak up. I
told him that 'it was sheer panic' that we ran away when the Headmaster came
after us when we were actually on a mission to rescue Ibrahim Hussein from the
tree. He gave us his fatherly smile and we know that he wasnot angry with us.
After all</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> we were just a bunch of
hungry young boys on a free night and not meaning any harm. The noticeable
absence in the meeting with the Hostel Master was a hostel prefect who chose to
escape by climbing over the school fence to avoid being caught. There and then</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Thanda stripped him of the hostel's </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">prefect-ship<span style="color: black;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were made to gather in the teachers’staff room. It was almost
midnight. One by one we were made to bend over and had our butt caned by Mr.
Thanda. The number of strokes depended on the age and size of the boy,and at the
command from the Headmaster. The smallest and youngest from the primary school
received one stroke. The bigger ones received five strokes. When it came to
Abbas Akbar's turn</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the Headmaster said "that boy is a big bull, give him
five". We know Mr. Thanda was pulling the punches because he was using the
middle of the cane instead of the tip of it and the blow was not at full
strength. The Headmaster seemed to realizeit and wanted to take over the
caning. "If you don’t know how to cane, let me cane them myself", he
snapped angrily. Of course</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Thanda would not let him but instead made it appear that he
was hitting us a little bit harder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Should the Malaysian Guinness Book of records be already in
existence then, this could have easily be entered as a record as the largest
number of pupils (more than 50) being caned in one session for the same
offense.I dare say that this record will never ever be bettered anywhere
anytime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the school assembly the next Sunday, the Headmaster announced
what happened but he obviously omitted telling the real cause of the
pandemonium. He told the assembly that he had never been made to run that hard
in his life. Other than the hostel residents, the rest of the assembly were
very vague as to what really happened that night.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That was the most memorable event in my entire hostel life. I
would like to put this as a record for those who were involved, to cherish and
maybe relive the event with their children or even the grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Night of a Thousand Stars <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The highlight of the year was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Malam
Seribu Bintang</i>(The Night of a Thousand Stars), a two</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">night stage show where students’talents were
showcased. The hostel students were allotted a slot to perform and we chose to
perform a dance drama entitled “A Gang </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">F<span style="color: black;">ight in
Golden Sand”. It was based on the dance style of West Side Story and without
any dialogues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The dance drama was
performed with the sound tracks from the film The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Since the idea was mine, I took on one of the main roles. The story revolved
around two gamblers one of whom cheated the other leading to a gangfight. The
gang leaders were played by Mahmud Awang Kechil(Datuk Dr.) and Ashaari Amin.
The original line was supposed to end with Ashaari being killed by a stab of
the knife. We were using a really sharp knife and it nicked Ashaari’sthigh and
blood oozed out from the wound, dripping to the floor. The audience was unaware
that real knife was used until Mahmud dropped the knife and the knife stuck
upright with the tip embedded on the wooden stage floor. Fortunately, the
performers kept their cool and the show went on unimpeded.Ashaari was rushed to
the clinic to have his wound sutured.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were given permission
to perform on the second night with the expressed condition that no real knife was
to be used. We bought a realistic looking plastic knife as a replacement. The
late Abbas Akbar took over Ashaari’srole for the second night’s performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The audience had a good laugh when the knife
bounced off instead of sticking to the floor when dropped during the gang
fight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Examination<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was the year my class of fifth formers was facing the OSC/MCE
examination. Two certificates were awarded for one examination sitting. It was
the second last year that the OSC was awarded as it was discontinued after
1969.The MCE was also replaced with the equivalent<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia</i> (SPM).</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Due to peer pressure among the hostelresidents, we studied hard
for the examination. Most of us studied late into the night. Towards the end of
the year</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> we could discern each other’s sunken eyes due
to lack of sleep. Particularly noticeable was Ghani Senik's skin which became
so loose that it could be pulled against the flesh. That was really hard work.
I took a much less strenuous approach and did not burn much of the midnight oil
until very near the examination itself. I was too busy with my extra-curricular
activities.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The exam came at the end of the year. We had to sit for the exam
at Sekolah Sultan Abdul Hamid in town. When the result was announced in the
early part of 1969, 13 of us from the hostel passed the exam with a grade one
in at least one or both to be awarded the OSC/MCE certificates. Quite an
achievement for students who were very active in sports and other extracurricular
activities. The hostel provided us with a very conducive environment to develop
ourselves and the best of atmosphere to study.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Armed with our exam results, we went our separate ways in pursuit
of our education and careers in life. Many did very well later in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The old wooden hostel was later demolished and replaced with a new
double</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">storey building. To many of us and former hostel
teachers, the old hostel building was home for some years of our life.
Camaraderie and brotherhood was instilled among us as a family away from home.
Memories of our life then will forever be cherished.<a name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5"
o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:183.6pt;height:244.2pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\LENOVO\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg"
o:title="Hostel Resized"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="326" src="file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image016.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5" width="245" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
1968 Picture. From left to right;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Front
Row: Shafie, Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad, Che Ahmad Che Daud<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Middle
Row: Natpi (deceased), Aziz Ahmad, Abbas Akbar (deceased)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back
row: Bong Lok(deceased), Mohd Nor Hassan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In February 2017, about 70 of us who stayed at the old hostel from
1966 to 1970 were reunited at a gathering held at a hotel in Kota Bharu. Present
as our guests of honour were teachers</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali, Dato Dr. Toh Kin Woon, Mr. G. Thanda, Mr.
Loo Hock Guan and Mrs. Foo (formerly Miss Wong An Yu). It was great to reconnect
and see each other again after a span of almost 50 years.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:294pt;
height:220.2pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\LENOVO\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg"
o:title="From Oppo 7Sept18 778"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="294" src="file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image018.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="392" /><!--[endif]--></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reunion of the SIS Hostel residents (1966
-1970) on 20.02.2017 at Grand Riverview Hotel Kota Bharu.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:273.6pt;height:153.6pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\LENOVO\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image019.jpg"
o:title="From Oppo 7Sept18 780"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="205" src="file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image020.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026" width="365" /><!--[endif]--></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Among the teachers present: Dato’ Dr. Toh
Kin Woon, Puan Wong An Yu, Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali, Mr. G. Thanda and Mr. Loo Hock
Guan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: black; border: none black 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; line-height: 115%; mso-border-alt: none black 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-width: 0%; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:133.8pt;
height:134.4pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\LENOVO\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image021.jpg"
o:title="121715687_10158115053223167_5635184180036737926_o"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="179" src="file:///C:/Users/LENOVO/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image022.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="178" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">The door-gift to commemorate thereunion
of 1966-1970 SIS hostel residents<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-80223956958174288882020-10-25T13:40:00.001+08:002020-10-25T13:40:16.566+08:00<p> This is a sequel from The Outsider In SIS from Mr. Thanda</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The turning point in my
life<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Thanda Govindasamy/Wan Faridah Wan Jaafar<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Big brother approach<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">As earlier
mentioned, I grew up in a multi-racial <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kampong</i>,
and studied in a similar environment in school and college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I became the Hostel Master I was in the
same environment as my growing up years. Race, colour, religion were no
obstacles in performing my duties. All I saw were boys from poverty stricken
areas of poor families. This made me decide, that I am not only a Hostel Master
but an elder brother too to all these growing up kids. I vowed to help them
grow up into responsible and useful citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Food,
their basic need, was there and taken care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guidance was what they needed most. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately the hostel prefects were a great
help. They helped to maintain discipline and made sure that the residents abide
by all regulations and maintain regular study hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these aspects I supported the prefects
whole heartedly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our priorities were
discipline and studies besides sports and games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">When I
faced no problems with race and religious issues, I brought along my younger brother
to study in the school and stay in the hostel. He too never had much problems
in integrating with other residents, though food was a problem for him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minor problems yes but never on race and
religion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Kelantan <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bomoh</i>
debunked<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">My
parents came over for a visit during one of the school holidays and stayed for
two weeks in the hostel. They too were very impressed with what they saw and
felt the simplicity of the people in Pasir Mas, very much similar to the
experience they had in our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kampong</i>
back home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the talk of charm and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bomoh</i> were hearsay and mere stories of
the past. They found the people very friendly and welcoming. Possibly Pasir Mas
folks knew me as a school teacher and that was indeed a big plus when my folks
went about in town. The local people had a real big respect for teachers in those
days unlike nowadays.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Accountability<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I was
often called up by Mr. Ghouse to answer to the hostel management issues; why
the electric and water bills were suddenly too high, why the hostel boys were
too involved in so many games and school activities. He would from time to time
request for students’ school performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Normally I had some ready-made answers to each of those questions. Yet one
morning, I was called up and asked, "Who put my son’s bicycle up on the
tree. It must be your brother. I want it removed, now".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the bicycle was removed but no one
mentioned who did it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till today I still
don't know who did it. When asked, my brother’s response was, “No, I didn’t do
it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hostel boys never snitch on
their friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should any severe
punishment be meted out, it was always the guilty party that owned up to their
wrong doings or being caught red-handed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">There
were times, the teachers staying in the hostel, found their biscuit tins
emptied and fruits or some food missing. We teachers in the hostel, made no big
fuss over the matter. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Siapa lagi</i>?(who
else did it?). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was years later when the
culprit owned up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad, in
his essay, did mention quite a bit of things that happened or things committed
by the hostel boys. But all were done in good spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Pranking the boss<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I have
not told this incident to many but Iam sharing it now for us to share a good laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the year end long November-December
school holidays only the Form 5 boys stayed back because their examinations
were on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I too stayed back to help
supervise them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One weekend, it was
flooding and Mr. Goh, the Officer In Charge of Police District (OCPD) of Pasir
Mas, used to go to flooded areas to help rescue flood victims and
take them to safer areas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One evening we
went out to the Rantau Panjang area. We could not differentiate the road from
the river, but the boatman was real good steering us away from potential
problems. We rescued some people who were desperately waving from roof tops.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">After
the rescue operations we returned to the police station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By then it was about 4 am in the morning. We were
resting in Mr. Goh's house with hot coffee and having breakfast, when I decided
to pull a fast one on the headmaster Mr. Yusoff Ghouse..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">The
hostel was supposed to be a relief centre for flood victims. I picked the phone
and said, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ini panggilan dari Bilik
Operasi, Pejabat Daerah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kami akan
hantar lebih kurang 30 mangsa banjir ke asrama sekolah tuan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tolong bersedia untuk tempatkan mangsa di asrama
tuan</i>”(This is a call from The Operation Room of The District Office. We are
going to send over about 30 flood victims to your school hostel. Please be
ready to place these victims at you hostel). Mr. Yussof Ghouse of course
answered the call at about 5.30 am in the morning and said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ia boleh</i>”(Yes, you can). We knew that
the hostel was supposed to be a flood relief centre.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">After
the call we went back to the hostel. I was reading the papers at about 6.30am,
when Mr. Yusoff Ghouse came and said, “Thanda, about 30 flood victims will be
sent here shortly”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we walked through
the hostel and he gave me instructions, “Lock your area and do make sure that they
only stay inside the hostel. We don’t know who they are or where they are from.
Anyway be careful. Am not sure what time they will come, be prepared to direct
them”. When he left after a few more instructions, I went straight to bed,
feeling sorry for the old man. May his soul rest in peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-44459375758208806932020-10-25T13:35:00.004+08:002020-10-26T07:39:37.647+08:00An Outsider In SIS Pasir Mas<p> This is the story about Mr. Thanda, my former teacher and Hostel Master from Bukit Mertajam Penang who came to teach in a far flung school known as Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School in 1962 immediately after graduating from Malayan Teachers College.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">An Outsider in SIS Pasir
Mas<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Thanda Govindasamy/Wan
Faridah Wan Jaafar<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Racial integration</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">The Kelantanese
are generally friendly and helpful. However, they do keep an arm’s length from
people from outside the state. This is
especially so with people whom they recently meet<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>and
do not know too well. These outsiders
are normally termed as <i>orang luar</i>(outsider). Despite this idiosyncrasy, once an <i>orangluar</i> is accepted, the Kelantanese
will usually embrace an <i>orangluar</i> as
a family member.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I was prepared
for life in this Malay dominated state.
I had a two-year<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>stint at Penang
Malayan Teachers’ Training College, being thrown in the dormitory together with
mostly Malay students from Kelantan, Terengganu and Johore. Furthermore, I had an
early dose of racial integration as I grew up in Kampong Baru, Bukit Mertajam,
Penang. It was multi-racial <i>kampong</i> (village) and people of all
races mixed freely. We assimilated so well that in school, it never crossed my
mind that I must be careful with what said or did, so as not to hurt thefeelings
of friends. Race, religion, culture and food were never issues of concern at
all. Life was easy going for all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">At the
end of our second year in the training college we were given forms to fill. One was for us to indicate where we would
like to be posted to start our teaching career. My Kelantanese friends said to me, “Come to Kelantan”.
So I wrote “Kelantan”. I never told my
parents that I had requested for a Kelantan posting otherwise<span style="color: #00b050;"> </span>they would have freaked out! For whatever reason,
they believed that Kelantan then was not a safe place to be. Those days there were too many stories floating
around of <i>bomohs</i>(shamans) and black
magic practised in these states, especially in Kelantan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">As requested,
I got posted to Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School (SIS), Pasir Mas, Kelantan. I was happy but dared not show how thrilled I
was in front of my parents. Of course my parents were persistent that I appeal
against the posting. I told them that if I were to appeal I might be posted to a
worse town or a more remote village. I must have appeased my parents with that
reasoning for the appeal issue was never again raised.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Getting to Pasir Mas</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">There
was a nationwide railway strike in 1963 and all train services in the country were<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>put on hold. So how was I to get to Pasir Mas then? There
was nobody from my village whom I knew were knowledgeable enough for me to ask about
getting to Pasir Mas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">In
panic, I forgot that schools had already reopened after the December long year
end school holidays. I also forgot that in
Kelantan schools start on Sundays. In desperation, Icalled and spoke to the Principal,
Mr. Yussof Ghouse. He told me that I
should take a flight to Kota Bahru. Flight? ButI have never flown before! After
some inquiries I managed to get a flight to Kota Bahru, but the seat was only
available a week later. The airport was then
in Butterworth. All set, my flight was
on 13<sup>th</sup> January even though schools in Kelantan had reopened on 2<sup>nd</sup>
January. <u>Never did it cross my mind </u>that I was going to a Malay
dominated state with different culture and customs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I
landed in Kota Bharu to be welcomed by my first shower of the heavy northeast
monsoon rain. After asking around, I got into a shared taxi and headed for Pasir
Mas. After over an hour’s ride, the taxi came to an abrupt stop. It stopped near a wide river and while I was
still at a loss as to what to do next, the other passengers got out of the taxi
and rushed to some small motorised boats moored by the jetty near the river
bank. I was told that the school I was headed to was across the river. I had to
get into one of the boats, what the locals called ferry, to cross the river. In
spite of<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>my initial apprehension, we got
across safely and again I looked for a taxi to take me to my final destination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Upon
inquiry, I was instead greeted by good-natured shouts of, “<i>Mana ada teksi</i>? <i>Inilah teksi”,</i>(What
taxi? This is the taxi) from a few men standing under the shade. They were pointing to what were really
trishaws or <i>beca</i>. My first language
lesson of the local dialect! However, I found that the people were very
friendly and helpful, just like what my friends mentioned in college. I relived the <i>teksi</i> ride many times over, a beholding sight it was<span style="color: #0070c0;">!</span> Imagine
tall me fitting into the small <i>teksi</i>
cabin, with my luggage on the cabin floor by my feet and the poor thin <i>teksi</i> rider huffing and puffing across
Pasir Mas town to deliver me to the gates of SIS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">On
entering the school compound I met with two teachers, Mr. V. V.George and Mr.
Leslie Abraham. They showed me to the school hostel as directed by the school Principal.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">A life new chapter</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Came 14<sup>th
</sup>January, I reported to the Principal.
After the formal welcome greetings he directed me to ask Mr. George for
my class timetable. Only then did I
realise that Mr. George was the school Senior Assistant. He had heard a lot about me from Mr. Pang Chok
Chu, who was my college mate. Apparently, Mr. Pang had told Mr. George a great
deal about me; that I was this and that, and could do this and that. Thanks to my absentee introduction, I became a
home teacher, teacher in-charge of the English Literary and Debating Society,
and the Scouts Master to top. <i>Matilah saya!</i>(I am dead!)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Worse of
all, my class was in the afternoon. There goes my time for games. After this initial introduction, I headed
back to the hostel. The hostel residents
were looking strangely at me, as if I had just arrived from Africa! The smaller boys, with all heads popping in
and out of the windows, looked frightened.
It was further terrifying for them to know that all of them were going
to be in the afternoon session class with me!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Next, I
was to enter a strange world, Form 1B, my home class. To my surprise the class had only eight boys
and 16 unruly girls. To every question
of mine, it was the girls who answered.
I told myself that this would not do.
For the first time I became biased against the girls! Just to niggle<span style="color: #00b050;"> </span>the
girls, I chose two of the quietest boys as the class monitor and assistant.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I taught
English to my class and woodwork lessons to all Form 1 class boys. There were two form one classes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">It was
much later when I realised that I had a mixed class of students; a group who
came through bridge class and another from Standard 6 from the neighbouring
English Primary School. A bridge class in
the school was essentially an adjustment class meant for students from
vernacular schools who opted to continue their secondary education at SIS. SIS was then the only English medium
secondary school for the whole district of Pasir Mas. In SIS most of the bridge class students were
from the surrounding Chinese primary schools.
No wonder there was such a vast difference in speech, mannerism and
level of confidence. I decided I had to
do something about this major differences; not according to race, religion and
culture but based more on the confidence level of each student, especially that
of the boys.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">As
months passed by, I managed to get the boys and ex-bridge class students to be
more vocal and participative in class activities. Little did I realise then that these devils I
had would later break the school’s record with their Form 5 examination results<span style="color: #0070c0;">!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">To
those who came through the English primary school, they had<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>Mr. Vijaya to thank for developing their
confidence while in Standard 6. He did a
great job and I was sure of that from the boisterous sample I had in my class. Many still recognised his contributions. Some from the bridge class who<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>also managed to do well in Form 5,<s><span style="color: red;"> </span></s>went on to university to further their studies
and became successful in their chosen careers.
Well done to all my ex-students! Surprisingly one who did not manage to do well
quit school early but later in life was able to build by himself, his own two-storey<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>house in his later years. He is a successful man now, all by his own
making.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Race,
religion and culture were never ever mentioned or uttered in all the six years
I spent in SIS, be it among my colleagues or students. A big <i>syabas
</i>(congratulations) to my ex-students especially the ones who completed their
Form 5 in 1967 and 1968. I had the privilege
to move with the same class from Form 1 to Form 5, except in 1966, when I left
for a one year in-service training course at the Specialist Teachers’ Training
College in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Those
were the days, most memorable, unforgettable and the<span style="color: #0070c0;">
</span>best part of my teaching career and life too. A big thank you to all my good friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">The hostel story</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">My
hostel story is another unforgettable episode of my days in Pasir Mas. My SIS hostel days were so interesting and
memorable, so much so that I am not sure how to start and end writing about all
the experiences that I went through.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Mr.Vijaya,
the Hostel Master, told me frankly, loud and clear that my hostel stay was only
transient. At the most I will be allowed
to stay for another two or three days, after which I would have to move out and
find accommodation elsewhere. When I
returned to the hostel after my first day in school, Mr.Vijaya was waiting for
me, all dressed up<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>to help go look for a
room for me to reside. So we went room
hunting, but no rooms were available.
The few<span style="color: #00b050;"> </span>that we saw, Mr.Vijaya did
not take a liking to them. Privately, I
was happy. This went on for next two or
three days. Fortunately for me, Mr.
Peter Souster started saying, “I don’t mind sharing room with you, further I am
supposed to return to England in August”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">By that
time Mr.Vijaya had taken a liking to me as he found out that we shared common
interests. He asked about his
ex-students who were in my class then.
Our conversations became interesting and Mr.Vijaya suddenly said, “If
Peter doesn't mind, you can continue to stay on”. Peter was happy too because we played the
same games; hockey, cricket and rugby.
We clicked well and what a relief it was for me as I no longer needed to
worry about food, laundry<span style="color: #00b050;"> </span>or transport. What more could I asked for?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Gradually
I got to know some of the bigger hostel boys, especially those who played
games. The feeling that I was accepted
by the Hostel Master and the student residents took a load of pressure and
tension off my shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Yes, I
became part of the hostel and enjoyed every moment of my stay there. Sometime<s>s</s> in June/July, Mr.Vijaya
gained admission to the University of Malaya and Peter left for England in
August. Both left and I was appointed as
the Hostel Master. With the job came the
responsibility. Mr.Yussof Ghouse told me
in no simple term, “You cannot be smiling and just be a good friend to the
boys. These boys are mostly from the <i>kampongs</i> and need to be developed with
proper discipline and mannerism. They
need proper supervision and you have to be strict. Punish them if necessary”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">There
were only three Chinese boys staying in the hostel and one of them was the
school Head Prefect and automatically became the Hostel Head Prefect. This further reinforced<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span>my belief that race, religion and food were not
sensitive issues at all. I had a meeting
with the Head Prefect, got all the information I needed and began the task of
working with the tiniest to the naughtiest.
Soon I found out that the Rantau Panjang gang was calling the shots in
the hostel. Most of the boys from other <i>kampongs</i> were scared of this Rantau Panjang
gang. I got around them by getting these
big Rantau Panjang bullies involved in games.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">The
hostel residents were outstanding in nearly all school activities. I found them well-behaved too. The boys had nothing to complain because they
had four meals a day compared to some of their classmates. They were indeed well fed as just after three
months in the hostel, one could see them gaining weight, looked healthy and
were very active.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">Having
the opportunity to stay in the hostel was indeed a plus point for these
boys. However, these privileges came
with strict conditions. Should they be
caught breaking the hostel rules, they could be expelled. But I do not recall having to dismiss anyone
from the hostel. They were mostly from
poor homes and life in the hostel was more than anyone could ask for, me
included. Similarly, should I fail to perform my duties, I too would
be replaced. This made all of us in the
hostel took our roles seriously. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">An Outsider Accepted</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; line-height: 150%;">I was
the Hostel Master from August 1963 till the end of 1965. In 1966, I was away for a one year in-service
training. Mr. Pang then took over the role
of the Hostel Master. When I returned in
1967, the Principal asked me to take charge of the hostel again. That was a surprise to me. More so of the news of Mr. Pang getting
married and moving to the teachers’ quarters.
I continued to perform the Hostel Master’s duty till the end of 1968. By then I was fully accepted by the students
and especially the hostel residents<span style="color: #0070c0;">,</span> that the
<i>orang luar</i> feeling was all gone. It
was indeed sad when I had to leave the place.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-1621079970273390182020-10-25T08:25:00.002+08:002021-01-27T09:07:28.249+08:00eTak Oh eTok<p> Etak <span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-family: times;">(Corbicula fluminea) Reposting an old article.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn5TQx4rA7k5ruce13w8JDQrQpsIMkS2OD44LiU4PbVZyyZ_SJK-mxjIzLsQOqkO2R0EsTS6RGkKkjV_l1Zawia-6C3w0IRqq-arAVpzp9sfnqbTJzbQ85tSujcHaS5fxmDiC-kB4Fke-/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="628" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn5TQx4rA7k5ruce13w8JDQrQpsIMkS2OD44LiU4PbVZyyZ_SJK-mxjIzLsQOqkO2R0EsTS6RGkKkjV_l1Zawia-6C3w0IRqq-arAVpzp9sfnqbTJzbQ85tSujcHaS5fxmDiC-kB4Fke-/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fresh etak being soaked
in water</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://raykinzoku.fotopages.com/"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Raykinzoku</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> wrote a great
informative piece about etak which he called etok (the way the Kelantanese
called it is somewhere in between etak and etok) in his blog: </span><a href="http://raykinzoku.fotopages.com/?entry=680228"><span style="color: #009900; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Distinctively KeLaTte : ETOK</span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
how Ray describe the etak.<br />
Etok is a small, pebble-sized, freshwater corbicula clam which lives at the
bottom of rivers and canals, alongside scavenging fishes and crustaceans.
Mostly found in the shallows and sandy parts of the river, they are least known
or simply neglected by most Malaysians.<br />
A very apt description. I can't do any better than that. Via his blog we now
know that etok is not only found in Kelantan but also in other states of
Malaysia and as far away as Japan! Only thing I would like to add is it is
found only in fresh waters and it is very sensitive to the quality of the
water.<br />
When I started schooling in 1957, I went to school in Kampong Kangkong about 5
miles from my home in Kg Chekok both in the district of Pasir Mas to live with
my maternal grandparents. The river was our source of life. We get our water
for cooking and drinking from there carrying by the pails. My being small I
have to carry a small container which is a kettle. We depend almost everything
that has got to do with water on the river. Washing, bathing and as the toilet.
A floating raft complete with cubicles with a gunny sack of a curtain as the
door was the public toilet! Transportation back then was by river boat plying
downstream to Pasir Mas and around noon upstream back home. Tarred road only
became available much later.<br />
Above all that we get some of our food like freshwater fish and prawns and etak
from the river too.<br />
Every time we go to the river for whatever activities especially bathing where
we will get wet, we will use the opportunity to collect some etak. Without
the </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pengokok</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, we
either use our hands or feet to search for them. To use the hands was easy
provided the place is muddy and there is no pebbles in that area. Most of such
areas are by the river bank and much deeper than the sandy area. The way we do
it is to dive in and feel for the pebble like etak among the mud and throw them
on the bank or put them in the part of the cloth we wore to cover our 'aurat'.
I was considered too small then and can just dip in without covering the
'aurat'. The etok from muddy areas are usually darker in colour and larger. The
sandy areas where the water flows much faster the etak is of much lighter color
and look very clean.<br />
For the sandy areas usually towards the middle of the river where the water
level is much shallower due to flat sandbank, etak can be collected by shifting
the top 2 or 3 inches of the sand on the river bed to one side using our bare
feet. If the etak were there they would be exposed and become visible to the
naked eye provided the water is clear which was often the case in the olden
days. The water should be shallow enough to bend down like you are in the </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">roko'</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> position when doing the prayers. Another condition is
there must not be ripples on the surface of the water which was usually caused
by the wind if it was a windy day. The ripples will prevent you from seeing the
etak when it was exposed. During the dry spell some parts of the riverbed will
be exposed. If it was recently exposed many etak will still survive and there
are tell tale signs to show where the etak are. Digging it with the finger will
expose it and if it is big enough, it will be collected. If the sandy river bed
is exposed to the sun for too long the etak will die off.<br />
Using the </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pengokok</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> needs
some strength.The </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pengokok</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is
made of metal bars of about 2 mm diameter strung together with wires to form an
open cage attached to a long bamboo or wooden pole for handle like in the
picture below. A bamboo pole is preferred as it is lighter.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE8SywGPM-Pifoyi5NruLNJXFJL9v1uYlap1E_3Rt8-_6-xXnV8ZEKJPayN5pliPJH8gn6SIXm9MiLwsuAuDvIBYCdeMfBmAjW0A2dMk0w2BH3dLNFD_ZhaoVonF78ogswynfAZVsszRl/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE8SywGPM-Pifoyi5NruLNJXFJL9v1uYlap1E_3Rt8-_6-xXnV8ZEKJPayN5pliPJH8gn6SIXm9MiLwsuAuDvIBYCdeMfBmAjW0A2dMk0w2BH3dLNFD_ZhaoVonF78ogswynfAZVsszRl/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Syed Azmi demonstrating
how the pengokok is used</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwuLbmpyv38knyIF2L3dQQk0ZKb6KBGLL6Dk4mxchE5Cj4HsH6zOsOEByGkKLwk5V9i5qV_XDHCbeiBGQcT5RvLdWNPmr9q7Qq81TTjauQJtL3eLk3DEeIVSG4-4jsK580MF5rfq80ubx/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwuLbmpyv38knyIF2L3dQQk0ZKb6KBGLL6Dk4mxchE5Cj4HsH6zOsOEByGkKLwk5V9i5qV_XDHCbeiBGQcT5RvLdWNPmr9q7Qq81TTjauQJtL3eLk3DEeIVSG4-4jsK580MF5rfq80ubx/" width="319" /></a></div><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn63irEo-791Uqaa7TnPsSGKRa1qbjBFpqYfIb8hUNlItx3RBe1A9OjgKdPSkzEYdR3p-ZLNdL4njKGTTdp2Esau4co3bzmhH3z_Il0ihB-oXhhrZOGmVzVP2HjXGTxd4mT6re0AGSwTQK/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn63irEo-791Uqaa7TnPsSGKRa1qbjBFpqYfIb8hUNlItx3RBe1A9OjgKdPSkzEYdR3p-ZLNdL4njKGTTdp2Esau4co3bzmhH3z_Il0ihB-oXhhrZOGmVzVP2HjXGTxd4mT6re0AGSwTQK/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Details of how the pengokok is made</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
It is like a sieve to filter out the smaller sands and keep the etak inside.
Some pebbles that are larger than the gaps between the metal sieve will also be
retained. At the stage where the etok and pebbles are caught in the </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pengokok</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, an expert can segregate
the etak from the pebbles using the principle of differences of specific
gravity between the etok and the pebbles and the water flowing through the
sieve. While the non expert will have to collect the etak by sight. In places
where the sand is fine, only the etak will remain in it.<br />
My activities of collecting etok ceased after I went to an English school in
Pasir Mas. The occassional weekend trip home didn't provide enough time for
such activities. Only after 1981 when I started working with Kumpulan Fima and
based in Kuala Besut that I began to go to Sungai Besut to collect the etak. The
locals there who were mostly descendents from Kelantan knows how to collect and
consume etak. So whenever I feel like having etak, a trip to the river near Kg
Amir will yield enough etak for my small family.<br />
Later in 1996 when we moved into our own house in Kg. Kasa, Pasir Mas that we
were able to enjoy etak again. Kampong Kasa is located on the bank of Sungai
Kelantan and lots of etak were found. They were gathered and cooked by roasting
it on a small fire after marinating it in a paste made of salt, blended with
lemon grass, shallots, ginger and garlic. I suspect monosodium glutamate is
lavishly added. Some may deny using it entirely to entice those non MSG
consuming etok lovers. The marinating process takes at least an hour.<br />
Before marinating the etak it must be washed clean and soaked in clean water.
The soaking will make the etak purge all sand particles and mud within itself
which may make it feel gritty when eating it if it is not totally purged.
Soaking it over a minimum of 3 hours is necessary and overnight will be best.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5l6ObPFhEZ30VOAuaOL94mdgh6JkcqOxhdHxtisDbTj5eefvliD1-PeKolOPGHzEmi4a_D9CQvubksnYb6t0Qm4LzCSI88ldsMReTJb6v1PqlCc2yGrKguYFgunlDJwEMKm8ye10ctYf/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5l6ObPFhEZ30VOAuaOL94mdgh6JkcqOxhdHxtisDbTj5eefvliD1-PeKolOPGHzEmi4a_D9CQvubksnYb6t0Qm4LzCSI88ldsMReTJb6v1PqlCc2yGrKguYFgunlDJwEMKm8ye10ctYf/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Washing the etak</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfmR6dxGQ2pw-euHHYqLp-VxaTyyh5x3mmQwJ4xhMu86iFKdkPj6iXnDo7tlxrIkNHDpZDHBHV5U8s79n20p9JJcy47ceD-_-tCu0HJZ1XFjrMwfU45JuI8SBS9dgyr0XCRNK-9x6zvL0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfmR6dxGQ2pw-euHHYqLp-VxaTyyh5x3mmQwJ4xhMu86iFKdkPj6iXnDo7tlxrIkNHDpZDHBHV5U8s79n20p9JJcy47ceD-_-tCu0HJZ1XFjrMwfU45JuI8SBS9dgyr0XCRNK-9x6zvL0/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Roasting platform</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCBp_5e4CSbvMDrAaZ-X7-wRrbSg4Yk67Ty1U0dJq02PuWE2ZduepKd5aFp7_FHo1JivwiqsSz75i07F6xP0lBWdqVA4i75T6fD-cWqmxhM7gr92sXzD8kqMH7ev2zHMoXQuMM8GLEQR7/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCBp_5e4CSbvMDrAaZ-X7-wRrbSg4Yk67Ty1U0dJq02PuWE2ZduepKd5aFp7_FHo1JivwiqsSz75i07F6xP0lBWdqVA4i75T6fD-cWqmxhM7gr92sXzD8kqMH7ev2zHMoXQuMM8GLEQR7/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lighting
the fire.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
As Ray correctly said it, etak are mainly used as light snack but some people
use it as appetizer to go with their rice ecpecially nasi kerabu. It can also
be taken as lauk which I will describe later.<br />
Roasting over a small fire on a platform raised 2.5 feet above the floor. The
platform is made of long split bamboo pieces spaced close enough to each other
to prevent the etak from slipping through. Over a slow fire the etok are
constanly turned with a piece of plank attached to a wooden handle. The
constant turning over is necessary to ensure evenness of exposure to the heat
below. An hour of roasting is enough. Overheating or too long an exposure can
result in the split up and the flesh to dry up and become less succulent. If
there are extremely large etak in the mix, they must be separated and roasted
first before adding the rest to it.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTexnYL53JLcT7JJBtkPsaynMd4TsFVaJQhHE28IqnKZr7Sjy8TKFN0wv9oJ7zZfuOuRZDONXPE8U-ZtiWuPAdlz7dyggSjIaV6sdnwPoFqF31Mx5wgYUYaylhGCCW2_9eIaKnIRWoqJF/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTexnYL53JLcT7JJBtkPsaynMd4TsFVaJQhHE28IqnKZr7Sjy8TKFN0wv9oJ7zZfuOuRZDONXPE8U-ZtiWuPAdlz7dyggSjIaV6sdnwPoFqF31Mx5wgYUYaylhGCCW2_9eIaKnIRWoqJF/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Turning ove the etak</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<br />
Other than roasting over a fire, the etak can also be roasted in the hot sun.
Some people love it that way. This way will ensure that the flesh will be
succulent enough. For those who make a living out of roasting and selling etok,
the sun is not a reliable source of heat and the timing isn't suitable.
Grilling job must be finished by the latest at 11 am for them to start selling.<br />
Roasted etak or etak </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">salai</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> as
the local term for it is highly hygroscopic due to the salt coating on its
shell. The best container to keep it is a </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">badang</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> which has more surface area or a </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bakul</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. A </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">badang</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is
best. Both are made of plaited bamboo slices and so has better breathing
quality compared to metal containers. Thus the etok will not become wet too
soon due to the hygroscopic nature of the salt coating it. If metal containers
are to be used, absorbing materials are necessary to be placed on the container
before putting the etak in it.<br />
<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ7nRb6_VIYgy5HeugTuFC6-sLyYWc4TxW_U5dozTdXzacwCdZy3XJoF8PR-XMGzD2OJyJvp0L0s_dy2elSk5icWDV0p-vf053bpu_GIYuJ_25vZyu4fK7V_vS4-j9ximpV6JE5sfudkB/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ7nRb6_VIYgy5HeugTuFC6-sLyYWc4TxW_U5dozTdXzacwCdZy3XJoF8PR-XMGzD2OJyJvp0L0s_dy2elSk5icWDV0p-vf053bpu_GIYuJ_25vZyu4fK7V_vS4-j9ximpV6JE5sfudkB/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A badang</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYcPzWsXLomvEWiOWpAyYs5v8rI4ZCE9f8sj3RtmjDzmUMIP6v_aPoO2f22wLsQGcgspxM8EOf_2Q-zZyjBdwVtEvKtRPV7XtgFqrRRUgek2z2qN15kILRGyV0cHEFdQiflCw_IVlbENm/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYcPzWsXLomvEWiOWpAyYs5v8rI4ZCE9f8sj3RtmjDzmUMIP6v_aPoO2f22wLsQGcgspxM8EOf_2Q-zZyjBdwVtEvKtRPV7XtgFqrRRUgek2z2qN15kILRGyV0cHEFdQiflCw_IVlbENm/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Etak in a badang</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Newspapers being very good material to absorb moisture is the
best material to use as wrappers. Unfortunately the ink used for printing is
hazardous to health and the sellers are often reminded by health inspectors to
refrain from using newspapers as wrappers. If you care for your health, better
don't buy them when they are wrapped in newspapers. If you still have to use
newspapers, quickly transfer them to some other containers so as not to allow
the newspaper ink to stick to the shell of the etak.<br />
Etak salai can be taken as snack or as </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">lauk</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> with rice be it </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">nasi kerabu</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">nasi putih</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxIRRCtS9sNWmF_PWp9t3GoIYbKlKjFyg2ZLx2MIvcyf7-eyXG_yApugjkp9ZODPW2efNNfEuZPZfaZGbwhCg2nTWQL3bgP4KvAhouQUqPegYkgUnAwk8eBUYOaHb-Yc78xC1rM-scYg5/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxIRRCtS9sNWmF_PWp9t3GoIYbKlKjFyg2ZLx2MIvcyf7-eyXG_yApugjkp9ZODPW2efNNfEuZPZfaZGbwhCg2nTWQL3bgP4KvAhouQUqPegYkgUnAwk8eBUYOaHb-Yc78xC1rM-scYg5/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Etak salai showing the succulent flesh.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Beside roasting, etok are also consumed by making it into a dish called sayur
etok where the gravy becomes opaque like, after adding pounded shallots, garlic
and crushed lemon grass with salt and sugar to taste. MSG can be used instead
of sugar. For etak masak lemak, santan is used instead of plain water as in the
case of sayur etak. Why the word </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">sayur</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> etak
is used by the Kelantanese really confounds me. It must be the misuse of the
word like they say makan air or makan rokok. </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Makan angin</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is of course a
different matter altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEapXn9yrotxapl7F7MslONbSAvIua8itKn17DcSuJKHDLGBvN1Ot_6GYAoy5Lg1ILFdwBph2ANQyerALjMEa4ZdSX6jljZIj6LqSFFzLmFexyg9xmejLVl60T5TUTZdY8Q0b2Qb4jDhL/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEapXn9yrotxapl7F7MslONbSAvIua8itKn17DcSuJKHDLGBvN1Ot_6GYAoy5Lg1ILFdwBph2ANQyerALjMEa4ZdSX6jljZIj6LqSFFzLmFexyg9xmejLVl60T5TUTZdY8Q0b2Qb4jDhL/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Etak sayur</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9NzWyxinxAgSJcw7EoW1e6Yiy6eYVJILHT46V3vWl6sozhYpSv_2SbwebCBVJwVTGotZCEJAHb8MY3GB3AqLJSRiUVmRT5EfuoJ-W0N5UvwsZtejAEtqAtqvqeLvAEAkbB_H-z6zz3_Z/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9NzWyxinxAgSJcw7EoW1e6Yiy6eYVJILHT46V3vWl6sozhYpSv_2SbwebCBVJwVTGotZCEJAHb8MY3GB3AqLJSRiUVmRT5EfuoJ-W0N5UvwsZtejAEtqAtqvqeLvAEAkbB_H-z6zz3_Z/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Etak masak lemak</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Eating </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">sayur</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> etok
or etok </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">masak lemak</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is
easy as the shell will be split open when subjected to heat but eating etok
salai is a different ball game altogether. To retain the flesh succulent, the
shell must not be allowed to split. If it is splitted, the flesh will dry up.<br />
Lots of practice is required to acquire the skill to open the shell of the
etak. Unlike the cockles which merely needs sufficient force to open them, the
etak is too small and smooth to grip the shell the way you do to cockles. The
regular eaters will just use their teeth to split them using the incisors (the
front teeth) without breaking the two sides apart. The shell should open
outward with the hinged part intact. The next act is to suck out the flesh from
the inner side of the shell. The ingredients sticking to the external part of
the shell will give flavour to the flesh. That is why splitting it with the
teeth always taste better.<br />
Those without the incisors or using dentures can still enjoy etak </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">salai</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> as there are other means of opening it. Ray's mother
taught him how to use the knife to open the shell to save his teeth from
wearing out faster. In Ray's case his mother taught him to scrape the edge of
the etak to reveal the slit between the two sides. Inserting the blade of the
knife and twisting the blade to either side will open the shell. In my case I
will just put the knife blade across the slit and slowly turning the blade to
align with the slit with a little pressure will make the blade penetrate the
slit. A slight twist of the blade will open up the shell.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1hdGSANIlneLzhpjXFVyg_bUPusJgd-RpCJlXL3xriQtdRA2k8DVOyxaTSfOsMqE6PpTtAe5UT3AduSrQfQNstYYPBf38SisNi8TSzevBVPVMjsJHhNp0pGphxroHOsCixBHquk-KE-/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1hdGSANIlneLzhpjXFVyg_bUPusJgd-RpCJlXL3xriQtdRA2k8DVOyxaTSfOsMqE6PpTtAe5UT3AduSrQfQNstYYPBf38SisNi8TSzevBVPVMjsJHhNp0pGphxroHOsCixBHquk-KE-/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Using the knife to open the shell</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<br />
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VnjU239Gxyn4gZq-TYZzaQlTXSzCwsMjzACRd2GYYSHmIcIW4lzaUFKDyhRYVRz1_RSXXh4sqOZQedQco4D19vDwFMCXzy4eAKRwrcsAODQkbBra6MlPcZ24asYjnCqd7X_BMwIm8cbx/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VnjU239Gxyn4gZq-TYZzaQlTXSzCwsMjzACRd2GYYSHmIcIW4lzaUFKDyhRYVRz1_RSXXh4sqOZQedQco4D19vDwFMCXzy4eAKRwrcsAODQkbBra6MlPcZ24asYjnCqd7X_BMwIm8cbx/" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Using
half a shell</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<br />
If you don’t have a knife around, using one half of the shell can be a
substitute for the knife. Using the sharp edge of the shell, use it the same
way as a knife. With some practice, it will get just as good as a knife and
less dangerous.<br />
My two grand daughters Lis 8 years old and As 6 yrs from Puchong which I used
to call </span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Budak Puchong</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in
my earlier blogs is back in Pasir Mas for 2 months. We have introduced them to
etak salai and they are learning up on how to open up the etak with their
teeth. For the moment they could open them but the shells spilt apart. Give
them a bit more time they will soon get the hang of it.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjctZjTxK6faoyPgzLTP_DYQdcx7dECnoHTEEN83fYXVxcIC-52fEKZYZETn6kaEebxaRYYbpdy276QiLYeHJmIY-xaL8x9nfw3M_i-BXW3qwXwBHjqeNcBH_sUwsSH8DQopRVRk7HDSKv/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjctZjTxK6faoyPgzLTP_DYQdcx7dECnoHTEEN83fYXVxcIC-52fEKZYZETn6kaEebxaRYYbpdy276QiLYeHJmIY-xaL8x9nfw3M_i-BXW3qwXwBHjqeNcBH_sUwsSH8DQopRVRk7HDSKv/" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lis and her sister As
enjoying etak</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Etak salai can be
purchased in many places like the markets and roadsides. Near my home in
Kampung Kasar there is a special gerai constructed by the Majlis Bandaran Pasir
Mas solely to sell etak. Unfortunately not many sellers prefer the place and
only one or two sellers use the place. Others prefer their own spots down the
road.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouysYfkDEaZF-NXktVCmw_Mujah-3rLkqA_FYOJcji-4DZBH__t-iXx8ijFfua9CgpWDFdvy6ONaZEEEax4a_-V3SD_W1CVlHA6YbIPLh2nMKmYQwNbnlmtLi0uDj0-thWOeGTnVrMPUn/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="404" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouysYfkDEaZF-NXktVCmw_Mujah-3rLkqA_FYOJcji-4DZBH__t-iXx8ijFfua9CgpWDFdvy6ONaZEEEax4a_-V3SD_W1CVlHA6YbIPLh2nMKmYQwNbnlmtLi0uDj0-thWOeGTnVrMPUn/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeSdig5Z1f9E51mpJcKaT4C4LxViLYGNu_8GMH5b-A6ev6hFFmJZLXFDBhOn-NlYlqI0oCvjDVTzLKvZGVS8sFenIYI1ft8mu6bEV1L7Bg5CeEYTcY5vBWxd27rTlvWVH0AIfc_vH6NRp/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeSdig5Z1f9E51mpJcKaT4C4LxViLYGNu_8GMH5b-A6ev6hFFmJZLXFDBhOn-NlYlqI0oCvjDVTzLKvZGVS8sFenIYI1ft8mu6bEV1L7Bg5CeEYTcY5vBWxd27rTlvWVH0AIfc_vH6NRp/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kYynNvxuRySalo0H32UgT3p02pA2wVxgTDHpoQhtM3pNZTj2qMY-gSSSYUOxTsu4MAh8AGrvCcd5M7lbTcdz-AZatHG-WDVXoQCL1_k7uZdWLvbKJw8heSKrp-Pl-V-P6hXH_ZExjTgH/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="404" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kYynNvxuRySalo0H32UgT3p02pA2wVxgTDHpoQhtM3pNZTj2qMY-gSSSYUOxTsu4MAh8AGrvCcd5M7lbTcdz-AZatHG-WDVXoQCL1_k7uZdWLvbKJw8heSKrp-Pl-V-P6hXH_ZExjTgH/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mak Su Minah selling etak</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I first returned in Pasir
Mas in 1996, etok was still available in the Kelantan river. A few years later
they were not there anymore. What happened?<br />
I asked Syed Azmi a regular etak gatherer whose livelihood solely depends on
etak. He said etak disappeared from the Kelantan river some years back. The
reasons was the proliferation of the use of chemicals to catch </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">udang galah</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the fresh water prawns.
The other reason is the many sand mining operations along the river. The spawns
of the etak were sucked up by the powerful water pumps used to suck up the sand
being mined.<br />
So where does the etak come from now?<br />
He said he has to go everywhere as far as Pekan in Pahang, Terengganu, Sungai
Sayong in Kota Tinggi Johor and Perak to get his supplies. He will go in a mini
lorry with his other brothers and brother in law. They now know where the
locations are and every trip will secure about 100 kg. His own need is about 30
kg per day so he had to store them somewhere. Earlier they tried putting them
in the Kelantan river and harvest them again for use on the day itself. To his
consternation he found that only 50 percent survived. That was a heavy price to
pay. Now he kept them under refrigeration. At RM8.00 a kg, his loss was quite
substantial.<br />
A commentator at Ray's blog said etak was a nuisance at his place in Pahang.
During the dry season they had this vast expanse of flat sandbar near they
village which they use as a football field. They even call it the stadium. The
problem is the dead etak leave behind sharp shells that often cut up the
players feet as 'beach soccer' is of course played bare footed in his kampong
in Pahang. He is appealing to anybody to come and harvest all the etak from his
place. It will be a gold mine to people like Syed Azmi if he were to know the
place. Unfortunately Pahang banned etak gathering as etak is considered as food
for their fresh water fish.<br />
The only solution is to educate the people there on how to consume etak. Once
they have acquired the taste, they will harvest them for their own consumption.
Another way is to teach them how to harvest the etak and sell them in Kelantan.
It will be an economic activity and contribute to their income. Hey isn't that
an easy way to make money?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-24501456899839956902020-10-24T17:37:00.005+08:002020-10-25T15:13:53.509+08:00My Hostel Life In SIS Pasir Mas.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1JCZZypHEzqplKuSudpZcr96R6H35xm_H-w9pNrdiIixCyYRvV8C8jdzsXIWHPYje0r1WFhaNAvY6vnwfeLGHYiNH5lT78EygR1_Kbx1HPANyi9inBNzHNNYkJTm3MOPeCDB72IMtfyn/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="531" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1JCZZypHEzqplKuSudpZcr96R6H35xm_H-w9pNrdiIixCyYRvV8C8jdzsXIWHPYje0r1WFhaNAvY6vnwfeLGHYiNH5lT78EygR1_Kbx1HPANyi9inBNzHNNYkJTm3MOPeCDB72IMtfyn/" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The door-gift to commemorate the reunion of 1966-1970 SIS hostel residents.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hostel Life in the 1960s at Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">By Mohamad Zawawi
Ahmad</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">1968 Alumni<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Prologue</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Accommodation was a major problem for outstation students
attending the only English medium school, Sultan Ibrahim School in Pasir Mas in
the 60’s. Public transport then was inefficient and not many people could
afford personal conveyance like cars, motorcycles or even bicycles like the
present day. The solution to such a problem was to find accommodation in a
relative’s house near the school (if you have any willing to provide), share renting
accommodations with other school friends or stay in the school hostel. In my
case, I experienced all the earlier
mentioned form of accommodations until 1963 until I moved to the school hostel in
1963 while I was in Primary 6 at Sultan Ibrahim Primary School. My
accommodation reverted to the rented house again from 1964 to the middle of
1967 when reverted to staying in the hostel again until the end of my schooling
days at Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School in 1968.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Life in the Hostel in 1963<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My elder brother who was a teacher, suggested to my parents that I
should stay in the hostel in order to enjoy a better living condition that will
provide a more conducive environment for me to study. He agreed to support me
with a monthly allowance of RM20 of which RM15will go to pay for the hostel fee
while the remainder was for pocket my money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was easy for me to gain permission to stay in the school hostel
as the Hostel Master then, a Mr. Vijaya Samaravickrama, a Kirby trained
teacher, was my Standard 6A class teacher at Sultan Ibrahim Primary School. He
nodded to say yes after a verbal request in class.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So on the same day I carried all my worldly belongings comprising
the essentials; a mattress, a pillow, a single size white bed sheet, a pillow
case and other personal things, to the school hostel. A fork and spoon was a
must have as eating with fingers was not allowed, especially for dinner. I had
to take a trishaw ride from my previous rented home shared with my cousins and
friends at Lorong Pak Nik Man, not very far from the hostel. The bundle of
kapok mattress wrapped in a reed mat was too big for a small me to carry and
hence the need for the conveyance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
hostel was located within the school fenced-up compound just next to the school
field and adjacent to the school buildings.
It was a single storey wooden building panted in light blue color equipped with thirty plus double decker Vono steel spring
beds. The beds were arranged in two rows
in a hall making a dormitory. Each of us was assigned a cabinet or a smaller
locker placed above the cabinet. Being a newbie with very little possessions, I
got a small locker.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The same hostel catered for both the primary and the secondary schools.
As such there was a mix of students, the smallest being from Primary 1 and the
biggest being from Form 5 of the secondary school. Either big or small we were all
given the same treatment including doing toilet cleaning and watering the hostel
landscape plants on a rotational basis. We had a mix of various ethnicities
with Malays being the majority, a few Chinese, an Indian and a Thai all living
harmoniously together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1963 Lee Eh Hock who was both the school and hostel Head Boy,
his brother Lee Eh Hong and Lee Boon Lai and another Chinese boy from Tanah
Merah (whose name I could not remember),were the Chinese residents at that time.
G. Palanivel, the younger brother of Mr. G. Thanda whom he had brought along to
study at the school, and little Nik Chanon made up the sole Indian and Thai resident
respectively.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Living in the hostel was the most memorable part of my life. Food,
though some complained of not being tasty, was in abundance and we had four
square meals daily. This was something I could only dream of outside the hostel
or even in my own home in the village. Meals consisted of breakfast, lunch, tea
and dinner. Table manners, especially at dinner time, were strictly observed. Loud
talking and sharp clacking of forks and spoons against the plates often resulted
in sharp rebukes from the Prefect’s table and pin drop silence ensued. For the first time in my life too I learnt
that burping in the presence of others was bad manners. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Till this day I vividly remember the life we lived in the hostel. Life
in the hostel was bliss. It was the life
of brotherhood, irrespective of your skin color or religion. There was bullying
from the seniors and but we the small
kids were left much to ourselves provided we do not break any rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Regular night study hours, or preparatory class or better known as
prep time started from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.
Several school classes were expended as prep classes. Lights were switched off as we readied for
bedtime at 11.00 pm. However, those who were in major examination year were
allowed to stay up to study for as long as they wish.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Making up bed was the most important ritual in the morning. An
inspection by the hostel prefect on duty with everyone standing by their beds
ensured that all beds were made before residents were allowed to go for breakfast.
Bed sheet must be unruffled and the sides firmly tucked under the mattress.
Dirty bed sheets will not be tolerated. The blankets must also be neatly folded
and placed at the feet end of the bed. Anybody who failed to make up their beds
will be punished. Normally they were made
to clean the toilets the next day, much to the delight of the persons on roster
duty assigned to do the job. The toilets were also inspected too to ensure that
those on roster duty did it properly. Failure means having to repeat the
cleaning before being allowed to go for breakfast. The prefect may also
announce locker inspection and everyone were to stand by their lockers for this
purpose. This ensured that lockers were neatly kept at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The harshest physical punishment meted out by the hostel prefect
was for those punished was to crawl under the steel double decker bed. With
just about a one and a half feet clearance from the floor and having to crawl
under 15 beds from end to end, any knocks of the head against the steel frame
can be very painful. The agony of the crawling was not as bad as the bruise to
your pride as you were being watched by the rest of the residents including the
small urchins from the primary school. Such punishment was meted for the most severe
breach of the hostel rules, such as being caught smoking cigarettes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Hostel Master could mete out an even worse punishment like
expelling residents from the hostel. Once a senior resident returning from a
night out for a <i>dikir barat </i>performance
outside the school compound, found his beddings missing. To his dismay, at
daybreak, he found his beddings at the foot of the hostel steps. He had been unceremoniously
expelled from the hostel and had to find accommodation elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Such were the regulations in the hostel. The hostel prefects were
the enforcer and not many dared to break the rules. That was how we were
disciplined in those days.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Very few of us could afford to send our clothes to be washed by
the cleaners. We washed our own clothes and weekends were washing days for
most. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Friendly Quarrels and Mischief.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My most unforgettable incident that year was when I set a ‘booby
trap’ to catch the person(s) who had been lying on my bed when I went for class
in the morning. The bed was not remade after I returned from morning class. Due to the shortage of classrooms in the secondary
school, students of the lower forms had to attend the afternoon session class.
It was twice that somebody from the afternoon session had been sleeping on my
bed after I left for school. Upon the advice of a friend, Abdul Halim Abbas, I
planted a pin in my kapok mattress with the sharp end barely protruding from
the mattress. Abdul Halim had even lent me the pin. If anybody were to sleep on
that bed after that, he would have a painful prick on his back. True enough
when I returned from school in the afternoon my bed sheet was disheveled and
the pin was roughly pulled out from the mattress leaving a small torn hole. The
trap worked! I know I now had to face the wrath of the person involved. I was
in fear but there was nothing much I could do about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When the afternoon session students returned, I was confronted by
the student who had been my victim. My victim turned out to be the person who
had been the nicest of person to me. He was Wan Hussin Wan Ali! I was expecting
a whacking from him but when told the reason for my placing the pin in my bed, he
felt guilty himself and the matter was laid to rest. I was so relieved that I
slept well that night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Later in life when I met Wan Hussin and related to him about the
incident, he could not even remember it. I guess the pain was not bad enough to
merit a space in his memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Though the camaraderie and brotherhood were evident among the residents,
some serious quarrels did occur. Two such quarrels that led to a fight happened
between Lee Eh Hong and Aziz and another one between students from the higher
forms. Two boys had ganged up on another person. I did not know the reasons
behind their quarrels and only knew about the two fights on the night itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">For some reasons, Aziz had challenged Lee Eh Hong to a fight which
was accepted by Lee Eh Hong. It was to be on the hostel free night. The area decided
for the fight was at the back of the hostel where there was open. It was a
secluded and dark place and not visible to outsiders especially the teachers. The bare fist fight was watched by most of
the of the residents who knew about it including Lee Eh Hong’s brother, Lee Eh
Hock(the Head boy). We all watched from
a distance and nobody interfered.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee Eh Hong had earlier borrowed a Buddhist amulet from Nik
Chanon, the Thai boy. With the amulet in his mouth, Lee Eh Hong fought like a
man possessed. He clearly had the upper hand and Aziz took a beating. When it
was obvious that Aziz was losing the fight, a ring of boys hiding in the
darkness of the night appeared from around the fringe of the fighting area.
They were led by a Hamzah Hussein, an ex-student who led his gang of gangsters
from outside the hostel. Sensing danger to himself, Lee Eh Hong shouted at the
top of his voice that that fight was supposed to be a one to one fight and no
one else should interfere. Fearing that the loud shouts would bring out the
Headmaster from his living quarters nearby, everybody dispersed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In the other fight the lanky guy had given the two opponents a
good beating. Again Hamzah Hussein and
his gang came to the hostel at night and beat up the lanky guy in the
hostel. Fortunately Mr. Vijaya heard the
commotion and everyone quieted down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hamzah Hussin had to call for a truce after the lanky guy sought
the help of his relatives from Sungai Golok, Thailand who came to the hostel to
warn the feuding duo. Peace was restored.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I would consider raiding the teachers’ left over dinner as some mischief
by some seniors. The hostel kitchen did
provide food for the resident teachers. Every day a worker from the kitchen by
the name of Ahmad Danial would deliver food for the teachers and set them up on
a table in the teachers’ side of the hostel. The food were slightly of better
quality than those provided for us. The teachers’
room was accessible from the dorm. It was via this door that some seniors would
sneak in to take the food. It would be alright should these raids happened
after the teachers already had their meals and only leftovers were taken but
sometimes they were late for their dinner. After such a raid, those teachers
who have yet to take their meal, had to walk to town for their dinner. On one
occasion, the teachers set a trap to catch the raiders but the raiders were
usually on the alert and avoided being caught. Those naughty boys.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sometime in the middle of the year, Mr. Vijaya, left the school
and the hostel for what we believed was going for his university studies. Mr.
Thanda Govindasamy, another hostel resident teacher, was appointed as the
Hostel Master filling the vacancy left by Mr. Vijaya.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmGsc0UJq90-0rKJyLupHOX0s48H9x_TIh8AE084yjl35872RC6w3dew561vHmkirvhBdnlIhKco84xxbrf9unJyHqT1uksmj8d57iuFvtLwnbL5vE8oULKB2iYQBq0t2ykGhDtX9nNZ8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="628" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmGsc0UJq90-0rKJyLupHOX0s48H9x_TIh8AE084yjl35872RC6w3dew561vHmkirvhBdnlIhKco84xxbrf9unJyHqT1uksmj8d57iuFvtLwnbL5vE8oULKB2iYQBq0t2ykGhDtX9nNZ8/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">A 1963 picture of the hostel dwellers with Mr. Thanda (Hostel
Master) and Mr. Peters (a Peace Corp Volunteer) flanking Lee Eh Hock, the School cum Hostel Headboy. The primary school students sat cross legged in
the front row with yours truly seated directly in front of Mr. Peters.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I left the hostel after the Standard Six examination and at the
commencement of the end of year school holidays. My reason for leaving was
because I could no longer afford the RM15 monthly hostel fee as my brother who
had been supporting me was getting married. Even though RM15 was dirt cheap as
it covered all the meals and the roof we were under, but for poor families like
mine, it was a small fortune to be paid out on a monthly basis. I went to stay
with my sister who was studying in the same school but renting a house with her
friends.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_mAjG6P226T7PIPI13vg-KOZ6jqYAGlFN6dFmDsvpcgjwcjOK9TtHdJ9TGExntel9DalFtqpFaFTZsCj0ZXVNY1wkCxcdVT7cUatIAUA45wQqGQw5nLXVhyzksttPyhv5nGExjUboO2p/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="574" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_mAjG6P226T7PIPI13vg-KOZ6jqYAGlFN6dFmDsvpcgjwcjOK9TtHdJ9TGExntel9DalFtqpFaFTZsCj0ZXVNY1wkCxcdVT7cUatIAUA45wQqGQw5nLXVhyzksttPyhv5nGExjUboO2p/" width="181" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Seniors
enjoying their free time. Recognizable in the above picture:</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Sitting
on the grass from L – R, Mohd Ariffin Ibrahim, Wan Kassim (Dato’), Wan Ismail
Wan Ali (Headboy)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Standing:
L – R Mohd Husin, Nik Mahmood, Halim and Hassan Mamat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn1aZPlMG8B5Yb-mC5GKxlrs_diS3wvLPrX7YxRwDFimpkjCNdFA-jF9h-yRlVccIgntZcXQh85VN297cbsvPdwtlgNJpLFCFCNyW_ufJI-T9yvGAbGyCi0g_RRAbLT91gjr2riUhML83/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="566" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn1aZPlMG8B5Yb-mC5GKxlrs_diS3wvLPrX7YxRwDFimpkjCNdFA-jF9h-yRlVccIgntZcXQh85VN297cbsvPdwtlgNJpLFCFCNyW_ufJI-T9yvGAbGyCi0g_RRAbLT91gjr2riUhML83/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Hostel residents at their leisure time. Behind them were the cabinets and lockers lined
along the corridor where the residents belongings were kept.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Life in the Hostel in 1967</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My second stay in the hostel was in 1967. My classmate Ashaari Amin was instrumental in
getting me to return to the school hostel. Prior to that I was staying with my
foster mother on the fringe of Pasir Mas town. We were in Form 4 then. Reading
story books was my main passion then compared to preparing for my examinations.
Since the Overseas School Certificate
(OSC)/Malaysian School Certificate(MCE) examination was only due in 1968, I
thought preparing for the examination can be done during the examination year
itself. During a Biology discussion, Ashaari asked me to describe the
alimentary system. He was horrified to know that I could not describe it. The
alimentary system was elementary to students of a science class who were due to
sit for the OSC/MCE examination in slightly less than a year's time. He
immediately asked me to move into the hostel and promised to talk to the hostel
master for a place for me. I definitely was qualified to stay in the hostel
with my home located 10 miles away, compared to Ashaari whose home was just a mile
away from the school gate. A short letter addressed to the Hostel Master, Mr.
G. Thanda, and handing the letter personally to him was all it took to enable
me to join the hostel life for the second time. I cannot recall the exact date
of my return to the hostel nor could I recall how I carried my beddings and few
belongings to the hostel. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UC6AO1fV6CqnpMHdRwEVz_sk1eKhHBY0AXIqJumGRtV84dU9sK3TWH49rMzo1AqrTZOF_fkq64Sr2-wfyEdkf76Wsp7pk09KtFDM-BpLdgAInNdP9kL163jdJF8HD3vImWB8QO7KdMGN/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="628" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UC6AO1fV6CqnpMHdRwEVz_sk1eKhHBY0AXIqJumGRtV84dU9sK3TWH49rMzo1AqrTZOF_fkq64Sr2-wfyEdkf76Wsp7pk09KtFDM-BpLdgAInNdP9kL163jdJF8HD3vImWB8QO7KdMGN/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Some of
the hostel boys in 1967 or earlier</span></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Squatting
L – R Awang Che Seman, Suhaimi Jaafar, Unknown, Aziz Ahmad, Noorudin Ramli,
Unknown.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Standing
L – R Ghani Senik, Muhamad Jusoh, Mahmood Awang Kechik (Dato’ Dr.) Abbas Akbar(deceased)
Bong Lot (deceased), Unknown, Rahim Jusoh (deceased), Che Ahmad Che Daud.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gdJbTgEgqpPPbgwfs5eu0lE0AWtGtDURojCtLfaNBodoS2Dq8wbRjY0JtQ2jg6bA1ioSo6KaYWfxfYyU5EH9RVsy5o93X8AIv3NKrP2GXBv54LIxgGa7KcsSRINJ_R5ZL7LbYeCXBTCW/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="627" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gdJbTgEgqpPPbgwfs5eu0lE0AWtGtDURojCtLfaNBodoS2Dq8wbRjY0JtQ2jg6bA1ioSo6KaYWfxfYyU5EH9RVsy5o93X8AIv3NKrP2GXBv54LIxgGa7KcsSRINJ_R5ZL7LbYeCXBTCW/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">A 1967or
earlier picture of the hostel residents on one of their free days. Only three
persons can be identified, Wan Kassim(Dato’<a name="_GoBack"></a>), Abbas Akbar
(deceased)and Ariffin Ibrahim.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd02R8s5NjSTHa7PNeXu0PJ0UYo4YIarJOqHhRYrT9458Ooe8JeAbewU3tqW75ne7oPshDuMdlzYP20jUFAfFMShE71LRM8yCHJZ0FZmtr8PXWa8CJZx_aOaefuQWdpm9T4zV3idRnuWN5/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="628" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd02R8s5NjSTHa7PNeXu0PJ0UYo4YIarJOqHhRYrT9458Ooe8JeAbewU3tqW75ne7oPshDuMdlzYP20jUFAfFMShE71LRM8yCHJZ0FZmtr8PXWa8CJZx_aOaefuQWdpm9T4zV3idRnuWN5/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The hostel dwellers having lunch. Being photographed was truly
exciting and everybody wanted to be in frame.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Nearest to camera: Che Ahmad Che Daud.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Standing: Nasir Che Mat(deceased), Wan Ali Wan Mat, Wan Kassim
(Dato’)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Being a school prefect I was automatically appointed as the hostel
prefect. A prefect had slightly more privileges. Life changed for the better
for me since now I will no longer be going to class with an empty stomach.
Meals will be regular. There will also be games in the evenings and prep after
dinner till 11 pm for the seniors. Those who were in Form 5 and preparing </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">for
the OSC/MCE examination will continue studying until
the wee hours. A more regimented study hours and studying with my peers helped improve
my grades. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mr. G. Thanda demonstrated how to be an effective Hostel Master. We
rarely saw him around the hostel except during his occasional walk around the
dorm. One night during prep class, Abdul Rahman Hassan Koya (deceased), was
fooling around by going out of the prep class and was making some silly dance
moves. The next minute we saw Mr. Thanda walked over to him and in the sight of
everyone gave Rahman several tight slaps on both cheeks. Rahman felled down and Mr. Thanda helped him
up to his feet and the slapping continued. That was the one and only time that
we saw Mr. Thanda punished any one of us but the impact was long lasting. That
served as a strong reminder to all of us that though unseen, Mr. Thanda could
be somewhere in the darkness watching us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Playing Pranks</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Another memorable incident in my hostel life that year was when one
night I got drenched while in deep slumber. I must have been boastful after prep
class and somebody thought that I needed to be taught a lesson. The way it was usually
done was to place a small container full of water on your mosquito net while
you were sound asleep. The weight of the container filled with water will
gradually lower itself until it finally reached a certain level whereby any
body movement will cause the container to spill its content on you. It was more
like a time bomb that will drench your body,the blanket and the mattress. I got
mine on the night when Pasir Mas was at the height of the monsoon season and
flood water was close to overflowing the Kelantan river bank.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was so frustrated that I took my revenge on the most innocent of
persons who happened to be sleeping on the bunk above me. The victim cursed
aloud and the dormitory light was switched on. With lots of guilt, I pretended
to be asleep. The person who slept above me was none other than my best friend
Ghani Senik (now Tuan Haji). So Tuan
Haji, I was the one who caused your cold discomfort that night. I believed many
knew that I was the one who did it but they just did not point me out. Snitching was not our way of life in the
hostel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Later I found out from Ashaari that it was Suhaimi Jaafar who set
the water bomb on me. When I met Suhaimi in London in June 2009 and related him incident, he
could not recall it at all. Suhaimi had then migrated to England.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GLrVTVHbLaqTD5-PKnUWGSNtd1kJX-8EI6zSTUjeqi2J-N4uUZxCWHvNEmR0CJF7JRrsNVW2ynyHbkmEIsY2j7eB7x_D2ohdiRLtOAOXJVfdljnLUf9eEreEXHzrxNNOEwYxjtF_Riot/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="628" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GLrVTVHbLaqTD5-PKnUWGSNtd1kJX-8EI6zSTUjeqi2J-N4uUZxCWHvNEmR0CJF7JRrsNVW2ynyHbkmEIsY2j7eB7x_D2ohdiRLtOAOXJVfdljnLUf9eEreEXHzrxNNOEwYxjtF_Riot/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Meeting
Suhaimi Jaafar again (beside me in dark suit) after 41 years. If you are
curious about the persons in front of me, they are of Wan Hulaimi aka Awang
Goneng the famous Malaysian reporter cum writer based in London and his spouse
Kak Teh, another famous correspondent.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Teachers Went On Strike</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There was not really much to recall for the year 1967. The
Teachers Union went on strike over some dissatisfaction over the teachers’
terms of service. The teachers carried
placards and hangout outside the school compound. However, classes were
conducted as usual and there was no disruption to our studies. However, the
teachers boycotted all extracurricular activities and we were left very much on
our own as far as these activities were concerned. There was no Sports Day and
even, Sempana, the school magazine was not published.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The end of year school holidays gave us all a chance to return to
our families. I went back to my village to help my parent plant tobacco, the
main cash crop in Kelantan then. Tobacco planting was a lucrative industry then
and the crop was planted on a large scale with a ready market ensured by
Malayan Tobacco Company.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life in the Hostel in 1968<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN1qb8ho9W4vaiqp4FBhfWaQqCrG1l9S2cRl-q95pP8Oxd_Rs4GF2ZISR3XZqbtQrgJN4Juv0rdakHi1QIuZyHBz4vOlfuA9DDJGLx-FrAVQ6JCKh-3gRgylpStPygD_6n8_3HB9TI2u3/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="627" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN1qb8ho9W4vaiqp4FBhfWaQqCrG1l9S2cRl-q95pP8Oxd_Rs4GF2ZISR3XZqbtQrgJN4Juv0rdakHi1QIuZyHBz4vOlfuA9DDJGLx-FrAVQ6JCKh-3gRgylpStPygD_6n8_3HB9TI2u3/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The 1968
hostel residents. In blazers, from left, Aziz Ahmad, Mahmud Awang Kechik (Dato’
Dr.) Mr. Loo Hock Guan, Che Ahmad Che Daud, Mr. Thanda (Hostel Master), Ismail
Yusoff (Dato’, deceased;the School Headboy cum Hostel Headboy), Mr. Yussof
Ghouse (deceased; the school Headmaster), Abas Akbar (deceased), Mr. Maniam, Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad and Mr. Pang Chok Chu
(deceased).</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The year 1968 was my final year of stay in the hostel. I consider
it as the most memorable part of my hostel life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some of us were being cheeky. Whenever a group of girls were to
walk along the road in front of the hostel on their way to class, they will be
taunted with marching chants from the hostel residents of ‘left, right, left, right, left, right’ making
it most uncomfortable for them to walk. Most of them ended up running to the
school or avoid that route in front of the hostel altogether.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
teachers had ceased their boycott of the extracurricular activities after their
Union dispute with the government was resolved. Everybody seemed to be making
up for lost times with the school calendar full of
activities. All school societies were moving at full speed. Every weekend was
slated for at least one activity, sometimes two. So much so that we were hard
up to find a place to hold our activities. Even the hostel dining hall became an
activity venue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Most of the hostel residents were active in sports and were
represented in almost every sport. An obvious sportsman among the hostel
resident and the school was the late Abas Akbar. He was an icon of a sportsman
and excelled in almost every sport, be it athletics or team events. Later he
played for Malaysia and scored a goal at the Asian Youth Football Tournament in
Manilla Phillipines in 1970.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh412CMX0AF6cW_cHyvci5C1psoQWAHwsphE6N_EYiKR1Dnth2SviTdMUB16XGg64JVWvujQSl2QjrqU7cUMxXVYrmfu3rwOwP3xgZ__OOxnr8IH2aPFQKMjaXSbGXOGkSlls4eth6GRXq_/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="628" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh412CMX0AF6cW_cHyvci5C1psoQWAHwsphE6N_EYiKR1Dnth2SviTdMUB16XGg64JVWvujQSl2QjrqU7cUMxXVYrmfu3rwOwP3xgZ__OOxnr8IH2aPFQKMjaXSbGXOGkSlls4eth6GRXq_/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Abbas Akbar, standing 3</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">rd</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
from left.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Bachang Tree <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Once a week we had a free night where we were free to do our own
things and could opt not to attend prep. One particular free night we had
nothing better to do and we were hungry. Some of us decided to collect unripe <i>bachang</i>(<i>Mangifera foetida</i>) fruits, a poor cousin of the mango. The tree was
located at the fringe of the school field on the side of the primary school and
almost immediately in front of the semi-detached quarters occupied by both the
primary and secondary school Headmasters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mr. Ahmad Rahman, the primary school Headmaster was the first to
notice our group of raiders and he informed our Headmaster of what we were
doing. The late Mr. Yusoff Ghouse, our Headmaster, came towards us and told us
to go back to the hostel. He told us there were ghosts on the <i>bachang</i> tree which of course we did not
believe. Out of respect we backed off carrying with us the few fruits plucked
by the climbers. Everything would have gone off peacefully if not for the
realization that one of the three climbers was thought to be still on the tree.
He was Ibrahim Hussein.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Some of us decided to go back and to look for him. Instead of just
a few, almost all of the 60 hostel boys followed making a real din that Mr.
Yusoff thought we were defying his orders to leave the fruit tree alone. By
then Mr. Yusoff was already running after us. Pandemonium broke loose and we
ran helter skelter in every directions. He angrily chased after us but we were
too fast for an old man of his age. Further, the school compound was our home
and even in the darkness of the night we can easily outran him to hide behind
the many school buildings. He finally went back to the hostel building, and
surprise of all surprises, he managed to catch hold of Nik Hassan Nik Mat. Nik
Hassan could have easily escaped from the Headmaster’s hold had he wanted to
but out of respect Nik Hassan apologized and followed him. Nik Hassan’s last post prior to his
retirement was the Officer-in-Charge (OCPD) of Shah Alam Police Contingent!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With Nik Hassan in his hold, the Headmaster called the hostel
master Mr. G. Thanda and asked us to gather in the teachers’staff room. Prior
to the gathering, Mr. Thanda asked us to meet in the hostel's dining hall as he
wanted to know the reason for the commotion. He called on me to speak up. I
told him that 'it was sheer panic' that we ran away when the Headmaster came
after us when we were actually on a mission to rescue Ibrahim Hussein from the
tree. He gave us his fatherly smile and we know that he was not angry with us.
After all we were just a bunch of hungry young boys on a free night and not meaning
any harm. The noticeable absence in the meeting with the Hostel Master was a
hostel prefect who chose to escape by climbing over the school fence to avoid
being caught. There and then Mr. Thanda stripped him of the hostel's
prefect-ship.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We were made to gather in the teachers’ staff room. It was almost
midnight. One by one we were made to bend over and had our butt caned by Mr.
Thanda. The number of strokes depended on the age and size of the boy, and at the
command from the Headmaster. The smallest and youngest from the primary school
received one stroke. The bigger ones received more. When it came to Abas
Akbar's turn, the Headmaster said "that boy is a big bull, give him
five". We know Mr. Thanda was pulling the punches because he was using the
middle of the cane instead of the tip of it and the blow was not at full
strength. The Headmaster seemed to realize it and wanted to take over the
caning. "If you don’t know how to cane, let me cane them myself", he
snapped angrily. Of course Mr. Thanda would not let him but instead made it
appear that he was hitting us a little bit harder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Should the Malaysian Guinness Book of records be already in
existence then, this could have easily be entered as a record as the largest
number of pupils (more than 50) being caned in one session for the same
offense. I dare say that this record will never ever be bettered anywhere
anytime.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At the school assembly the next Sunday, the Headmaster announced
what happened during that week but he obviously omitted telling the real cause
of the pandemonium. He told the assembly that he had never been made to run
that hard in his life. Other than the hostel residents, the rest of the assembly
was very vague as to what really happened
then.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Night of a Thousand Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The highlight of the year was <i>Malam
Seribu Bintang</i>(The Night of a Thousand Stars), a two night stage show where
students’ talents were showcased. The hostel students were allotted a slot to
perform and we chose to perform a dance drama entitled “A Gangfight In Golden
Sand”. It was based on the dance style of West Side Story and without any
dialogues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The dance drama was
performed with the sound tracks from the film The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Since the idea was mine, I took on one of the main roles. The story revolved
around two gamblers, played by a form four student Natpi(deceased) and yours
truly. One of whom cheated the other leading to a gangfight. The gang leaders
were played by Mahmud Awang Kechil(Datuk Dr.) and Ashaari Amin. The original
line was supposed to end with Ashaari being killed by a stab of the knife. Before
that happened, Mahmud had accidentally nicked Ashaari’s thigh with the sharp knife. Blood
oozed out from the wound, dripping to the floor. The audience was unaware that
real knife was used until Mahmud dropped the knife and the knife stuck upright
with the tip embedded on the wooden stage floor. Fortunately, the performers
kept their cool and the show went on unimpeded. Ashaari was helped out from the
stage by his gang members and rushed to the clinic to have his wound sutured.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">We were given permission
to perform on the second night with the expressed condition that no real knife was
to be used. We bought a realistic looking plastic knife as a replacement. The
late Abbas Akbar took over Ashaari’s role for the second night’s performance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The audience had a good laugh when the knife
bounced off instead of sticking to the floor when dropped during the gang fight
like what happened on the first night.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Examination</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This was the year my class of fifth formers was facing the OSC/MCE
examination. Two certificates were awarded for one examination sitting. It was
the second last year that the OSC was awarded as it was discontinued after
1969.The MCE was also replaced with the equivalent<i> Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia</i> (SPM).</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Due to peer pressure among the hostel residents, we studied hard
for the examination. Most of us studied late into the night. Towards the end of
the year we could discern each other’s sunken eyes due to lack of sleep.
Particularly noticeable was Ghani Senik's skin which became so loose that it
could be pulled against the flesh. That was really hard work. I took a much
less strenuous approach and did not burn much of the midnight oil until very
near the examination itself. I was too busy with my extra-curricular
activities.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The exam came at the end of the year. We had to sit for the exam
at Sekolah Sultan Abdul Hamid in town. When the result was announced in the
early part of 1969, 13 of us from the hostel passed the exam with a grade one
in at least one or both to be awarded the OSC/MCE certificates. Quite an
achievement for students who were very active in sports and other extracurricular
activities. The hostel provided us with a very conducive environment to develop
ourselves and the best of atmosphere to study.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Armed with our exam results, we went our separate ways in pursuit
of our education and careers in life. Many did very well later in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The old wooden hostel was later demolished and replaced with a new
double storey building. To many of us and former hostel teachers, the old
hostel building was home for some years of our life. Camaraderie and
brotherhood was instilled among us as a family away from home. Memories of our
life then will forever be cherished.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb-M7NI4rkfkY5Z6Sbo4540go17o4QLIan8pPcreIGc2Vmzsm7ZE2V7OFLlC6Be93K38O9rCSQ124t_VbmOXSV90v14totcpCzbHAHzjB0lcuCCl6P93ZqD8DWJUh2ZwYcNY0WawQ_uVp/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="628" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb-M7NI4rkfkY5Z6Sbo4540go17o4QLIan8pPcreIGc2Vmzsm7ZE2V7OFLlC6Be93K38O9rCSQ124t_VbmOXSV90v14totcpCzbHAHzjB0lcuCCl6P93ZqD8DWJUh2ZwYcNY0WawQ_uVp/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
1968 Picture. From left to right;</span></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Front
Row: Shafie, Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad, Che Ahmad Che Daud<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Middle
Row: Natpi (deceased), Aziz Ahmad, Abbas Akbar (deceased)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back
row: Bong Lok(deceased), Mohd Nor Hassan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In February 2017, about 60 of us who stayed at the old hostel from
1966 to 1970 were reunited at a gathering held at a hotel in Kota Bharu. Present
as our guests of honour were teachers; Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali, Dato Dr. Toh Kin
Woon, Mr. G. Thanda, Mr. Loo Hock Guan, Mrs. Foo (formerly Miss Wong An Yu) and
Chegu Halim Hassan. It was great to reconnect and see each other again after a
span of almost 50 years.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmUDgWNCkdOi5Ts7dY3hdBClYQJBQnGXNSl9yDTF6dqDB4BR-al84CZtjMra6XGGo3yiWMY8GXnjzjJRfHZmv_SQyyaCc7uHSd-Rp2hUsTkDdRjiBURbirilpEyHFcGpdbl1wwiGJIhud/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="628" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmUDgWNCkdOi5Ts7dY3hdBClYQJBQnGXNSl9yDTF6dqDB4BR-al84CZtjMra6XGGo3yiWMY8GXnjzjJRfHZmv_SQyyaCc7uHSd-Rp2hUsTkDdRjiBURbirilpEyHFcGpdbl1wwiGJIhud/" width="319" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reunion of the SIS Hostel residents (1966
-1970) on 20.02.2017 at Grand Riverview Hotel Kota Bharu.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4S_4jqVfjaCkXq9FY6mABhj3C8pR4Xx07rjdD7wayGfprLtrzYEiRT2bj0vRme3n4mUaH-C1j2Q5tzNE9K5aqN_ZEZSGwg-FlAOdQu5x0VVNUndomuzyDw8Qa7tPkWAiqYASFvQd_1yn/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="628" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4S_4jqVfjaCkXq9FY6mABhj3C8pR4Xx07rjdD7wayGfprLtrzYEiRT2bj0vRme3n4mUaH-C1j2Q5tzNE9K5aqN_ZEZSGwg-FlAOdQu5x0VVNUndomuzyDw8Qa7tPkWAiqYASFvQd_1yn/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Among the teachers present: Dato’ Dr. Toh
Kin Woon, Puan Wong An Yu, Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali, Mr. G. Thanda and Mr. Loo Hock
Guan.</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[endif]--></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-72042852507358089502020-10-24T16:34:00.047+08:002020-10-24T17:10:20.830+08:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Final Years in SIS Pasir Mas<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Writer's note: Reposting an old post which I did in July 2007 after some corrections and additional information added)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The years 1967 and 1968
were the final two years of my schooling at Sultan Ibrahim Secondary School
(SIS). The school is now better known as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan
Ibrahim 1 Pasir Mas, Kelantan. It was one of the premier English schools then,
next only to Sultan Ismail College in Kota Bharu.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was in form 4A in 1967
with Puan Rahmah Ariffin as our class teacher. We had several other teachers
teaching us other subjects. My memory is now vague as to who were the other
subject teachers except for Puan Zaharah Zohdan who taught us Arts, Mrs Khoo
who taught us Additional Mathematics, Mr. Pang Chok Chu who taught us General
Science, Ustaz Zain Rashidi taught us Ugama Islam and the unforgettable Mr.
Mark Anthony who taught us woodwork. Mr. Gerald Bax, an American Peace Corp
volunteer, taught us Mathematics while Mr. G. Thanda taught us English
Literature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Puan Rahmah Ariffin took
an early retirement late that year on medical grounds. Another teacher, whom
none of us could recall for sure, came in as a substitute teacher. This escape
in memory could be due to the short duration of replacement as school was about
to end for the year. The substitute teacher did not spend much time with us to
leave much impression on us as even the best brain in the class the likes of
Major (R) Chong Chow Kar(Civil Engineer), Zainal Abidin Hussein(Electrical
Engineer), Mahmud Awang Kechik (Dato’ Dr. who is a surgeon), Lim Siong Peek,
Azmy Omar, Ibrahim Hussein, Ab. Rahman Ismail (Graduate Teachers), Napsah
Mahmud (Pharmacist), Ghani Senik (Food Technologist), Ashaari Amin (a Forest Research
Institute Malaysia Reseacher) and most others that I contacted yielded no
definitive answer. They were not to be blamed as all were approaching 60 at the
time of writing this article (October 2008). They may have overworked much of
their grey matter that what remained was no longer of use. No big deal as my
own sparingly used brain cannot recall too!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway Puan Rahmah
Ariffin left a big impression on me. I was truly indebted to this lady as she
was instrumental in getting me a Federal Minor Scholarship which I received
during the second half of 1967. The scholarship entitled me to a RM20 monthly
allowance for the rest of my schooling days till the end of 1968. It was timely
then as my half-brother who was already married then, had his own family to care
for, had ceased to provide me with the same amount monthly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can still visualize the
day when Puan Rahmah came to me in class with a form to apply for the
scholarship. The form had to be immediately filled, get it signed by my father
and certified by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penggawa</i>
(Headman) of my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mukim</i> (area). That
task was no small feat for me. For one my father was living some 10 miles away
in my village known as Chekok, Jabo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This meant a bus fare of 50 sen to get home. To me that was a big amount
of money then.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Somehow I managed to get
home only to find that father was miles away tending to the family's rubber
small holding. The place was unknown to me and he will only be back by
nightfall and by then the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penggawa's </i>office
would be closed. Although the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penggawa</i>
was my father’s cousin, he refused to certify the form before my father had put
his thumb print on it, saying that signing blind was not the right thing to do.
I had to wait for my father to come home. The<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penggawa</i>’s certifying my father's signature will have to wait till the
next day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As my father had to leave
for the rubber small holding before daylight the next day, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to get his thumb print that night itself.
It would be interesting to note how ingenious we were then as there was no
inkpad whatsoever for my father to ink his thumb with. Since I had once seen
other people inking their thumb using the betel leaf (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Piper betle</i>) applied with a thin layer of cooking oil and exposing
the oiled surface to the soot of the kerosene lamp, I decided to do the same.
Presto, we had a perfect thumb print of my father's right thumb on the form.
The form was countersigned by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penggawa</i>
the next day simultaneously testifying that my father's income was about
RM70per month. That was the truth as the family’s income was inconsistent. My
father had no specific job other than tending to the immature rubber holding. In
reality we were not far off from that figure then as the rubber small holding
was still young and still immature for tapping. We lived a subsistence life by
eating the rice from our own plot of padi land and on vegetables that mother
planted. Our family's cash income came mostly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the sale of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tembakau darat</i> a type of local tobacco which my parents planted.
The tobacco leaves were processed for sale. The tobacco is normally rolled with
palm leaves and smoked as cigarettes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I arrived late for school
the next day to submit the duly completed scholarship form as my mum had to
find RM3 to pay for my fare back to Pasir Mas. The balance was to be my pocket
money for my expenses for the week. Puan Rahmah believed in my excuse for being
late.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Out of the forty odd students
in my class, I was the only one given the form. How did I get to be the lucky one?
My guess was that she was advised by the Senior School Assistant, En. Ab.Rahman
Ali. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier I had met the Senior
Assistant to decline my appointment to the school prefect board (En. Ab. Rahman
Ali later became the School Headmaster, The Principal of Sultan Ismail College,
the Principal of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and later on the Negeri
Sembilan State Education Director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Subsequently, he was promoted to be the Director of one of the
departments in the Ministry of Education). At the meeting with the Senior
Assistant, I cited my inability to buy a pair of white pants which was the
uniform for the prefects then. En. Ab. Rahman assured me that he will look into
my problem. Later he sent me to Kuan Sin Tailor in town to have my uniform
measured and tailored. The two pairs of white trousers cost <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a total of RM40.00, a big sum by my standard
then.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuILcCxU8piTX_EJIaj1wMfYeJDC4HIhPv6DSRDghLGZ_DOKsm2FnMUtxlasdAnfUTIKCipfWJe4zLymVlHCdxSwo2k8MJLQvbk23G4DI8aRVZlr8Lygn7_X1qsCHapUrPcC-R09T17S3/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="324" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuILcCxU8piTX_EJIaj1wMfYeJDC4HIhPv6DSRDghLGZ_DOKsm2FnMUtxlasdAnfUTIKCipfWJe4zLymVlHCdxSwo2k8MJLQvbk23G4DI8aRVZlr8Lygn7_X1qsCHapUrPcC-R09T17S3/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The tailor shop remained the same the day I revisited it in
2008.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The owner, Mr. Eng Fook Seng, was 66
years old the day I went to take the above photograph. Counting backwards, he
must be 25 years old when he did my trousers back then. He said the same pair
of trousers would now cost RM60. That was the value of money in 1967 compared
to the present (2008).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
not long after that when Puan Rahmah had a serious medical issue and retired.
Our class was without a class teacher for quite a while after she left. However,
we were not worried as Form Four was considered as a honeymoon year as we were
not sitting for any major examination that year.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would only </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">be sitting for the School Certificate Examination and the
Malaysian Certificate Examination next <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>year
while in Form Five.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Sixth
Form Malay Medium classes was started in 1967. It was a milestone as the only
other school offering Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia in Kelantan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was Sultan Ismail College in Kota Bharu. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Another
significant event for 1967 was that the Teacher's Union was holding a strike nationwide
over something which I could neither understand nor remember. They boycotted
all extracurricular activities including the Sports Day and all societal
activities. Even the annual school magazine </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Sempana</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> failed to be
published that year.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">For that reason there
was nothing much we could use as a reference of our 1967 school year.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJebRJOda6i8zJqYkiCK-WHqNlflUhOMBygDJKIJJdXCVIjtacPtHWGyhF3u4Gx_PzafLT8OyIeqUiVgP3F46zIvGFDGiYI_PhFdGdHfSHzkZi3LqGE6pvQF-irM0EUsh5v7xlsL1h2NFY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="558" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJebRJOda6i8zJqYkiCK-WHqNlflUhOMBygDJKIJJdXCVIjtacPtHWGyhF3u4Gx_PzafLT8OyIeqUiVgP3F46zIvGFDGiYI_PhFdGdHfSHzkZi3LqGE6pvQF-irM0EUsh5v7xlsL1h2NFY/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /><i style="background-color: transparent; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 1967
Form 4A class photographed without the class teacher. Yours truly is the one in
prefect uniform on the right.</span></i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsmvMg6yDVnZ70kzofHtRcn72lLVJE5ssP-XOKvpntRtQkWSsVE15rrxxDS0mJOiiSXbV7t9WVYzwxAvYEoh1SNszOpcosLFOPCvwHM4EahJtl0KRpDOR5oR_073fzrShGKsuo1aHEYDt/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="628" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsmvMg6yDVnZ70kzofHtRcn72lLVJE5ssP-XOKvpntRtQkWSsVE15rrxxDS0mJOiiSXbV7t9WVYzwxAvYEoh1SNszOpcosLFOPCvwHM4EahJtl0KRpDOR5oR_073fzrShGKsuo1aHEYDt/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1967
Prefect Board</span></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The only consolation was that I have the
above picture of the Prefect Board. With us were the Headmaster, the late Mr.
Yusoff Ghouse (in black suit) the School Senior Assistant, En. Ab. Rahman Ali (with
the dark tie), flanking Saary Yahya, the Headboy. If you can recognize Dato’
Mustapha Muhamad sitting on the extreme left, yours truly is the one standing right
behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The year of 1967 was also
a happy year for me as in the middle of the year I received a princely sum of
RM120 being the backdated amount of Federal Minor Scholarship.<span style="background: white;">That was indeed a princely sum for someone who did not
even have RM5 to his name. For the first time in my life I splurged, buying a
pair of readymade black pants, a tailor made shirt and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a pair of Thailand made Obermain leather shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pair of shoes were purchased from Sg. Golok
costing me RM12! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With those apparel I
once again was able to roam the town to meet my friends. Earlier I ceased going
out to town after a friend chided me for wearing the same white school pants
whenever I went out. Well the school uniform was all the trousers I had back
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling slighted with the comment,
any activities organized by my class outside of school was off <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>limits to me then.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaObhQ2PrwzGcdgOUty2xdtFJz3Ys7OyivpyukgoD1ygUGwbAIUlvTWx811L8KbgknOo34omcd_3LGRbnTbGon0_VItJqgomRzZXgFfBxTHxQLZpedc61czDd1adGbMIm-Be0eJnrtXlX/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="206" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaObhQ2PrwzGcdgOUty2xdtFJz3Ys7OyivpyukgoD1ygUGwbAIUlvTWx811L8KbgknOo34omcd_3LGRbnTbGon0_VItJqgomRzZXgFfBxTHxQLZpedc61czDd1adGbMIm-Be0eJnrtXlX/" width="162" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The poor </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-align: left;">kampong</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
boy with his new found richness, dressed to kill in his tailor made shirt
(RM14), and Thailand made Obermain shoes (RM12.00), bought with the scholarship
money, white school pants (RM20.00 paid for by the Parent Teachers Association
fund) posing with his close friend Azmy Omar in front of the old main market.
On this very site now is Bangunan Serakai Mas built after the old market was
gutted down by fire.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfzJuFzt0NnDzkb969WuwBSCED2keVbCwb3bnbRqi9B0Gj4-8dJkIEwszNEDWKo8lsTndsDo_aGHQloaa4ksV7fhA7ScZspc2WgU3e2Vjx7DxGVqFoWH4j0Ai689hF8BXkU9Rqk9kpxSq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="558" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfzJuFzt0NnDzkb969WuwBSCED2keVbCwb3bnbRqi9B0Gj4-8dJkIEwszNEDWKo8lsTndsDo_aGHQloaa4ksV7fhA7ScZspc2WgU3e2Vjx7DxGVqFoWH4j0Ai689hF8BXkU9Rqk9kpxSq/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The 1968
Form 5A Class photo</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The teachers sitting from left to right: Cikgu
Ismail Mat (deceased), Ustaz Nawi Hamat, Mr. G. Thanda, Mr. Gerald Bax, Miss
Wong An Yin (Mrs. Foo, form teacher), Mahmud Awang Kechik (Dato’ Dr, class
monitor), Mr. Pang Chok Chu, Cikgu Shukri and Mr. Loo Hock Guan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not in the picture was Mr. Toh Kin Woon (Datok
Dr.)</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span> </span><span> </span></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">With the
Teachers Union’s problem with the Ministry of Education resolved, the teachers
stopped the boycott of</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">the
extracurricular activities. As if to catch up for the lost time, everything was
carried out in frenzy. We had the School Day officiated by the then Honourable Education
Minister, En Khir Johari (Tun), who happened to be a close friend of our
Headmaster.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">We held an exhibition for
the School Day with lots of things on show. Every school society had a
classroom each to display their products.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A black
dot in the history of the school occurred in 1968. A group of five boys were
publicly caned in front of the school assembly by the school discipline
teacher, Chegu Nik Alwi Omar. The crime they committed was tearing pages from
the library’s Encyclopedia Britannica to take home as reference. In those days
Photostat machines were unheard of. Their heinous act were sighted by another
fellow student who reported to me as The Head Librarian. In turn, it was
reported to the Library Master, Mr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anandan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With names given, it
didn’t take long for Mr. Anandan to obtain a confession.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
alleviate their pain from the lashing, one of the five guilty students placed
some exercise books in his pant which made a different kind of sound when hit
by the cane. Chegu Nik Alwi made him remove the exercise books before
continuing the caning. It was a pitiful sight as the pain inflicted was
temporary but the pride was damaged forever. From that day I became the enemy
of the five. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All was
forgiven when we met later in life but who squealed on them remain a secret
till now. It was a lesson to be learnt by all who witnessed the caning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
school magazine,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sempana</i>, </b>was not published in 1967 due to the teachers’ boycott
of all school extracurricular activities. It reappeared in 1968 with yours
truly as the editor. I have to say that I was a poor choice due to my heavy
workload; as a School Prefect, Hostel Prefect, Head Librarian and Chairman of
the Literary and Debating Society, to dispense a more satisfactory output.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had earlier declined the post of Chairman
of the Camera Club of which I was an active member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How I wish I had the gumption to decline the
editor’s job too and let another person handle it. Maybe the person handling it
could have done a much better job, especially to produce a bumper 1968 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sempana</i></b>
issue, thus compensating for the 1967 missing issue.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
School Sports Day, which did not see daylight in 1967 was held in1968. Our
school 4 x 100 m relay team was the pride of the school as they managed to win
most of the races when invited to participate in other schools’ Sports Day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School
societies were so active that every nooks and corners of the school were used
for activities. Even the school canteen, hostel's dining room and shade trees were
not spared. The school had a double session then and without a hall, the
teachers were at their wits end trying to hold activities for the societies
they were in charge of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3WQCDfET7QTkuyq8Y8wC8o0cmTjX7QRoPN_xCHkOkCbsI8r6FSVKp8bpCI1m_OErgYjC5-2aWh40ksJPRSKI_NIZOvdz2Ikgjs_5UjBmbt3IepSttdMuNbJfrtUevhE44fjBUrx-ubM9/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="490" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3WQCDfET7QTkuyq8Y8wC8o0cmTjX7QRoPN_xCHkOkCbsI8r6FSVKp8bpCI1m_OErgYjC5-2aWh40ksJPRSKI_NIZOvdz2Ikgjs_5UjBmbt3IepSttdMuNbJfrtUevhE44fjBUrx-ubM9/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 63pt 0in 40.5pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Prefect Board of 1968 with the School Board
of Directors and the Honourable Minister of Education, the late Tun Khir
Johari. Yours truly is the first from left in the middle row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ismail Yusof(Dato’, deceased), the Headboy,
stands behind the Education Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 63pt 0in 40.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another
important event of the year was the inter house debate. The final was between
the Blue House as the proposer and the Yellow <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>House as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the oppose<a name="_GoBack"></a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yours truly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>represented the Blue House, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seconded by Alexander Chan and another third
speaker which nobody could confirm. I vaguely remember a soft spoken Wee Mek
Chu who could be the third speaker.Wee Mek Chu had migrated to Europe and was
not available to confirm. The Yellow House as the opposition was represented by
Chong Chow Kar (Major Retired), Rohani Ibrahim (Dr) and another debator whom
nobody could remember.. Mr. Loo Hock Guan, the English teacher, chaired the
debate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
about the topic? I would say that the topic is pretty sensitive by today's
standard, "Houses Of Worships Are Not A Waste of Money". Would any
teacher dare to suggest such a topic for students to debate on nowadays? I
doubt it. We were then very free to express our opinions and nobody held back
anything. Well the debate went well and the students came in full force to
witness the debate. They stood there till the result was announced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forty
years later I called Chong Chow Kar (Major Retired) who led the opposition team
and asked him if he remembered anything about the debate. He could not remember
much and even enquired about the winning team. He forgot that his team won the
debate!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We also
held the gala night to showcase talents from the school. Crooners were
accompanied by the school band, The Kostrad Pelajar, with Suhaimi Hussin on
lead guitar, Azmy Omar on bass guitar, Fauzan Omar on rhythm guitar while the
quiet Mohamad Jusoh played the drums. A form four student by the name of
Shamsiah Abdullah stole the show with her rendition of the Latin son called Luna
Lunera.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJqXcYqh4j2_lvfSIxDXFZK0H71Lq2pmSuD9utt61SU6_soePhbQPq1i066PLkmWbz-oGbNa_e45mg0e1e8_nGFtCTP9EBUZGkZYR9BdpYxLUFHaP91Kh9nujDvlMnOQmbldzkSFHh3Ml/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="628" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJqXcYqh4j2_lvfSIxDXFZK0H71Lq2pmSuD9utt61SU6_soePhbQPq1i066PLkmWbz-oGbNa_e45mg0e1e8_nGFtCTP9EBUZGkZYR9BdpYxLUFHaP91Kh9nujDvlMnOQmbldzkSFHh3Ml/" width="308" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kostrad Pelajar SIS</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC94bb2unfn5bRw0ZpM8tPKJqSmHDyL99pha61HGqC4Pjvd1N60xX6XTfm1HzELTaQMvthtqnam3uErpXc7NASLT6puky3tNFikZMcidbZTA_7ZXmW8uc601EcSCX1OmjdbZ8JMjCA8CX/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="276" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC94bb2unfn5bRw0ZpM8tPKJqSmHDyL99pha61HGqC4Pjvd1N60xX6XTfm1HzELTaQMvthtqnam3uErpXc7NASLT6puky3tNFikZMcidbZTA_7ZXmW8uc601EcSCX1OmjdbZ8JMjCA8CX/" width="164" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shamsiah Abdullah stole the show with her
redition of Luna Lunera</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Besides
singing we had short dramas, comedy sketches, choir group and most notable was
the musical dance drama, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">A Gang Fight in
Golden Sand performed by the hostel residents. Yours truly was involved not
only as a performer but also as the director and creator of the dance based on
the style of </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">West Side Story previously
screened at the local Rex Cinema in town. All the dance moves were self
improvised as none of us had any previous experience. The music from the The
Good, The Bad and The Ugly album accompanied the entire dance drama. I remember
distinctly Che Ahmad Che Daud as the operator of the tape recorder for the
show.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The main
story line was a gang fight which ensued after a gambling session between two
members of a gang played by Natpi (deceased) and yours truly. The fight itself
involved the gang leaders played by Mahmud Awang Kechik(Dato’ Dr) and Ashaari
Amin. A real knife was used and in the ensuing fight, the sharp end of the
knife poked into Ashaari Amin’s thigh resulting in a gush of blood dripping on
stage floor. As per script, Mahmud Awang Kechik dropped the knife on the stage
floor and the sharp knife stood on its tip on the wooden floor. The innjured
Ashaari Amin was carried off the stage floor by gang members and straight to
hospital for treatment. The audience thought the blood was part of the show and
gasped in awe. Fortunately none of the performers panicked and the dance was
performed till the end. For the repeat show the next day’s performance, permission
was only granted after we promised to use a plastic knife. Abbas Akbar replace
Ashaari Amin. The audience had a good laugh when the knife bounced on the floor
when Mahmud dropped it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Auld
Lang Synge was sung by the choir at the end of the show. It was truly an apt
number to close the final chapter in our school life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8szr9FOGDFHuvOJHWO_CkPeIOLXiJOj2Mx9HjoGeOlLKNIBe4K1eQE3a71w7J-BGHebGPj7flP6WKZ4jqA8fZThQVsEfjOany69RnXPE6HFnaosIh1q78D1MmXxVdbOwvcbkOmxyc69G/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="628" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8szr9FOGDFHuvOJHWO_CkPeIOLXiJOj2Mx9HjoGeOlLKNIBe4K1eQE3a71w7J-BGHebGPj7flP6WKZ4jqA8fZThQVsEfjOany69RnXPE6HFnaosIh1q78D1MmXxVdbOwvcbkOmxyc69G/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All the performers at the school Talentime
Night in 1968, including the choir group.</span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The year
1968 was an important year for my class. It was the year when we had to sit for
an examination that would simultaneously confer us two certificates; the
Overseas School Certificate and the Malaysian Certificate of Examination.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">For the former, it is mandatory for us to
pass the English Language paper and similarly a pass for the Malay Language
paper for the later.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
milestone of sort was reached in 1968 when three of our classmates comprising
of Ridzwan Hashim (Dato’ Dr.) Chong Chow Kar (Major Retired) and Zainal Abidin
Hussin opted to take Pure Science for their Senior Cambridge and Malaysian
Certificate of Examination Exam. Without qualified teachers to guide them,
these self taught pioneers ventured out on their own while the rest of the Form
5A science class stuck to their Double Credit Science subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortunately
for them, the late Mr. Pang Chok Chu gave them free access to the school
science laboratory to do their practical. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had
to do their practical exam in Sultan Ismail College in Kota Bharu since it was
the only school in Kelantan that offered pure science subjects. During the
practical exam, the late Mr. Pang Chok Chu waited anxiously outside the
laboratory while the threesome did their exam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was
glad to note that another five students opted to do pure science subject for
the subsequent batch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of
us really burned the midnight oil for the examination. When the results were
announced in early 1969, 13 of us obtained Grade 1, a feat that we were really
proud of. Six of us who obtained an aggregate of nine or less from our best
three subjects gained admission to Sultan Ismail College(SIC) to do our Sixth Form.We
have to transfer to SIC as SIS only catered for the Malay medium Sixth Form
students. Your truly was one of the six. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others gained admission to MCKK and Sekolah
Tun Abdul Razak (STAR) to do their Sixth Form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of the rest applied to join other colleges such as Mara Institute
of Technology (now UiTM), Serdang College of Agriculture (now Univesiti
Pertanian Malaysia, later Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM), Technical College
(now Universiti Teknologi Malaysi, UTM), Teacher Training colleges or chose
careers in the army or police forces. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
few did venture out to open up their own businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of
us did well in our respective chosen careers making us proud to be the product
of this small rural school, Sultan Ibrahim School (SIS), Pasir Mas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-67600158362077845482020-10-01T15:18:00.000+08:002020-10-01T15:18:24.923+08:00Kelantan Floating Markets - Pulau Suri.<p><span> <span style="color: #38761d;">After a long hiatus, two years to be exact, I am blogging again. Thanks to Wan Faridah Wan Jaafar of the <a href="http://wanfaridah1012.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Story To Share </a>blog </span></span><span style="color: #38761d;">who encouraged me to blog again. I promised her I will write about the Floating Markets of Kelantan which should promote Kelantan as a tourist destination. To Wan Faridah, I am dedicating this blog to you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Many people even the Kelantanese themselves do not know about the existence of floating markets in Kelantan. Most people know only the floating market in Bangkok or Hatyai and might have even gone there but not the one in their own country.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Thanks to the many exposures from televisions, the newspapers and social media the floating markets in Kelantan are gaining popularity not only among locals but also from domestic tourists from all over Malaysia. A Google search of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Floating+Markets+in+Kelantan&oq=Floating+Markets+in+Kelantan&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.15457j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Floating Markets in Kelantan</a> will bring you to this site whereby not one but there floating markets were listed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>1. <span> </span>Kelantan Floating Market located on an inhabited island close to the habit-ed Island of Pulau Suri.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>2. <span> </span>Kelantan Floating Market Masseroja Village on another uninhabited island close by.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>3. <span> </span>Pasar Tani Terapung Cerana Villa in Kg. Pengkalan Datu.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The first two are in the District of Tumpat and accessible only by boat by either from the LKIM Jetty on the west bank of the Kelantan River or via Pengkalan Kok Majid on the left bank. Both will offer a boat ride experience for a small fee. Via Kok Majid, visitors will experience a 45 minutes boat ride along scenic riverine villages along the route. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>The third one is in the Bachok District and is accessible only by road, thus it will be easier for the elderly, the obese and those with small children. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>For this post I will just concentrate on the floating markets located near Pulau Suri and deal with the third one located at Pengkalan Datu for a the next blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>My acquaintance with Pulau Suri began as far back as 1995 when I was managing a travel company by the name of Kesedar Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd which had an office in Kota Bharu. I brought a group of about 15 French youths to visit Pulau Suri. Later Pulau Suri caught on with the tourism business by providing Homestay program. I do not really know how far was the success of this program. Back then the floating market was not in existence yet. It was only in 2016 that a resident of Pulau Suri by the name of Pak Ngah Ghani together with a group of friends started the floating market on a small island near to Pulau Suri and named the market as Kelantan Floating Market Pulau Suri.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNRKUq9I4qV5T6so7QJkrMfiTx6zqGR9f9U4mM3i5oMGNF_CbSCWe1GaVvH_H6XEH5T305x6GGpxG0xOjCnqb1NiDFwjkcyEdmkamg76p_pPVgER28VEumUX9MtcsxXSDui2D7QgJ9Tuv/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNRKUq9I4qV5T6so7QJkrMfiTx6zqGR9f9U4mM3i5oMGNF_CbSCWe1GaVvH_H6XEH5T305x6GGpxG0xOjCnqb1NiDFwjkcyEdmkamg76p_pPVgER28VEumUX9MtcsxXSDui2D7QgJ9Tuv/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><i>Pak Ngah Ghani (with skull cap) the founder of the first floating market in Kelantan and probably in Malaysia.</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>I first met Pak Ngah Ghani in early 2018. He had already started the floating market but had to cease operation at the end of 2017 due to the monsoon which turned the island into a piece of mushy ground due to many people visiting the place as the monsoon set in. The meeting was to arrange for him to accommodate the arrival of 140 visitors comprising of the 1972 Alumni of Serdang Agriculture College who were coming for a Reunion at the nearby PCB Resort located at Pantai Cahaya Bulan. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>According to my plan the group will take a boat ride from the jetty of Kuala Besar and the entourage will ride in 14 boats travelling in a convoy. They will be met upon arrival on Pulau Besar to the sound of live silat music, a silat performance and later treated to lunch while a Dikir Barat entertain them. Everything will be paid for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Unfortunately the idea had to be aborted because the visiting group was all in their late sixties and some already in the seven series. The problem is the 15 minutes boat ride across the estuary of the Kelantan River. Many of the members in the group had wide girth at the waist and riding the small narrow boat sitting on the boat floor will be very uncomfortable. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>For the reunion, they were taken to the floating market at Pengkalan Datu in air conditioned buses, so the problem was solved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>For this post I visited Kelantan Floating Market Pulau Suri twice in September 2020 to really feel the ambiance and took photographs of the place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>There are two separate floating markets now located on two separate islands less than 500 meters from each other. The newer floating market was founded by Pak Abu, once the right hand man of Pak Ngah Ghani. There is a friendly air of rivalry between the two places. From my personal observation Kelantan Floating Market seems to enjoy better patronage from visitors as the place has more shady palm trees and well laid out. Often times when there are too many visitors, the place nearly exceeded its carrying capacity and overflowed to the newer floating market. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>You have to decide early on your destination as boats from outside the LKIM compound will take you only to the Pak Ngah's Kelantan Floating Market while those from within the LKIM jetty will take you to the Masseroja Market.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>Both jetties provide a parking place for your cars for a small fee but on a good day the car parks will be full so you better be early.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>The boat ride costs RM6.00 return per person inclusive of insurance for tickets sold by Masseroja Holidays Sdn. Bhd who handled where as RM1.00 extra is charged for entry to Pak Ngah's Kelantan Floating Market for the upkeep of the market. Each boat can carry six persons and all were provided with a life jacket which is mandatory to be worn and the authority were always on the prowl to ensure compliance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkORd-ISs8tRZG4_k7CIclgBRWH1YXUWGhDObxrZ2kd4tLkQv1Gup0frUpYDgJNpkEtFywiTTC3PSjARK7D7WVekpZGOP9IPkF-RX4e2QNamEx66rXM5QS5GAKtvlwlbz5KtBhPjpBQqD/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkORd-ISs8tRZG4_k7CIclgBRWH1YXUWGhDObxrZ2kd4tLkQv1Gup0frUpYDgJNpkEtFywiTTC3PSjARK7D7WVekpZGOP9IPkF-RX4e2QNamEx66rXM5QS5GAKtvlwlbz5KtBhPjpBQqD/" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Buying boat tickets at the ticket kiosk and waiting place to ride the boat to the floating market at the LKIM jetty.</i></span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"> <br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwanyiBoaD9-evuHb6OLKqj3CgV0fRQg-ZaSOrXrDny5LzAKjrDQtqWQC7S45JNL3Cwx3K66ts_MHOAdQIkrZWAVL6RKuRat1NffBJfLCohrujXFUuxuHV7zpmzOrC67uhBF_axlst4M4/" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwanyiBoaD9-evuHb6OLKqj3CgV0fRQg-ZaSOrXrDny5LzAKjrDQtqWQC7S45JNL3Cwx3K66ts_MHOAdQIkrZWAVL6RKuRat1NffBJfLCohrujXFUuxuHV7zpmzOrC67uhBF_axlst4M4/" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><i>The boats selling food lining the bank of the island as seen from an approaching boat..</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXkXlh1l8F96UQlnIu1oaPQ8dtcq_DHp-csASOnrJKEtOGitv5QSZ1wvFFiKPTuOsD67hwgsC9C9_BhyBlKFzkfZbg_SKiwqIqQS9gQneUGqUYYJsgkJhFdbp7HpvUktoaHquynCjHm28/s5152/IMG_2108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXkXlh1l8F96UQlnIu1oaPQ8dtcq_DHp-csASOnrJKEtOGitv5QSZ1wvFFiKPTuOsD67hwgsC9C9_BhyBlKFzkfZbg_SKiwqIqQS9gQneUGqUYYJsgkJhFdbp7HpvUktoaHquynCjHm28/s320/IMG_2108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN9-ruSOZUciI4ulO7HraL4DoExHTnjR9aE9H7mzjmnopSFcH8Dt_1Vn39wKAi-O-18cFSV3ZFfjt5LJtYu5owb7aj8OlqCL3_a6aNwRdxp6z78PodsPeTsP7O4XM_EmtSoTe0Ng0cwbn/s5152/IMG_2110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN9-ruSOZUciI4ulO7HraL4DoExHTnjR9aE9H7mzjmnopSFcH8Dt_1Vn39wKAi-O-18cFSV3ZFfjt5LJtYu5owb7aj8OlqCL3_a6aNwRdxp6z78PodsPeTsP7O4XM_EmtSoTe0Ng0cwbn/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The writer enjoying breakfast with a friend Othman Hassan at the Masseroja Floating Market</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dU0O6J3A9jE8SNDXw3v30ksy3MdQ-qI8bqIEZgIpCTk97_9mxKANlP3L-3Lep1iirLOfRucdroVLP1_2kbBjulkQNwR89DCehmdHwI6rzEs4CHAH055GPQ98qKtQzFlQoQ9psj5w7bN8/s5152/IMG_2115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dU0O6J3A9jE8SNDXw3v30ksy3MdQ-qI8bqIEZgIpCTk97_9mxKANlP3L-3Lep1iirLOfRucdroVLP1_2kbBjulkQNwR89DCehmdHwI6rzEs4CHAH055GPQ98qKtQzFlQoQ9psj5w7bN8/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crowd.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49PpTDp_TKaf6A9DrAdxtUf7TbgQSf4tUAvXvP6erU4hREDdVqCc8XXmMxGxpql4P7GmFUml3bf_TLYkK37PzuZ-oaD-gyeAA4-XPy0oH4UWqh_zFuK14E6pMAZrnJIzESc9wYDJspZal/s5152/IMG_2136.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49PpTDp_TKaf6A9DrAdxtUf7TbgQSf4tUAvXvP6erU4hREDdVqCc8XXmMxGxpql4P7GmFUml3bf_TLYkK37PzuZ-oaD-gyeAA4-XPy0oH4UWqh_zFuK14E6pMAZrnJIzESc9wYDJspZal/s320/IMG_2136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo corners</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1I5PCLoiopfpTnzdw9fwKGEOdDdOftzGMWFmPyljaNTGkI-WLImYGEyTiPG0AGIaE15IGQarqpu8zrhhBYqNuAgy0n2tIFLUsLqbN66mSb4InB1v-Hh0U1AAYIcXSpNgmuM40jsbF9Yu/s5152/IMG_2139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1I5PCLoiopfpTnzdw9fwKGEOdDdOftzGMWFmPyljaNTGkI-WLImYGEyTiPG0AGIaE15IGQarqpu8zrhhBYqNuAgy0n2tIFLUsLqbN66mSb4InB1v-Hh0U1AAYIcXSpNgmuM40jsbF9Yu/s320/IMG_2139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Non Malay visitors too seems to enjoy the place.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44dNNn2DSPgsov4lc1cfmcQGGU7RsqQaaZsjB2bcPANEvMwEDhYuFCNFpoet9myCAb4MNvKmE61jx_egZdEEGeoTDwDRzJYPOt8NwqHMcpN-8gJCjKq-px68l5brjZQW00uzYylw1jEk0/s5152/IMG_2165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44dNNn2DSPgsov4lc1cfmcQGGU7RsqQaaZsjB2bcPANEvMwEDhYuFCNFpoet9myCAb4MNvKmE61jx_egZdEEGeoTDwDRzJYPOt8NwqHMcpN-8gJCjKq-px68l5brjZQW00uzYylw1jEk0/s320/IMG_2165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_-hvi-nlT8FMkTpF_emRE00KG1wfyM_7w8a-ZBtOr1MFcUS-OqOtu7mbQ04hRQDfxCMSX4pIrVUKwOk5vUGwuBalfdh5LEXKVScV3PqP7QrJk3t4Cl83_i_LJmBscI3H7uXgMVPRjkqN/s5152/IMG_2163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_-hvi-nlT8FMkTpF_emRE00KG1wfyM_7w8a-ZBtOr1MFcUS-OqOtu7mbQ04hRQDfxCMSX4pIrVUKwOk5vUGwuBalfdh5LEXKVScV3PqP7QrJk3t4Cl83_i_LJmBscI3H7uXgMVPRjkqN/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Batik paintings </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO10Q169TQybyFrk-QwTjX0vQIP1Jo_9ueztaFr8EJIfenitW1F5QNjnFCHb8-tQScYirMdMolpgcmJ2N6r7RFGwr2qcRDsaRl7CNqbZqBFW5Y_yE3U8-z-pSs4WfPAeKM72REcZwwwg1C/s5152/IMG_2162.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO10Q169TQybyFrk-QwTjX0vQIP1Jo_9ueztaFr8EJIfenitW1F5QNjnFCHb8-tQScYirMdMolpgcmJ2N6r7RFGwr2qcRDsaRl7CNqbZqBFW5Y_yE3U8-z-pSs4WfPAeKM72REcZwwwg1C/s320/IMG_2162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Padil a member of Persatuan Seni Dan Warisan Kelantan (PESTA) provide batik painting opportunities to visitors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> </span>Food glorious food is what people go for at the floating market. Beside the normal fare of nasi belauk, nasi kerabu and nasi dagang, there are many varieties of dishes only found among people living near the coastal areas. Such food as kerabu nipah, lokan bakar, satey lokan and sata are available. Kuihs such as akok, kuih pelita and several others are available too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Handicrafts though available are not local produce. As far as I can see, only batik painting and souvenir T shirts are available. Pusat Kraftangan must be involved in developing local handicraft by the people of Pulau Suri. Most people will buy something produced by the locals as a souvenir. </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> </span>Though the floating market is a private initiative of the people of Pulau Suri led by Pak Ngah Ghani, the State Government has given assistance in the provision of a floating jetty, a surau, a toilet and sand filling to overcome the soggy soil surface after the 2017 monsoon. All these were for the original floating market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> </span>They are currently in need of a proper and permanent electrical and water supply to both islands, something that can only be done by the state government.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rubbish disposal is another potential problem as open burning as currently practiced is not conducive to a long term maintenance of the place. The operators must be compelled to carry the rubbish to the mainland for a proper disposal so as to prevent the explosion of flies on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Tourism Malaysia should look into developing these two islands as a camping side to provide further business opportunities to the inhabitants of Pulau Suri. There is already some chalets being constructed on a nearby island close to both floating markets. This is a good sign as it shows the potential of the place to be turned into a tourist destination of the future. </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> It will be great if efforts are made to rehabilitate the Kelantan River and make them look like normal river water and not of 'teh tarik' water which is a shame to all the people of Kelantan.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Only by visiting the two Pulau Suri Floating Markets will you be able to really experience the ambiance of the place to help spread the word around and bring in more crowd.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Some pictures of food available at the floating market. Pictures courtesy of Norhisham Nawi.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9Tek6Szi5K1pa-XwRI1BNY85eDhCXdzNnI9gYaO1YeaaGNPQznqb-S4_4Hs9KiEddx4gGjPE9SQFIK1jPePFWy2r8JAWX0qL1U-57WM-M2RxVWw95HNvfXGdL1YdJvCOJpCZAlSgSZYA/s960/Ikan+Bakar+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9Tek6Szi5K1pa-XwRI1BNY85eDhCXdzNnI9gYaO1YeaaGNPQznqb-S4_4Hs9KiEddx4gGjPE9SQFIK1jPePFWy2r8JAWX0qL1U-57WM-M2RxVWw95HNvfXGdL1YdJvCOJpCZAlSgSZYA/s320/Ikan+Bakar+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grilled fish</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtBjY4-g8YFrOqhyphenhyphent9dZoZ-pzXB8kYqrID9mPesiPMRs3_bCuZcoCk0qX5DzIJUjiOO1NcL3RbIChQTYoqTxw_IP8ZgBY3D7NYfJqlqCOWZ-txZSVhAkmn2xtgLSyW6lWKpdJqU1E-mJo/s960/Kerang+bakar+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtBjY4-g8YFrOqhyphenhyphent9dZoZ-pzXB8kYqrID9mPesiPMRs3_bCuZcoCk0qX5DzIJUjiOO1NcL3RbIChQTYoqTxw_IP8ZgBY3D7NYfJqlqCOWZ-txZSVhAkmn2xtgLSyW6lWKpdJqU1E-mJo/s320/Kerang+bakar+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grilled lokan</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hvpzM_beL2KyvT4LwHiMmfPrzWTqu3XMn7578FpgulFJxT2b8jwkGELJLBTF8G9nfxXRfukfFlp6OK9EaovNTypxmJnDxWacJkfBRDpah8bei4zN58aX0iYwBoBSxaXL5C4gtf4V04mG/s960/Nasi+goreng+P+Suri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hvpzM_beL2KyvT4LwHiMmfPrzWTqu3XMn7578FpgulFJxT2b8jwkGELJLBTF8G9nfxXRfukfFlp6OK9EaovNTypxmJnDxWacJkfBRDpah8bei4zN58aX0iYwBoBSxaXL5C4gtf4V04mG/s320/Nasi+goreng+P+Suri.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nasi Lemak Pulau Suri</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLaWrsSeqn5ZR5KD2z2IRLQbajcsDRrYoM8FRLk02MP0souJO_HxdGG8BJ-X0k-Q-2dZvyF81x74HI_s-1DwgnI9kvh7TeX5nfz7dPn9akM252M30g8GncMbP5K3eZWroNb6-O5us31Rw/s960/Nasi+kerabu+P+Suri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLaWrsSeqn5ZR5KD2z2IRLQbajcsDRrYoM8FRLk02MP0souJO_HxdGG8BJ-X0k-Q-2dZvyF81x74HI_s-1DwgnI9kvh7TeX5nfz7dPn9akM252M30g8GncMbP5K3eZWroNb6-O5us31Rw/s320/Nasi+kerabu+P+Suri.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nasi Kerabu</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP9pjlKWCe9wrZBO7AHXAcoANmScX5ZUgtukQ0_8SNgxx8epnniRF8GeAWAkyra5u3E7l0E4nBY8y5TkGh3HQxVomqgVK8IFqm-qGGwRZl3-2CxEZgW5PzsbxTe8Cq-90FAmM4YeQANp3/s960/Nor+Nawi+Makanan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP9pjlKWCe9wrZBO7AHXAcoANmScX5ZUgtukQ0_8SNgxx8epnniRF8GeAWAkyra5u3E7l0E4nBY8y5TkGh3HQxVomqgVK8IFqm-qGGwRZl3-2CxEZgW5PzsbxTe8Cq-90FAmM4YeQANp3/s320/Nor+Nawi+Makanan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sota and sate lokan</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt5cdEF0mAW1SgBenZODiPM8AQzIQkcHDIlWQRtajbboBA2vguHhN1Au-dQXBQHZKqsVTBCyQ3JlV8n-Aa_ddJh_wuaE-Iyym2EDZag9xWl5LUU83paMCZnToC-orq5jUTSGAU6oMjBkH/s960/Norhisham+Nawi+P+Suri+makanan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt5cdEF0mAW1SgBenZODiPM8AQzIQkcHDIlWQRtajbboBA2vguHhN1Au-dQXBQHZKqsVTBCyQ3JlV8n-Aa_ddJh_wuaE-Iyym2EDZag9xWl5LUU83paMCZnToC-orq5jUTSGAU6oMjBkH/s320/Norhisham+Nawi+P+Suri+makanan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ikan, udang, ketam celup tepung.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNOxlNsx6UheZzUq1aQn2_n8WunQinDm_7vvG47JAvSzcXAeIryArt0WCovohFAad9GvZ1QW2ii5f4-KF9KbEjO41ILz5L8Rg5yJ9eSyZ5nBPrzOhv-4J1neA6CmvgaVzyeKY9WR5Kup8/s960/Norhisham+Nawi+P+Suri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNOxlNsx6UheZzUq1aQn2_n8WunQinDm_7vvG47JAvSzcXAeIryArt0WCovohFAad9GvZ1QW2ii5f4-KF9KbEjO41ILz5L8Rg5yJ9eSyZ5nBPrzOhv-4J1neA6CmvgaVzyeKY9WR5Kup8/s320/Norhisham+Nawi+P+Suri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Food vendors on the boat selling their products.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb7PQu3_h0pkz0O91sUwozN9P-vmM2eGMfm-0vWpMrfWMDBIEds5aKnHKyCmCwJ8zYj3OUcNaq8rfrCg7eQ6l04QSTxw5w-qB-PtvX8BcptGkirlWBdIXZnyQAJ04u9ia3O0L0Ad-E80N/s960/P+Abu+P+Suri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb7PQu3_h0pkz0O91sUwozN9P-vmM2eGMfm-0vWpMrfWMDBIEds5aKnHKyCmCwJ8zYj3OUcNaq8rfrCg7eQ6l04QSTxw5w-qB-PtvX8BcptGkirlWBdIXZnyQAJ04u9ia3O0L0Ad-E80N/s320/P+Abu+P+Suri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pak Abu(center), the founder of MasSeroja Floating market</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTbWtvIxTYrV9HnRkfEj-IqN8Fo-o7Mt05HOmCCwR3FlHlZBhkqAI8eN4mQl_UUGiEZbn80uWTDFvZsdE0GAiIldOOERc3Q39Jo2SSVmK_8gnooOkedaHkoJNqzUjHIdbdTKxENRKrnv8/s960/P+Suri+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTbWtvIxTYrV9HnRkfEj-IqN8Fo-o7Mt05HOmCCwR3FlHlZBhkqAI8eN4mQl_UUGiEZbn80uWTDFvZsdE0GAiIldOOERc3Q39Jo2SSVmK_8gnooOkedaHkoJNqzUjHIdbdTKxENRKrnv8/s320/P+Suri+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAzSQUOJVXBqHNlDjSSwDtcrpnfXCUL8ba_QUGoNFNLGtbDyZzfbj2sFwwRNj7EZLbmlP84ydZuwkAWe3q5Xyd136PUNrX08BntWJE7ZVVGMshhBB4qlRYZ1PI2Jiaxlkwg4pRTu39hIv/s960/Pulau+Suri+Floating+market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAzSQUOJVXBqHNlDjSSwDtcrpnfXCUL8ba_QUGoNFNLGtbDyZzfbj2sFwwRNj7EZLbmlP84ydZuwkAWe3q5Xyd136PUNrX08BntWJE7ZVVGMshhBB4qlRYZ1PI2Jiaxlkwg4pRTu39hIv/s320/Pulau+Suri+Floating+market.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Ics255iwPxGb3bLJ32yeMurbuOANsxTzDczwvOeOADnvSJqvM7po5_EBGx6ARPvd1Ft5SCLwKCSQTNPOwR80G2bYb6268nGWtugbXv8W3yaln-Dc_OD9n5v6NO9IfEpbxopE-IAgGhr/s960/Sate+lokan+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Ics255iwPxGb3bLJ32yeMurbuOANsxTzDczwvOeOADnvSJqvM7po5_EBGx6ARPvd1Ft5SCLwKCSQTNPOwR80G2bYb6268nGWtugbXv8W3yaln-Dc_OD9n5v6NO9IfEpbxopE-IAgGhr/s320/Sate+lokan+Norhisham+Nawi.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJPgilYxlDpsS2vlcWcFK1Z5d9QC3ana1hyrkOn1o-PK_kKrfJYIdv9GRG2IyRPstmPT8Ltu13Vz5p6ZV_oW9RiFjIIFJf8sgdIxbX3lIqhYkMFYJNPSp5cJeO8I3pQECuWhOTyK9lDa4/s5152/IMG_2133.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJPgilYxlDpsS2vlcWcFK1Z5d9QC3ana1hyrkOn1o-PK_kKrfJYIdv9GRG2IyRPstmPT8Ltu13Vz5p6ZV_oW9RiFjIIFJf8sgdIxbX3lIqhYkMFYJNPSp5cJeO8I3pQECuWhOTyK9lDa4/s320/IMG_2133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An old abandoned Ferryboat to Perhentian Island</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34KQRbZBn_WvNkkvRWihOEfRm9wHoontfollO7aVySNMJWodVTDkOy63SsWSEVQ9MlerXrK3tko3v2FrK4_jVrkq6Dz4UQ8noT3QV45Ddj8lXQQIPoKbO_0VVolhqsA8Io9yIyvYG2FQt/s5152/IMG_2137.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34KQRbZBn_WvNkkvRWihOEfRm9wHoontfollO7aVySNMJWodVTDkOy63SsWSEVQ9MlerXrK3tko3v2FrK4_jVrkq6Dz4UQ8noT3QV45Ddj8lXQQIPoKbO_0VVolhqsA8Io9yIyvYG2FQt/s320/IMG_2137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Haji Kamaruzaman of D'Thlia Homestay Bunut Susu at Pulau Suri.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Further readings - click on the topic to go to the original site:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blog.tourism.gov.my/kelantan-floating-market-traditional-fishing-boat-tour/" style="font-family: times; text-align: left;">A Taste Of Kelantan Floating Market</a><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"> by Khairul Abidin Nuar</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://lyfandspice.com/2017/10/11/floating-market-kelantan-malaysia/" style="font-family: times;">A Floating Market In Kelantan</a><span style="font-family: times;"> by Lyf&Spice</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><h1 class="page-title mb-2 ins-style-wrapper-c236" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 40px !important; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 795px; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 636px; z-index: 99999;"><span class="d-inline-block mr-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; margin-right: 0.25rem !important;"><a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/exclusive/2019/11/535380/charming-floating-markets-kelantan">The charming floating markets of Kelantan</a></span><div class="d-block d-lg-flex mb-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; margin-bottom: 1rem !important;"><div class="article-meta mb-2 mb-lg-0 d-flex align-items-center" style="align-items: center !important; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; font-size: 0.8rem; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"><div class="author-photo mr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 0.5rem !important;"><img class="img-fluid" src="https://assets.nst.com.my/images/author/Sharifah%20Mahsinah%20Abdullah_0.png" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 55px;" /></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">By <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/authors/sharifah-mahsinah-abdullah" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e6483c; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah</a> - </span>November 3, 2019 @ 1:00pm</div></div></div></h1><h1 class="headline font-1 medium bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: font_1_bold; font-size: 35px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px;"><span class="priority-content" mlnid="idcon=269520;order=1.0" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.thesundaily.my/local/malaysia-s-floating-market-in-kelantan-HL728229">Malaysia’s floating market in Kelantan</a></span></h1></div></div><div><h1 class="page-title mb-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="d-inline-block mr-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-right: 0.25rem;"><a href="https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2016/09/193585/pasar-terapung-pertama-malaysia-di-kelantan">Pasar terapung pertama Malaysia di Kelantan</a></span></h1><div class="page-article" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="d-block d-lg-flex mb-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><div class="article-meta mb-2 mb-lg-0 d-flex align-items-center" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: 0.8rem; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Oleh <a href="https://www.bharian.com.my/authors/oleh-siti-rohana-idris" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #d31145; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Siti Rohana Idris</a> - </span>September 17, 2016 @ 5:57pm<div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="mailto:bhkb@bh.com.my" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #d31145; text-decoration-line: none;">bhkb@bh.com.my</a></div></div></div><div class="social-share ml-auto" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto;"><div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox" data-description="TUMPAT: Kelantan Floating Market atau pasar terapung di Kampung Pantai Suri, di sini, yang mula beroperasi hari ini menjadi pasar terapung pertama di Malaysia." data-title="Pasar terapung pertama Malaysia di Kelantan" data-url="https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2016/09/193585/pasar-terapung-pertama-malaysia-di-kelantan" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;"><div aria-labelledby="at-3fcf9b57-7da4-40f0-8dd5-55b20a47a4d2" class="at-resp-share-element at-style-responsive addthis-smartlayers addthis-animated at4-show" id="atstbx" role="region" style="animation-duration: 0.3s; animation-fill-mode: both; animation-timing-function: ease-out; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="at4-visually-hidden" face="Roboto, sans-serif" id="at-3fcf9b57-7da4-40f0-8dd5-55b20a47a4d2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); color: #212529; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute;"></span><div class="at-share-btn-elements" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><a class="at-icon-wrapper at-share-btn at-svc-whatsapp" role="button" style="background-color: #4dc247; border-radius: 16px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 2px 5px; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" tabindex="0"></a></div><div class="at-share-btn-elements" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="at-share-btn-elements" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="at-share-btn-elements" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-13809229776656920842018-09-10T14:37:00.001+08:002018-09-10T14:41:06.111+08:00Learning The Ropes Again.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After a long lay off from blogging, trying to blog again is quite a chore. Many of the things that we needed to know in order to create a blog is forgotten. The learning process has to be done again. Fortunately for us, relearning is an easier process as while doing it, we begin to recollect little by little the techniques which we learnt since we begin blogging as far back as 2007 as in my case.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In our early years of blogging, taking photos was by using the cameras. The pictures taken were than transferred to the P or laptop before resizing them and do some editing when needed. Resizing was necessary as a photo taken with a camera with high resolution will be too big and cumbersome not only for us to upload but also for the readers to view when reading the blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to improvement to technology and better internet speed, those problems are not a problem anymore. Nowadays ipads and notepads are a camera and computer rolled into one. Whatever pictures take with them can easily be retrieved and uploaded into our blog posts. How convenient.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway this post is actually another learning process as I
am honing my skill to make new posts before embarking on blogging again
on a more serious note.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEYoIj08HS9PoQn4f8wDfBSOiv9bFGln5nJjxeZAQ_S4G2XLuW_t74UEnZvREbRiaOblLeGsxCNV-gdoMOZAABSkPQ1qvV3SRqCfCSADlb-3EUHoUEoCRCuSkNuTt_CQdY8gImu9063SP/s1600/IMG20180910132141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEYoIj08HS9PoQn4f8wDfBSOiv9bFGln5nJjxeZAQ_S4G2XLuW_t74UEnZvREbRiaOblLeGsxCNV-gdoMOZAABSkPQ1qvV3SRqCfCSADlb-3EUHoUEoCRCuSkNuTt_CQdY8gImu9063SP/s320/IMG20180910132141.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Visited my friend and former classmate Tuan Haji Azmy Omar Alahmady for a wonderful lunch on the occasion of his tenth cucu's aqiqah at his home in Kampung Dangar Pasir Mas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXkKCXLvaztBm1XTlXIBv9n-xTiq8znEcsqi5i-Y77hEgmd9Lnoc8GtPUySSDjwbPtr4IgXVoQA9llh8Qm7cEgGPODZwqoxSUKmVhUln_GQdVu2MVh_b7X0ZEWYYg-Im_MBg7kN0aJj3T/s1600/IMG20180910134504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXkKCXLvaztBm1XTlXIBv9n-xTiq8znEcsqi5i-Y77hEgmd9Lnoc8GtPUySSDjwbPtr4IgXVoQA9llh8Qm7cEgGPODZwqoxSUKmVhUln_GQdVu2MVh_b7X0ZEWYYg-Im_MBg7kN0aJj3T/s320/IMG20180910134504.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The above is the picture of a material which I will be using to fix my leaking roof and will be used in my next blog posting.</span><br />
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Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-61936052979615850532018-09-08T08:07:00.000+08:002018-09-08T18:00:03.480+08:00Pakmat Fahmy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The old coot as he called himself is now wheel chair bound. The usually jovial Pak Mat is inflicted with a stage four cancer of the lung. The hospital where he was treated earlier has ceased to treat him. So no more painful chemotherapy treatment for him as it is now ineffective. He is allowed to stay home with his caring wife Cik Ani and count his days which is now numbered. He still takes his medication religiously though most of the medication are analgesic, to stem the pain of the rapidly invading cancer cell.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT2qp6HoUUP39C-2l6lFmq3sEY7XZG5M5MRgyM2xOB9SLM7Ds5VJKKc6mYnGXcWyMV3VBVMI9_DdF-QRX3eOSK1rP_VtUjDJRX_7dPUOfliwkPehsCrANtQE_nA4ndK6TSI-8KiSEG980/s1600/From+Oppo+7Sept18+5421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT2qp6HoUUP39C-2l6lFmq3sEY7XZG5M5MRgyM2xOB9SLM7Ds5VJKKc6mYnGXcWyMV3VBVMI9_DdF-QRX3eOSK1rP_VtUjDJRX_7dPUOfliwkPehsCrANtQE_nA4ndK6TSI-8KiSEG980/s320/From+Oppo+7Sept18+5421.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pak Mat Fahmy is now wheelchair bound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know each other as fellow bloggers as I enjoy his witty write up and his impeccable English. He blogs in his blog <a href="http://tatak-tatak.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pakmat</a>. His style is very peculiar as the example below.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan;"> <span style="font-size: large;">..a post from pakmat's facebook..I thought I shared it here for my non fb friends..</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two dots will will be placed at the beginning a new sentence as if it was something trailing from an earlier thought. Anyway it is his style and we all accepted it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Due to the medication and lack of exercise, he also suffers from acute constipation and and his bowel movement will only occur after an interval of a few days and even that has to be induced by a laxative introduced via the anal passage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being regularly inflicted with the same problem of constipation myself, I know a few ways of alleviating the problem. Diet of high roughage leafy vegetables is essential. Papaya, bananas and pineapples certainly help. Though Pak Mat said that he is already on high fiber oats, it doesn't seem to work for him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Though he Hospital provides him with lactulose syrup to soften up his stool, he had not been taking it regularly as he misunderstood it to be another laxative that didn't work for him. I managed to convince him of the usefulness of it. Instead of using the anally introduced laxative, I suggested that he uses oral laxative. <a href="https://shopee.com.my/NH-Detoxlim-Natural-Clenx-Tea%E2%84%A2--Detox-slimming---EXP--09--2019--i.40377106.699178061?gclid=Cj0KCQjww8jcBRDZARIsAJGCSGuKymCmREl75yriB75UjPKMNAjRjWK22407JOzRGksN1KWXavDC-u0aAh8MEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Natural Clenx Tea</a> from NH Detoxlim available at most pharmacies, Watson and online has been effective for me. I suggested that he tries it. Being internet savvy and a regular online buyer, Pak Mat immediately surfed the net and found the product online.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Traditionally, the gelenggang leaves (cassia alata/senna alata) when boiled and the water is drunk is effective as a laxative. In fact their leaves are the major ingredient of most herbal laxatives available in the market.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The flowers of cassia alata</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Drinking sufficient plain water is also necessary. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">The above information is not only meant for Pak Mat but also for all those that suffer from constipation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> One for the album with Pak Mat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing that Pak Mat has ample time on his hands, I presented him with two pre loved fictions from Sidney Sheldon, <i>Nothing Lasts Forever and The Sky Is Falling </i>with the hope that the time he is engrossed in reading the books will keep his mind off the pain that he has to daily endure.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">To all friends who know Pak Mat please visit him at his home in Bachok. If he happens to be on one of his better days, he will be very happy to receive visitors. Call him +6013922670 or Whatsapp the same number for his home location:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">http//goo.gl/maps/eZeVMg5HL262</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit his blog <a href="http://tatak-tatak.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pakmat</a> too.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Pak Mat Fahmy, I wish you all the best. May you be strong to face the painful days ahead. Fate may seems to be cruel to some of us, but it is His to decide and we have to accept it.</span></span><br />
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Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-39354059849742220542015-05-06T08:21:00.001+08:002015-05-06T23:13:22.117+08:00The Travel Bug Is Biting Again.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't travelled much this year. Due to my daughter Azini's forty days confinement at home after delivering Mohamad Aniq, we took a short rest in Perhentian Kechil Terengganu staying at a budget resort on in March this year. The two Perhentian Islands are definitely worth a visit by anybody who loves the sun, sand and sea due to its accessibility, beauty and affordability. I will blog about these island paradise soon.<br />
Another one of my plan was to join Wan Izzudin Sulaiman and his wife for a trip to Sri Lanka and from this island, hop across to another paradise islands of Maldives in August. However we aborted this plan due to the ongoing house renovation which took a big chunk of our budget. So the plan to visit Sri Lanka remains a plan.<br />
Being idle most of the times My itchy fingers started playing on the keyboards of my computers when I saw affordable flights and hotels in Manilla on The Air Asia website. These online advertisement via emails are definitely effective and many companies like Air Asia use them to the hilt. I am one of those who often succumb to temptations of anything that seems to be cheap and affordable. With the abettement of the other half, we bought a package of flight plus hotel in Manilla slated for November 2015. It will be a four days three night package just to cover Manilla.<br />
My pilot son often mentioned the beauty of Lombok in Indonesia and the many other smaller islands near it. Lombok was one of the night stays whenever he flew to that destination. Being near to Bali which we last visited a month after the Bali bombing massacre quite a long time ago. Doing Lombok and Bali again seems exciting. Back to the keyboards again and we found suitable hotel accomodation in Mattaram Lombok and booked Favehotel in August. In Bali, La Walon Hotel in Kuta was our earlier choice. Both were booked via Booking.com which allows for payment at the hotels and free cancellation if done within the time limit should there be any change of plan later. La Walon was later changed to the newer Favehotel right smack in the heart of Kuta. All done online without any charge by Booking.com or the hotel involved.<br />
The earlier plan was for a 4 days 3 nights stay in Lombok and 5 days 4 nights stay in Bali. The plan was reversed when our son Azrin told us that there is more to see and do in Lombok since we have done Bali before. Hey via Booking.com such a thing can be done in a jiffy.<br />
The current intinerary now is:<br />
12th August 2015<br />
KBR - KUL, KUL - Lombok<br />
16th August 2015<br />
Ferry ride to Bali<br />
19th August 2015<br />
Denpasar - KUL, KUL - KBR.<br />
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Wan Izzudeen Sulaiman if you are reading this, why not join me for this trip to Lombok and Bali?<br />
PS, pictures and details will be added later. Please come again.<br />
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Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-71490922959483658032015-04-25T14:16:00.003+08:002015-04-25T14:16:28.604+08:00Renovating The House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I shudder at the thought of having to renovate the house. We bought the house in 1981. We rented the house until 1995 when finally we moved in from our house in Taman Wangi, Gua Musang which we ultimately sold at a profit. The profit could have been four times more had I waited another ten more years to sell it. God has destined that I can only make that much and be grateful for that. Thus far we had extended the kitchen twice, added a store and upon the advice of fellow blogger Pak Idrus of the blog In Passing Malaysian, to install laminated flooring to all the rooms and avoid the use of carpets which is purported to be unhealthy especially to children with asthma.<br />
The current renovation is necessitated by incessant recurring flash flood that bring jitters whenever heavy long spell of rain occur in our place. The poor drainage system of the area was made worse when the drains kept growing narrower when new buildings were constructed impeding water flow from my area. Resurfacing of the main road also impede water flow when the road level increases a further two inches when a new layer is added as the flood water has to surmount the extra inches due to insufficient size of the culverts crossing the road. Complaints to the relevant authorities is just like complaining to a dead wall.<br />
Now I have to raise the floor of house by at least nine inches just to ensure that if a flood of the December 2014 magnitude that hit Kelantan with devastating consequences will not have any effect on my home. I could not raise the floor level any higher as the height of the ceiling from the floor will be reduced to a mere nine feet three inches and it is the minimum height for comfort.<br />
For the renovation to be done I will to remove all the furniture in the house, all the laminated flooring and door frames. As of now all that has been done and the contractor will move in tomorrow. Hopefully they will do a quick job so that things will be reverted to normal as soon as possible<br />
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The house is now bereft of any furniture except the kitchen one bedroom at the back of the house where we will be sleeping in which will remain as it is.<br />
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Luckily for have we have big porches to keep all the furniture while the renovation is being carried out.<br />
Till the renovation is done, life will be a bit uncomfortable for the two of us as the children are not encouraged to visit us in the meantime. </div>
Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-76100393763091667702015-04-24T20:59:00.000+08:002015-04-24T20:59:04.693+08:00Back To Blogging This Coming May 6, 2015.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last post on this site was done on Friday, September 13, 2013 with the title of Guilty Feeling. That post wasn't even completed and the sentence wasn't even a complete sentence. That was how bad things were with the bloggers due to the shift to Facebook as the preferred social media. By now a few of our prolific fellow bloggers namely Captain Yusof Ahmad of the blog The Ancient Mariner, Dalilah Tamrin of One Breast Bouncing, Zaharan Razak of Zaharan zveloyak and Zorro of zorro-unmasked has passed on (may their souls rest in peace). Those are that I know. Maybe a few others too had passed on but unknown to me. Some may have gone into obscurity and never appear anywhere on any social media and never made contact with any of our fellow bloggers.<br />
Today I had a surprise call from Kak Teh (Zaharah Othman) of Kak Teh's Choc-a-Bloc Blog on her Facebook page calling for all bloggers to hit the keyboards again beginning on 6th of May 2015. I can't wait for that date and so I am jumping the gun not that because I want to make a head start but to alert other bloggers of that era to do the same on this coming May 6. Some including myself doubt the ability to remember our passwords with some even doubting their ability to recall the names of their blog. Those who claim to have forgotten their passwords were reminded to use the Forgot Your Password button to regain their passwords since they have forgotten about the existence of such a facility.<br />
So with this post, I am kick starting my blogging on Life As I See It...<br />
Happy blogging mates</div>
Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-77196592569101086552011-05-04T09:47:00.002+08:002011-05-06T11:16:31.384+08:00Back To BloggingI have decided to continue blogging after a long layoff. My last post was on 7th. December 2010. Until this morning I thought it was the last and I would cease to post any new post and would let the site be dormant for as long as I was in no mood to continue blogging again.<br />There is nothing specific that made me lay off from posting a new post. The only reason that immediately comes to mind is laziness, the lack of enthusiasm, lack of interest as so many other bloggers who can be considered as my peers has passed on or has vanished from the blogosphere without any parting post. The demise of Captain Yusoff Ahmad of The Ancient Mariner, Ruby Ahmad, Dalilah Tamrin's One Breast Bouncing and now Zaharan Razak of 'I' of the Storm is lying a comatose in a hoispital somewhere in Trengganu, and several other bloggers such as Mat Salo of Borneo Blues and The Pirate of Pulau Kapas with his blog Capt's Longhouse has all gone quiet, the blogosphere that I was comfortable in becomes lonely and desolate. Slowly I too went quiet.<br />Now I am waking up. I have a life to live and share whatever I have to share with my family and friends via this blog. This blog will continue to be the life within me. This blog will only die when I die.<br />After two weeks of soul searching in the holy lands of Medina and Mecca, I thought I would come back rejuvenated. My life should have been alive on the day I set foot on Malaysian soil again. Alas it was not to be and it took me a full month to begin.<br />Beside making new post again, I will begin painting again. There are a couple of painting which I promised to do for my friends and family but I have yet to fulfill their request. Namely Pakpayne with the almost finished Traditional Fishing Boat, HJ Angus for his Sunrise at KB's Waterfront, a painting for my son Azrin and daughter Azini since both of them has just moved in into their new homes.<br />One activity which I didn't stop was gardening. I did manage to clear a small patch on the vacant land in front of my house and I planted some chilli plants, some kangkong and some angled loofah. All of them are bearing now while the kangkong has been providing me with an endless stream of fresh green vegetables.<br />Since the last posting in December I have been blessed with two grandsons. First to come was Razeen Ilham the son who is 4 months old and he is the fourth child for my son Azrin and Yanie while Airil Hafizi is almost two month old son of my son Azuan and Ijjah. Their coming to this world was a joyous occasion which deserved a post on my blog at least as a matter of records. Unfortunately they came at a time when I just wasn't in the mood to write anything.<br />With this post, I hope to be back to my normal self and continue to do what I used to do before, sharing the joy of life with my family and friends.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-23499746902752537232010-11-04T15:37:00.001+08:002010-11-04T15:37:52.691+08:00A Coffee Table For My Son's New House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKVJ3S1bVgFoz_KWgEOMHa1jHEP0rmd7UJSnWppdyxgUOL7hxIU4EEEKVyLOYfzHFkEj99IcxYu53bxFmkfgxjqjS8KIMxpjCLMkRuoiPwC0b14oAo9ycQez3x1BLvpu3pIy4uVv8lFQQ/s1600/rumah+azrin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKVJ3S1bVgFoz_KWgEOMHa1jHEP0rmd7UJSnWppdyxgUOL7hxIU4EEEKVyLOYfzHFkEj99IcxYu53bxFmkfgxjqjS8KIMxpjCLMkRuoiPwC0b14oAo9ycQez3x1BLvpu3pIy4uVv8lFQQ/s400/rumah+azrin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535582828116018146" border="0" /></a>Azrin with his three children, Irsyad, Ayen and Syakirah<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1BUVsQrDtsQHqmC60ASXA4AaApWhep30CtsCXuPcgoxeyeaN6IjvrOJXrcZd8RjF9UbE60Ffd40fqJDgyQ8Pfn914J-yR2xYYL6bvN3v7vWdosjCTNQYu-l6Q4vOl5Dy2meu_9ANVSxw/s1600/Yanie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1BUVsQrDtsQHqmC60ASXA4AaApWhep30CtsCXuPcgoxeyeaN6IjvrOJXrcZd8RjF9UbE60Ffd40fqJDgyQ8Pfn914J-yR2xYYL6bvN3v7vWdosjCTNQYu-l6Q4vOl5Dy2meu_9ANVSxw/s400/Yanie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535586843548485506" border="0" /></a>Yanie posing with a friend. The Black Merc belongs to her friend.<br /><br /><br />It was sometimes in August 2010 that my daughter in law Yanie made a posting in her Facebook that she will be moving into her new home in Subang Alam in Section 27 Shah Alam. I immediately responded by promising to give a coffee table which she could collect when she came back for the last Idulfitri. Unfortunately the table was not ready as the workshop that I commissioned to do was too busy doing other jobs including my own <span style="font-style: italic;">wakaf</span> (gazebo).<br />It was only today that the final coat of white shellac was sprayed and was ready for collection.<br />The table top for the coffee table is a special piece of cengal wood measuring 18" x 43" carved with floral motives. This piece of wood is special in that I had purchased it some 20 odd years ago from my uncle in Kuala Lumpur. It was a surplus piece from those used to decorate the walls of the traditional houses in Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Shah Alam. I remember paying my uncle some RM300 for that piece with a few other items made from wood. The piece had been in my keep without knowing when it will ever be used. So when we moved back from our previous home in Gua Musang, that piece of wood carving came along. Though I have never found a proper use for it, it was never the less safely tucked away in a corner. Our own furniture of mainly Indonesian Jati did not seem to allow for this gem to fit in anywhere.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kde5B7HgjSqoYP8f9avv52oEEPQJzcl-wmX7YyOneURGcCUmlQV6wHSuYNqwJfGI93riaoDOiPObVIUxkx6PjOOQw0lIgw714XIvjOMiouwV3hpRdC5IYxrhFlCwmjxQW14QTex2Nic-/s1600/meja2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kde5B7HgjSqoYP8f9avv52oEEPQJzcl-wmX7YyOneURGcCUmlQV6wHSuYNqwJfGI93riaoDOiPObVIUxkx6PjOOQw0lIgw714XIvjOMiouwV3hpRdC5IYxrhFlCwmjxQW14QTex2Nic-/s400/meja2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535582845310138610" border="0" /></a>The beautiful carving with a floral motif.<br /><br />That was until my son bought his new house that there was space enough for a coffee table which I offered him for via Yanie's facebook posting. There was a snag though. He had ordered his new furniture in white even though they were made of Cengal, the king of Malaysian wood. He wanted furniture made of wood that will last but of white color. To me painting wood is against the spirit of wood especially when they are made of cengal whereby all the grain in the wood will be obscured.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNcsQn5KHM28Qz6ItesL_ei_x4gwrkXbabi5qlPoKJnXDEF4WJ4oH1hMBM8LdknTnzZN_Z7l1CZ7iVYl1UTUK1R7UJwSmZ6jpvMEvX3hR0EFQQ93O1n_5rdHhXGyGLtg713Uo9N-Fmz0v/s1600/meja1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNcsQn5KHM28Qz6ItesL_ei_x4gwrkXbabi5qlPoKJnXDEF4WJ4oH1hMBM8LdknTnzZN_Z7l1CZ7iVYl1UTUK1R7UJwSmZ6jpvMEvX3hR0EFQQ93O1n_5rdHhXGyGLtg713Uo9N-Fmz0v/s400/meja1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535582829454881282" border="0" /></a><br />In the case of the coffee table, I had to compromise. The body of the table will be painted with white shellac, while the table top with the floral carving will be stained with wood oil and covered with a piece of 8 mm glass. Thus the carving will remain the color of the wood with the spirit of wood intact.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ6G9tkZGoc8Rz3AkR_O7PxM4ELnrat-pCl_uirUURyrwnTckYRFfOZ2cYO3DQ-jS-9Ewmqg62QJA-r1x5zzLpnuhPkNlpiJ74KPhbS97T6frTaqCHXrWNx2ATL7VTC49OxBGmNOwRrM2/s1600/meja3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ6G9tkZGoc8Rz3AkR_O7PxM4ELnrat-pCl_uirUURyrwnTckYRFfOZ2cYO3DQ-jS-9Ewmqg62QJA-r1x5zzLpnuhPkNlpiJ74KPhbS97T6frTaqCHXrWNx2ATL7VTC49OxBGmNOwRrM2/s400/meja3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535582853894187458" border="0" /></a><br />The table will be delivered to my son's home when I next visit them after Yanie has delivered my ninth grandson in January 2011.<br />Today is Azrin's birthday. Happy birthday son.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-43981508580567408732010-08-28T16:30:00.001+08:002010-08-28T16:33:35.603+08:00Saving The Life of A Machine<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v41MbcMtdqiifMmBnFHQj5mw2HpLi0S4Jw6VKMvw2uPwqwHmbCKkzo1G2BOtOEHvR7GP9XZbZDBY3jO1pNjSLSkuyBTVime8DdMEr534lUKeGjb_Ruvv_yqXapDiLfofjLpLRpCgh7o/s1600/pasang+semula.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v41MbcMtdqiifMmBnFHQj5mw2HpLi0S4Jw6VKMvw2uPwqwHmbCKkzo1G2BOtOEHvR7GP9XZbZDBY3jO1pNjSLSkuyBTVime8DdMEr534lUKeGjb_Ruvv_yqXapDiLfofjLpLRpCgh7o/s400/pasang+semula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510039759821317970" border="0" /></a><br />The two of us who are members of the Surau near our home was almost done with the vacuuming of the carpet in the small surau after the Friday Subuh prayers when the vacuum machine suddenly went quiet. We tried to restart the machine but it was to no avail. When I touched the body of the machine, it felt pretty hot. After letting it cool down we tried again after checking all the cables to see all the power supply was intact.We even changed the point from where the machine was plugged into. Since after such attempts were made the machine refused to come to life.<br />I took the machine home and told my wife that the machine ain't working anymore. It could be a burnt coil. Since we had been using the machine for several years already we thought the machine has had its day and called it quit. We decide to buy a new one the next day as we were going to Kota Bharu on Saturday. We will buy a similar model, a Panasonic by National. Since we are buying a new one, I decided to have a go with the machine and open it up to see what is wrong with it. Knowing that the worst that can happen is replacing the machine, I didn't have to worry if it will be good again or not.<br />There were not many visible screws to unscrew and the few that I saw were already out and yet the machine refused to be disemboweled. After further scrutiny I found a few more screws under a removable body part. Yet the machine can't be opened up. Using flat screw drivers I forced open a section of the body and suddenly I heard a small crack, indicating that a small part had given way to the force and broke up. Removing the piece I saw another single screw that needed to be opened before the whole machine can be opened. What a way to learn things by experimenting and relying on hunches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-lbf9M-fO46mD3F2wTk2RVrO0K5z4YsLW7zhKu493dJOWp5pzSdZecJ6RtDNbS8xgJCqC4gSCOS-0bWQWds6dCDnmkuL92PNK7OudkcYZ5iMH1c6b4_CdM1EAMM-8VWMlFJ3NfRQGYo/s1600/buka.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-lbf9M-fO46mD3F2wTk2RVrO0K5z4YsLW7zhKu493dJOWp5pzSdZecJ6RtDNbS8xgJCqC4gSCOS-0bWQWds6dCDnmkuL92PNK7OudkcYZ5iMH1c6b4_CdM1EAMM-8VWMlFJ3NfRQGYo/s400/buka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510039755403381378" border="0" /></a>The motor was removed and cleaned of dust.<br /><br />At last I could open up the machine and was able to check the motor inside. Upon closer scrutiny, there was no visibility burning signs on the coil. That is a good sign, meaning a simple machine like a vacuum machine is not overly damaged if the coil is still intact. To confirm the coil is OK I called on my neighbour Chong who is an electrician and he confirmed my hunch that the motor is OK.<br />He suggested that I just clean up the dusts in the machine and fit them together again to try and start it up. Rebuilding became a bit of a problem as I had not really observed the steps I took when opening up. Since there were not many parts inside, I finally did manage to fit in all the screws and kept the wires inside intact.<br />It was music to my ears when upon switching it on, the motor whined. My wife grinned from ear to ear as we are saved several hundred ringgit if we were to buy a new machine. At least that expense will be delayed until much later when the machine will give up its last breath.<br />In our home I have managed to salvage many other electrical appliances like the electric irons, fans and vacuum cleaners because I dare to try and repair them first before throwing them away for good. Sometimes they were just mere dusts, broken wires or dry bearings that prevented them from function. Reconnecting broke wires, reapplying grease on bearings and removing dusts often bring them back to life. Not all were so easy though but some did. Those that did were really satisfying.<br />My sister in law's vacuum cleaner was not sucking much dust. She was contemplating buying a new one. When she told me of her problem, I opened up the dust compartment and sure enough the dust bag was choked up with years of all the things it was made to suck in. Her Electrolux vacuum cleaner is still serving her fine despite the many decades of being in service.<br />The moral of the story, don't rush into buying a new machine unless it is beyond repair. Such machines do need regular servicing to keep them in working condition. If it needs be, it must be brought to the service centers to have them professionally cleaned up. You will defintely be the winner<br /></p></div>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-52870920848326192172010-08-14T09:32:00.001+08:002010-08-14T09:38:40.280+08:00HEALTH IS WEALTH<img src="file:///C:/Users/ZAWAWI/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Q3U1eor3ksLkS-T4t_yBrX1dI4oZtfVxgckO6KW1z8h6CylZEW4xdLovk0Y_Sxa6noQkUD1d1jLeOSn-D7A88wD3znDhxLSNUpmyWb2npDiAxxBGK8sVGNudHUHYNKwucZc8HUZXtg/s1600/working+out.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Q3U1eor3ksLkS-T4t_yBrX1dI4oZtfVxgckO6KW1z8h6CylZEW4xdLovk0Y_Sxa6noQkUD1d1jLeOSn-D7A88wD3znDhxLSNUpmyWb2npDiAxxBGK8sVGNudHUHYNKwucZc8HUZXtg/s400/working+out.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047593129680066" border="0" /></a><br />Being diagnosed with even a mild hypertension at an early age of 27 way back in 1977 wasn't a good prospect for my future life. Knowing it early was a blessing as I know what to do so as not to aggravate the ailment. The doctors told me to watch my diet, sleep well, watch my weight and above all exercise. All relevant points to note for all those afflicted with hypertension.<br />I led a pretty active life prior to 1997. Playing tennis to sweat it out was like a must in my daily life. Things changed when I became an internet junkie hooked on the internet relay chat or IRC. All those who had suffered the same malady as me will understand the situation. This addiction continued to the end of my working days that is till the end of 2005. Being a weekend husband who will only return to the family located 185 kms away provided the ultimate opportunity for me to stay online till the wee hours of the day. I know I was getting any healthier with that kind of life.<br />A change of lifestyle was needed. Though I can opt for another year of service, I prefer to retire just to be with my family and lead a new lifestyle.<br />It was time to regain my health. I need to sweat it out. My earlier investment of a step machine did not work as it was boring to work on. Fortunately I did not invest on a stationary exercise bike as it was just as boring. The mountain bike and all the other bicycles that I had just continued to collect dust.<br />I made a great mistake when I invested in a massage chair. Take my word that the massage chair is not the way to health. Fortunately my brother in law offered to buy the machine at a highly discounted price. Now it was time to look for another machine to help me to exercise.<br />Scouting the malls in Kota Bharu took me to fitness shops selling a multitude of exercise machines. The treadmills fascinated me. Nowadays only motorized treadmills are being sold so I won't be making the mistake of buying one that is not. The problem was how to make a choice. There were so many brands and specifications to choose from. Reebok, Gintel, Takashima and many others from Taiwan are available ranging in price from RM2,000 to RM6,000 which is the price range I am looking for. Some brands and models come with attractive freebies in the form of other fitness machines. The top of the line model from Gintel comes with a free massage chair.<br />After several look and see at the outlet, we finally decide to buy a Takashima due to the many models available with the specifications I had in mind.<br />Utmost in my mind is that the machine must be powered with a minimum of 2 HP motor. Anything below will not stand the vigorous use. Other specifications are the presence of built in programs for the workout, pliant board that will not stress my 60 years old feet (the heart maybe as old but you know the owner always feel it is younger than its chronological or physical age) and any other features will be a bonus.<br />The model we decided upon was Takashima Fitness 1 Advance series TK 551. Thanks to Fikry the sale staff who made the recommendation and put in an effort to make the sale.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCBInqfwSaxFfNjSeIEn608wBSpdQSgDZr7qGnplm4WBfYg6jwMuCNi-I93xugwtNc4a7LGTcSx7xu7JwN3l7J-wyYrqMAhhMkHhx94EnozV2YH9s2Wv_QSE9c77pPoZPh9WtnumBNss/s1600/phamplet.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCBInqfwSaxFfNjSeIEn608wBSpdQSgDZr7qGnplm4WBfYg6jwMuCNi-I93xugwtNc4a7LGTcSx7xu7JwN3l7J-wyYrqMAhhMkHhx94EnozV2YH9s2Wv_QSE9c77pPoZPh9WtnumBNss/s400/phamplet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505046462154643218" border="0" /></a>Using the machine doesn't mean that I will get the look and shape of the model, but it is an inspiration to become one.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa5w20EE7ybixCz0dEH4e9PwfhjX9E78jOVwUftUL0391G0JeauUysYbyANO14e_ygQm_vlb2HyKUzfRxtuM_G5f5xrkaewqrnK7jV7zeVZDghWMiOpXQvL0NOwWacl5l-TitzwSgwYg/s1600/The+model.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa5w20EE7ybixCz0dEH4e9PwfhjX9E78jOVwUftUL0391G0JeauUysYbyANO14e_ygQm_vlb2HyKUzfRxtuM_G5f5xrkaewqrnK7jV7zeVZDghWMiOpXQvL0NOwWacl5l-TitzwSgwYg/s400/The+model.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047062717542514" border="0" /></a>Reading the user manual helped me to understand better on how to use the machine because the sale staff may not know everything. One thing I learned is not to start the machine while you are standing on the board. Step on the board only after it has started moving as it will help the motor to have a longer life since it is not stressed. This was not told to me by the staff.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6A4U-WSpiWG6aUWRZU8g4BD-EBwMVgiH9jeQFeF0suT3aC7n08zx5qubkRH0oynZBJyPwjrqdlsJ6RJhxXyjHX_1WfdntNwPOlRw8VD0rIocAxpU0RxnarYz4cPuldd3mYUgqUhsCiI/s1600/Testing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6A4U-WSpiWG6aUWRZU8g4BD-EBwMVgiH9jeQFeF0suT3aC7n08zx5qubkRH0oynZBJyPwjrqdlsJ6RJhxXyjHX_1WfdntNwPOlRw8VD0rIocAxpU0RxnarYz4cPuldd3mYUgqUhsCiI/s400/Testing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047045707437042" border="0" /></a>Trying out the F1 Advance at the outlet at KB Mall before making the purchase.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqTXhyUMFtk37UGwJNWFvomn4nIyvjbepXm7dCzivmruFES7SOijyCZmp8SFYkMMVPtfvckRSn1UgGsqjoA05hvkeZC24Hj4KmDRlNQY3_EMSP0kKea-oZPAo4eF45alo9CXEw6KcHF0/s1600/Sale+staff.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqTXhyUMFtk37UGwJNWFvomn4nIyvjbepXm7dCzivmruFES7SOijyCZmp8SFYkMMVPtfvckRSn1UgGsqjoA05hvkeZC24Hj4KmDRlNQY3_EMSP0kKea-oZPAo4eF45alo9CXEw6KcHF0/s400/Sale+staff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505046473175042690" border="0" /></a>The sale staff with Fikry in the middle while Ramlah the KB Mall outlet head was busy preparing the necessary purchase orders.<br />A week later the delivery was made to my home. The delivery was within the two weeks promised.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZh-1EHwQxW2aHaLDnHVLNjm0vVHmS1QKW7OB4aOuPUVpn_EK7hScVM8RkBGh2Qo1bOuExI60KBYxuu0QFCkNKcQmN5yHj-Lf04JDNjn5oaiFBiRFNiLcdWEldOACj2bsJahNOdUdiY0/s1600/Delivered.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZh-1EHwQxW2aHaLDnHVLNjm0vVHmS1QKW7OB4aOuPUVpn_EK7hScVM8RkBGh2Qo1bOuExI60KBYxuu0QFCkNKcQmN5yHj-Lf04JDNjn5oaiFBiRFNiLcdWEldOACj2bsJahNOdUdiY0/s400/Delivered.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505046454977259122" border="0" /></a>The machine in it folded position for storage. As a comparison, the American made Reebok will just have the board folded and not the motor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq9DsmUHmZCp7V4CLHvfAI8evEOCGGTgoZ_6kNtMI5UdndgEbT0e1ZkaafqgmUKid3-MK4tWyaBL9I8ndr5H71XhAnTm9LpUJnb0tbjlSYryyPJLHurQLXRWCrGBx7vUtEYzfQ99t5bc/s1600/The+console.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq9DsmUHmZCp7V4CLHvfAI8evEOCGGTgoZ_6kNtMI5UdndgEbT0e1ZkaafqgmUKid3-MK4tWyaBL9I8ndr5H71XhAnTm9LpUJnb0tbjlSYryyPJLHurQLXRWCrGBx7vUtEYzfQ99t5bc/s400/The+console.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047050349588450" border="0" /></a>The console of the treadmill has a built in speaker and will accommodate an MP3 player or a hand phone. One of the program has a voice instruction accompanied with music. I prefer my house radio to keep me company.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9dz3bJLeLwbzM-WSpAsMk5kVitL3mbF7zIE0JuendFDBLE4Nj-clKSKDGN-1158i_yZJm4xIP1vceHYHTrnW8oSdlVrG-6y9Fjcln_Vet6v-ww6jeZBmAJb5GsgiJlFngBT7E1XnVko/s1600/LCD+screen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9dz3bJLeLwbzM-WSpAsMk5kVitL3mbF7zIE0JuendFDBLE4Nj-clKSKDGN-1158i_yZJm4xIP1vceHYHTrnW8oSdlVrG-6y9Fjcln_Vet6v-ww6jeZBmAJb5GsgiJlFngBT7E1XnVko/s400/LCD+screen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505046458901246258" border="0" /></a>The display monitor is large enough to show the time elapsed or remaining depending on the program, the speed in kmh. the distance in km, the pulse, the incline from 0 to 15 percent, the calories burned and program used.<br />The maximum load this machine can take is 120 kg. So if you are a fatso weighing over 120 kg, please get the Reebok which has a 3HP motor.<br />Thus far I have only done a maximum of 30 minutes walking a distance of 2 km. with a speed ranging fro a slow 2 kmh to a maximum of 7 kmh and an incline of 2 percent. That was more than enough to burn 70 calories off for a day and make me sweat. My maximum pulse rate is 135 beats per minute and I was told to not exceed the 150 beats being a 60 year old. They give you the chart as a guide on the maximum pulse that you should attain. A pull on the safety magnet switch will automatically switch off the machine and one end of the string to the switch must be attached to your apparel to ensure the machine will be cut off should a user fall from it.<br />Stretching is an important exercise to do before using the machine. The process will prepare your body for the strenuous exercise and prevent injury. Doing it after the exercise will help your body to cool down. Many people are reluctant to do this stretching exercise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ4imNqJjDzbJDOCJ_QZo14tjX9ukWWmtKhsQ3PZkaNxhzIC9ESrJH21ybRE_Ln2s6bP8lmoD6ILGWKK2EFg22TmZ4S5Dvdvh1hSw-jW-a6HoElSesOm4hyphenhyphenXL3dRaTYpQIjfny22k6xA/s1600/stretching.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ4imNqJjDzbJDOCJ_QZo14tjX9ukWWmtKhsQ3PZkaNxhzIC9ESrJH21ybRE_Ln2s6bP8lmoD6ILGWKK2EFg22TmZ4S5Dvdvh1hSw-jW-a6HoElSesOm4hyphenhyphenXL3dRaTYpQIjfny22k6xA/s400/stretching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505046480466937938" border="0" /></a>Since the exercise bike was given free, I made use of it if the wife happens to be using the treadmill at the same time. Actually we paid RM200 extra to get the bike of the model below. The one actually given free with the treadmill seemed too flimsy for our liking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvJPw9H_q9e0Y3-sQ_KiEaPmqgE2nPwVprf39zLxzg1VVbXHI04_LBzIfgUmAJ4pzDsu5KbcVAaAPB4aIK9yrhlEa9UIDbiCkXKQe4Ez5qtRRKXVJMbeTEGFw7LKih_BMsZpBm-87O-4/s1600/The+Bike.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvJPw9H_q9e0Y3-sQ_KiEaPmqgE2nPwVprf39zLxzg1VVbXHI04_LBzIfgUmAJ4pzDsu5KbcVAaAPB4aIK9yrhlEa9UIDbiCkXKQe4Ez5qtRRKXVJMbeTEGFw7LKih_BMsZpBm-87O-4/s400/The+Bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047049691492450" border="0" /></a>Since the doctor has advised my wife Fatthiyah to do some exercise and lose some weight, she was as eager as me to use the machine. Doing it together will definitely be more fun as the other will egg the other on to complete the programme.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMliZgme1Z-VpboedSylPU08oEpTjePfInqK-1YE9kwiWBqfrA3gEigrQrHLpyEiKCxntxgEAHwtiSyW8JnE5mhr3kHsydCKjyanRmVDn82o7Jgh45z2frGvJIhq4TxUdFwI0kUOrz6h8/s1600/The+wife+too.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMliZgme1Z-VpboedSylPU08oEpTjePfInqK-1YE9kwiWBqfrA3gEigrQrHLpyEiKCxntxgEAHwtiSyW8JnE5mhr3kHsydCKjyanRmVDn82o7Jgh45z2frGvJIhq4TxUdFwI0kUOrz6h8/s400/The+wife+too.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505047065568149186" border="0" /></a>The machine on its own will not do much to improve your health. Only by using it will it helps.<br />My aim now is to bring down my weight by 5 kg. I started off at 80 kg. With the fasting month on and a minimum of 3 times weekly 30 minutes workouts, InsyaAllah I will achieve it.</p></div>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-4983164079910044682010-07-19T10:39:00.001+08:002010-07-19T10:40:07.214+08:00Korea - The Final PartSeoul-Ho Chi Mink City-Kuala Lumpur<br /><br />This was the final night we are spending in Seoul, Korea. The hotel Stay 7 where we are putting up is located on an island which bears many similarities with Manhattan Island in USA. One similarity is it being the business district of Seoul and thus it is also known as Manhattan and there is even Manhattan hotel beside our Stay 7 Hotel.<br />Since we checked in at almost 9 PM at the hotel and we will be checking out very early the next day, I didn't really have much time to explore the area around the hotel and thus couldn't write much about the area.<br />The next day we checked out at 7 AM without any breakfast at the hotel as we usually do. Breakfast was arranged at another restaurant en route to the airport. This quite convenient it seems.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMZLrI5pi4k6O1eoRFzlzIx4DNXdqxCzleg8syxw3faY5J9vEwckhcwRdtfJ43x7mRqcQVuW19shBpaSGiObuWRrnZ2BZRjB0DwcXzRyNvjrWxUfYfS8XNqRMgJcneAGd6rv1cYaczxpK/s1600/Hotel+Stay+Seven.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMZLrI5pi4k6O1eoRFzlzIx4DNXdqxCzleg8syxw3faY5J9vEwckhcwRdtfJ43x7mRqcQVuW19shBpaSGiObuWRrnZ2BZRjB0DwcXzRyNvjrWxUfYfS8XNqRMgJcneAGd6rv1cYaczxpK/s400/Hotel+Stay+Seven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493569791396610450" border="0" /></a>Early morning pose infront of the hotel.<br /><br />Then we rode the bus to the place breakfast. Since we have collected some money among us to tip the helper Mr. Jeung, Tuan haji Shafie was elected to present the gift. I doubt anyone knows how much was collected as we just passed the plastic bag around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68isBg5yx7Y0gcCiQjSKOjzYC5AkSPLZK8ntMvJXCFSwtWzZi-1bbSpyHPwGQ3R245mqDOSglHycdt-6wgfLZd1hHD6Zi00SmjpwYsoszQG0AwRfgq4D2umrJ_GllZnxlVwXJN4M4Ckfz/s1600/Tip.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68isBg5yx7Y0gcCiQjSKOjzYC5AkSPLZK8ntMvJXCFSwtWzZi-1bbSpyHPwGQ3R245mqDOSglHycdt-6wgfLZd1hHD6Zi00SmjpwYsoszQG0AwRfgq4D2umrJ_GllZnxlVwXJN4M4Ckfz/s400/Tip.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570794806339714" border="0" /></a>It was a Korean breakfast for us mainly comprising of kimchi and seaweed which I managed to down them all. A half boiled egg and some bread brought by Lucy the tourist guide helped those who can't take the Korean original dish.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68isBg5yx7Y0gcCiQjSKOjzYC5AkSPLZK8ntMvJXCFSwtWzZi-1bbSpyHPwGQ3R245mqDOSglHycdt-6wgfLZd1hHD6Zi00SmjpwYsoszQG0AwRfgq4D2umrJ_GllZnxlVwXJN4M4Ckfz/s1600/Tip.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl9fLZYwV5_gIdvpZCcSnCH8kP184AGnBq_nRtdg1CFcdHRCAGgVeHGw_CoefVaxNvjcuFXKA0oyrWKqVpTpxAUuYfM3q2sO1y-yugITww2K3et9apuQnpg4csF_Ps9aU3RQIjElUCs2U/s1600/Korean+Breakfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl9fLZYwV5_gIdvpZCcSnCH8kP184AGnBq_nRtdg1CFcdHRCAGgVeHGw_CoefVaxNvjcuFXKA0oyrWKqVpTpxAUuYfM3q2sO1y-yugITww2K3et9apuQnpg4csF_Ps9aU3RQIjElUCs2U/s400/Korean+Breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570355407814306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJeIEn5GZkRev5In8rxszWE6s9rNFYYfB52Y3yeKVQmos3Pk9x1XIBm9Oz2fl4jDuPJVr_ZUEJg-fzxB2YAd0SbxsDjwkivozQcxhyPvs_73hBdyhAe7tQSRuFSKY5MEP2tUpZYcgtEmh/s1600/Breakfast+at+Korean+Restaurant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJeIEn5GZkRev5In8rxszWE6s9rNFYYfB52Y3yeKVQmos3Pk9x1XIBm9Oz2fl4jDuPJVr_ZUEJg-fzxB2YAd0SbxsDjwkivozQcxhyPvs_73hBdyhAe7tQSRuFSKY5MEP2tUpZYcgtEmh/s400/Breakfast+at+Korean+Restaurant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493566268984971826" border="0" /></a>On the shelves inside the restaurants are some souvenir samples that can be bought at the shop below. Now I know why we were made to stop at this restaurant. It was the last stop where we could finish our Korean Won or US dollars that we had on us. For those who still need a few more souvenirs to take home, this is the last chance though the price marked were definitely highly marked up. This is a good tactic and Malaysia should emulate it to extract the last bit of money from travellers before they depart for their next destination.<br />I found this beautiful kitchen knife which was priced at a hefty USD 35.00 an amount I could easily pay for a Victorinox. Well since we have quite a bit of unspent budget, we bought it. The knife is beautiful to look at as well as very sharp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjga4ox-0Ki-GBM8Ii5xyr0grcHcsCMhZzVhod0iBIoqgnbJjzzuxTSiuh1IzDk_SdO5PEch3shwZCnxWvQWn7WKxz9ftYYzAARBY-BGfMQqv58FbpA7xSlMe1EWiCn6pSefcidz14aFSO/s1600/Knife+from+Korea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjga4ox-0Ki-GBM8Ii5xyr0grcHcsCMhZzVhod0iBIoqgnbJjzzuxTSiuh1IzDk_SdO5PEch3shwZCnxWvQWn7WKxz9ftYYzAARBY-BGfMQqv58FbpA7xSlMe1EWiCn6pSefcidz14aFSO/s400/Knife+from+Korea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493649032030428498" border="0" /></a>We bought a 24 carat plated plate with the Korean symbol.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEtLcvmlaM6qOW2H4KVT4WwZyzRgb3iNDOGBTp-b9AwsEBjR5LMvwYZJ_toFl8U5govFnFeenHdqjvoFSgXBJay3jxCJzsC9PWKID6MKUnbg7z3OVUYAPSUq5fYaAeIcjFPKqrfj4Rcwx/s1600/Plate+from+Korea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEtLcvmlaM6qOW2H4KVT4WwZyzRgb3iNDOGBTp-b9AwsEBjR5LMvwYZJ_toFl8U5govFnFeenHdqjvoFSgXBJay3jxCJzsC9PWKID6MKUnbg7z3OVUYAPSUq5fYaAeIcjFPKqrfj4Rcwx/s400/Plate+from+Korea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493649050614182146" border="0" /></a>It has found a place among our collection of plates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmSf4lFYB9Uuh0PkWmmX3J3rQh6DvaV72d_qOmwfRTVw8y1rcy9qUmg7HHBwvj1qaT8gPNluWL0Q8w2PtKSeBhn6kxJLPxAV3TQnvtQgukuIG-VwJKCCZfgGCfFxWS62YWidzydYQ4RO0/s1600/Souvenir+plates.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmSf4lFYB9Uuh0PkWmmX3J3rQh6DvaV72d_qOmwfRTVw8y1rcy9qUmg7HHBwvj1qaT8gPNluWL0Q8w2PtKSeBhn6kxJLPxAV3TQnvtQgukuIG-VwJKCCZfgGCfFxWS62YWidzydYQ4RO0/s400/Souvenir+plates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493649045963373954" border="0" /></a>We landed at Ho Chi Minh City airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf7krM5lB4c1_dnwi8Tbc1kNSgf-2LpkLCfOUDB6cDqmRjIda7DaVoNNF6ayCMLIhUTeNMiNu8I2WNziSNdoOQ4sYAe8aciny_z59DeG0mx1vDXx6T7ur5yoH1CyrXxuSKa87RXpTwWQp/s1600/Airport+for+flight+to+HCMC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf7krM5lB4c1_dnwi8Tbc1kNSgf-2LpkLCfOUDB6cDqmRjIda7DaVoNNF6ayCMLIhUTeNMiNu8I2WNziSNdoOQ4sYAe8aciny_z59DeG0mx1vDXx6T7ur5yoH1CyrXxuSKa87RXpTwWQp/s400/Airport+for+flight+to+HCMC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493566255890251186" border="0" /></a>A local tourist guide took us in a bus to our hotel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEZa7PpxYW8k2iUKYP2L-IOOqIXfkn3XhN5YBW96kXltgsa6gaNt8KGRxCqX43lmWAMOIyFhHulYNGyULs5epObMPiZ0ZIbIiqiroPcU2pdpHZZYWw29EYDlDaHvysV_yynVvhHxkA3EP/s1600/Du+it.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEZa7PpxYW8k2iUKYP2L-IOOqIXfkn3XhN5YBW96kXltgsa6gaNt8KGRxCqX43lmWAMOIyFhHulYNGyULs5epObMPiZ0ZIbIiqiroPcU2pdpHZZYWw29EYDlDaHvysV_yynVvhHxkA3EP/s400/Du+it.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493569775501954706" border="0" /></a>A beautiful Pagoda along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH90zhHHI3Gh7KqPP_ANn1v2mexgJS0lgNUOyP8pdsiPKM1WqipTGqMdUfpqApLUpdqP7vApmziPyvr9SK133kFA4qus37CzEoj2oyDLgcYQESvNxBqLA1FSrS1leNMUBJlK4HynSq9gd/s1600/Pagoda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH90zhHHI3Gh7KqPP_ANn1v2mexgJS0lgNUOyP8pdsiPKM1WqipTGqMdUfpqApLUpdqP7vApmziPyvr9SK133kFA4qus37CzEoj2oyDLgcYQESvNxBqLA1FSrS1leNMUBJlK4HynSq9gd/s400/Pagoda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570376506534418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEGVMTw1185qsc0xaLhC3t8PkqLjIGKBSJG523RTH_MeAJj0B6SK3VukIad0EKFmLsaNybAumjmtdA-Hv1ybCk4URwj0YaRU7TEHsGqe7G5W7DbOf4gNg1INdzOJzIz_MuOwRAM6MUSSH/s1600/currently+showing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEGVMTw1185qsc0xaLhC3t8PkqLjIGKBSJG523RTH_MeAJj0B6SK3VukIad0EKFmLsaNybAumjmtdA-Hv1ybCk4URwj0YaRU7TEHsGqe7G5W7DbOf4gNg1INdzOJzIz_MuOwRAM6MUSSH/s400/currently+showing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493569768383233490" border="0" /></a>Poster of what is showing at the movies. This shows the film industry in Vietnam is still thriving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPT11xetdNg0S-yDyfMgBoRgrtmR8Sjne-68casDc-7-3XncwFtGOJBaAy9Nm_twEyLDz8N2Md2YN6VJ9HHHdTFftUdlkIqMofs2oyNEHGOU85aMJlQe-c5nvW3MzYhhKfXiGDx2GU2qo/s1600/Monument.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPT11xetdNg0S-yDyfMgBoRgrtmR8Sjne-68casDc-7-3XncwFtGOJBaAy9Nm_twEyLDz8N2Md2YN6VJ9HHHdTFftUdlkIqMofs2oyNEHGOU85aMJlQe-c5nvW3MzYhhKfXiGDx2GU2qo/s400/Monument.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570365496399442" border="0" /></a>Instead of taking us direct to the hotel, we were taken to a shop selling all sort of food. The main item was coffee. I recalled reading somewhere that not all Vietnam coffee is halal because some people roasted the bean in lard. I told my other half about it but she seemed to pooh pooh what I said. I abstained from drinking the coffee and had tea instead. She loves coffee and tasted her Vietnam coffee and fortunately she did not buy any to take home seeing that I wasn't drinking it despite my love for coffee.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4mdXpUCPGsMCj3dWOcrpQrwP5LTufnnXFqv02EInfNJyxHWpfNpcpIBpMdTMbE3FzOlkBYf6du8f0EPi3Hx0lq16y7v3Qtkk8wDbvGSmKD86PI4j5NiWvROPFSeDO1cvbgMBig1iOap9/s1600/Trying+to+make+a+sale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4mdXpUCPGsMCj3dWOcrpQrwP5LTufnnXFqv02EInfNJyxHWpfNpcpIBpMdTMbE3FzOlkBYf6du8f0EPi3Hx0lq16y7v3Qtkk8wDbvGSmKD86PI4j5NiWvROPFSeDO1cvbgMBig1iOap9/s400/Trying+to+make+a+sale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570802694445346" border="0" /></a>Later somebody told her that Vietnam coffee are like the 'kopi musang' in Indonesia where the best coffee comes through the backside of the musang. That I concurred and made her angry that i did not tell her earlier. Hey didn't I try to caution her?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCiEOLqyUbDLMAYw8ly6QfkY0U05o_mqfTC5L42sv-gg8oJ1B0XyLDuAboQ_8fQGHRDiRqFtg_wOhXKjlWJrIVx98LTzD43ndfDN4_nQmLuApyaPcQyMtjSeMy_7hLpbA2JjK6FM3q0M3/s1600/Coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCiEOLqyUbDLMAYw8ly6QfkY0U05o_mqfTC5L42sv-gg8oJ1B0XyLDuAboQ_8fQGHRDiRqFtg_wOhXKjlWJrIVx98LTzD43ndfDN4_nQmLuApyaPcQyMtjSeMy_7hLpbA2JjK6FM3q0M3/s400/Coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493566273667747954" border="0" /></a>There were all sort of things they tried to sell to our group but not many of us were interested as many of us had already decided on what things to buy at Ben Than market.<br />We checked in into our hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqdYS4GDtH0H-AiT-LWW2WdzqN_sGQc0-ZMNdwoDjsnDrIbJq3iwaowpDTlP7xVPzFQQoIuzoGgqz3_U_vLHdtDB3COMqr__018JNF3ET2gLv9PNLLAaGacQWXXUr7NtwBoW9EDW0TvTn/s1600/Hotel+In+Saigon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqdYS4GDtH0H-AiT-LWW2WdzqN_sGQc0-ZMNdwoDjsnDrIbJq3iwaowpDTlP7xVPzFQQoIuzoGgqz3_U_vLHdtDB3COMqr__018JNF3ET2gLv9PNLLAaGacQWXXUr7NtwBoW9EDW0TvTn/s400/Hotel+In+Saigon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580786178198706" border="0" /></a>Tan hai Long Hotel is quite close to Ben Than Market and all we need is to walk to it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUn2xLDctd7QbPD3Ke_FDDuabSh6GboafO_B0heRZLN3FJl7Q61ZbsN8_8_uUT6MgMzKLp1Jx4yUf7XzHnfKw7lUp7y9qOAebes-ZRpuk4aCdGb1YjCjnhjDxQ4opbePoNr2CnHVLtpZs/s1600/Room+at+Songtan+Hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUn2xLDctd7QbPD3Ke_FDDuabSh6GboafO_B0heRZLN3FJl7Q61ZbsN8_8_uUT6MgMzKLp1Jx4yUf7XzHnfKw7lUp7y9qOAebes-ZRpuk4aCdGb1YjCjnhjDxQ4opbePoNr2CnHVLtpZs/s400/Room+at+Songtan+Hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580807122356050" border="0" /></a>The hotel room is cosy and the internet connection is good and free.<br />Some of the ladies wanted to buy 'telekong' (prayer robefor ladies). For that we were taken on a very short unnecessary bus ride. I guess the tour guide wanted to mislead into thinking that the place was far from the hotel and thus we would not be able to go on our own. Going on our own will mean cutting off his commission, a real necessity for him in this business.<br />While waiting for the wife to buy the 'telekung', there was a sudden electrical outage in the area. Then suddenly we saw some outlets bringing out standby generators. Such power failures seems to be a normal thing in Vietnam or at leat in Ho Chi Minh City.<br />A 14 year old girl was accosting me to buy some beautiful fans. She was selling them at USD10 for 10. Though I didn't want to buy them, she was persistent and hang around me like a lost cat. I tried to get her to go by taking a picture of her which she avoided by opening the fan across her face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tgJt4fO_QuG9U899XU5aTfY4nMjLKOLSC5i9IPHkXku-jTV7Z6V4Gsl6QvAL3w7ptlBsdGaWckjPm7vLt-mIlXE-kSGNLi8EnoETvP4foPtz4bbJt92qv2uHe614j_Sul_W4rTqOdzp-/s1600/Hidden+face.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tgJt4fO_QuG9U899XU5aTfY4nMjLKOLSC5i9IPHkXku-jTV7Z6V4Gsl6QvAL3w7ptlBsdGaWckjPm7vLt-mIlXE-kSGNLi8EnoETvP4foPtz4bbJt92qv2uHe614j_Sul_W4rTqOdzp-/s400/Hidden+face.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493569776973486802" border="0" /></a>Sensing that she could make me buy her items by letting me take her picture, she brought the fan down. Ain't she pretty?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9oWMW8cLs5l7eZ8Rg0vWegWvtW4kpuVumaFzts9hucere6IFsxYGVU473eYj9agtT8O6QfLJACbYSBfJGr8E22wfX1MZ2oEozBpNojp_BpsIo83gPmzeprZQjjmlkKuerDTJ0woj5F1b/s1600/The+Face.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9oWMW8cLs5l7eZ8Rg0vWegWvtW4kpuVumaFzts9hucere6IFsxYGVU473eYj9agtT8O6QfLJACbYSBfJGr8E22wfX1MZ2oEozBpNojp_BpsIo83gPmzeprZQjjmlkKuerDTJ0woj5F1b/s400/The+Face.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570791240489170" border="0" /></a>We walked back to the hotel. on the way we stopped at Ben Than market. There are lots of things you can buy in the market. make sure you stop there when you are in Saigon. This is how the market look from afar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmyIhFrpP-9gCp9tL5gLAla5UNtrwsqt-SpULR2KrjXXtMghcygx6wYacQKPSAQ8OfSWsUiE0mpo_ZZ7l80dSbAJQ5ShC6WhaRa18jbvPOtsSAve8MS9Ic2Tg-M3ZCCWD9IAZpwdYWnP/s1600/Ben+Thanh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmyIhFrpP-9gCp9tL5gLAla5UNtrwsqt-SpULR2KrjXXtMghcygx6wYacQKPSAQ8OfSWsUiE0mpo_ZZ7l80dSbAJQ5ShC6WhaRa18jbvPOtsSAve8MS9Ic2Tg-M3ZCCWD9IAZpwdYWnP/s400/Ben+Thanh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493566259762736450" border="0" /></a>Dinner that night was again at the 4 Season restaurant, a restaurant operated by the Champa Malays. Told you the food there was so so.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g0k579CHY97EauNJOXHgaKXbTLL0gBTrCG7DsVX_WZWPiMVOyvz0U1IS8GI8qXri-uPOou0yB4Fy_g34PHG5sFJvbld5vm9nkGZXxbpVwbLP2PV1u5UDBBCa7VhryUVAX9rFjyg3Gj2i/s1600/4+season+Halal+Restaurant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g0k579CHY97EauNJOXHgaKXbTLL0gBTrCG7DsVX_WZWPiMVOyvz0U1IS8GI8qXri-uPOou0yB4Fy_g34PHG5sFJvbld5vm9nkGZXxbpVwbLP2PV1u5UDBBCa7VhryUVAX9rFjyg3Gj2i/s400/4+season+Halal+Restaurant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493566248845922930" border="0" /></a>That night it was another round of shopping at the street market around the Ben Than market close to the hotel. Some of the stalls were at the doorsteps of the hotel at the back entrance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnig2P7wvhA_eNV8xCcUoceLKAn3-h5Sn__Y-gtCeWzXd4YpRq5sGuIBT2lYIQOzpbWlV6ZY_WnZUrtyrzLLXtK2aDaRKUvJQOCxBF4vCEBx_-HVQ-y3GqL1NRROef3wUwtX9jvHobxvg/s1600/Last+minute+shopping.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnig2P7wvhA_eNV8xCcUoceLKAn3-h5Sn__Y-gtCeWzXd4YpRq5sGuIBT2lYIQOzpbWlV6ZY_WnZUrtyrzLLXtK2aDaRKUvJQOCxBF4vCEBx_-HVQ-y3GqL1NRROef3wUwtX9jvHobxvg/s400/Last+minute+shopping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570361041703762" border="0" /></a>Here the other half is buying some T shirts for the male family members. price are cheap and the quality acceptable though the brands are obviously fake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_LKkW691LUcBmdcI4BmrepwrzyOEG-JQL5lJq314bwpnZn_aJ-VXdm_PBijpEhNKWvNKL7Jng827XkacopZl_fkYXW3V4aYF3WLAwwpm2l1HOzAENimrBY3_2Lv9XIx4jXn2BgGZz4qs/s1600/Laquerware+Souvenir+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_LKkW691LUcBmdcI4BmrepwrzyOEG-JQL5lJq314bwpnZn_aJ-VXdm_PBijpEhNKWvNKL7Jng827XkacopZl_fkYXW3V4aYF3WLAwwpm2l1HOzAENimrBY3_2Lv9XIx4jXn2BgGZz4qs/s400/Laquerware+Souvenir+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493649038643787474" border="0" /></a>Initially we bought the yellow wooden container. Later when it was almost closing time, your truly was made to rush down to buy the more colorful one to make a pair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TNanejrt_magyeC8LOfrGVVnymO77TD4OXimbniO8JM9AtLg_-vYMcrMICd2fS01LaxN5zFog6d4WWtjCnLyb3STdKwB4PgzaaFTlR4DX3hnK-TZucFyBuSQOcHDZcYgFcpm8AHbzQfA/s1600/Saigon+by+night.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TNanejrt_magyeC8LOfrGVVnymO77TD4OXimbniO8JM9AtLg_-vYMcrMICd2fS01LaxN5zFog6d4WWtjCnLyb3STdKwB4PgzaaFTlR4DX3hnK-TZucFyBuSQOcHDZcYgFcpm8AHbzQfA/s400/Saigon+by+night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570781131104450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUn2xLDctd7QbPD3Ke_FDDuabSh6GboafO_B0heRZLN3FJl7Q61ZbsN8_8_uUT6MgMzKLp1Jx4yUf7XzHnfKw7lUp7y9qOAebes-ZRpuk4aCdGb1YjCjnhjDxQ4opbePoNr2CnHVLtpZs/s1600/Room+at+Songtan+Hotel.jpg">This is how the city look at night near the hotel.<br /></a><br />Pretty paintings on hotel walls. How I wish I could explore the city for such art work. Saigon is city with many talented artists, only one must know where to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh929-mpwrDBXyajsD-uB9chGFEzetVPep3__FXi24DaEKsEatTwu1BENMCf2GjQZZd2Hw1ZmhBIer8IKdS9UGw3swau-8s_i28jSwl1jYbOazRUl93FJ2BVc2pupVxlXzbdaiqUbVhlPay/s1600/Painting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh929-mpwrDBXyajsD-uB9chGFEzetVPep3__FXi24DaEKsEatTwu1BENMCf2GjQZZd2Hw1ZmhBIer8IKdS9UGw3swau-8s_i28jSwl1jYbOazRUl93FJ2BVc2pupVxlXzbdaiqUbVhlPay/s400/Painting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570384001651874" border="0" /></a><br />We were up quite early the next day. We were checking out after having breakfast at the hotel. While waiting for our bus to coma, we spent sometime at the free internet station available at the hotel lobby. Below Aizat and his mum were using the internet too. They almost missed the flight home as his father Mohamad Yusoff had ofted to use the safety deposit box provided in our room to keep their passport. The box refused to open up and the hotel could not assist them despite calling for an expert. They had to wait for the supplier in Bangkok to come into office to give further instruction. Later a master password was received from Bangkok and they managed to open the box. They had to take a taxi to the airport as the bus could not wait for them. Luckily they were still in time to catch the flight home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm8vR7VDIiirYG0-bpMdbkFAa1FEr0aNhh63zP1EgaxT1BJl4GLQrpgMcrXyQdGmH-EP4mUOiYRDWZ6VEEK1LrT7gIPcY3DXHuVMPnfwwIHuDU9-l1Nv9lNjN1cxa7hJr3sW1IH4Ql0tX/s1600/free+internet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm8vR7VDIiirYG0-bpMdbkFAa1FEr0aNhh63zP1EgaxT1BJl4GLQrpgMcrXyQdGmH-EP4mUOiYRDWZ6VEEK1LrT7gIPcY3DXHuVMPnfwwIHuDU9-l1Nv9lNjN1cxa7hJr3sW1IH4Ql0tX/s400/free+internet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580291335179106" border="0" /></a>As usual the roads in saigon is teeming with motorbikes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q5-2US9hbWOSjtWGyDEl7KombgScpJstrxiO8mMf8IxNpoDeXfFbRP7L00MkTQ6C2JTnkxQTSbvuGfBpu48et9vL3qd-GiBLSewN48Ps1wjyGk1NvZx0tySDXnUJcdB1spShbaikKJax/s1600/motorbikes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q5-2US9hbWOSjtWGyDEl7KombgScpJstrxiO8mMf8IxNpoDeXfFbRP7L00MkTQ6C2JTnkxQTSbvuGfBpu48et9vL3qd-GiBLSewN48Ps1wjyGk1NvZx0tySDXnUJcdB1spShbaikKJax/s400/motorbikes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580791702790898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmuwbDkv5c0BHS24CK38V4x3wAQkgBcW0dRQgF91z6J7nmg545q6U2R5hr6VerKIiPohLMFbQspAqLVaWG_b8v0ZIz5YKieQb3LmekSJUuDNDutaYhHBkHGVhiCubWBubzxUlqQOSraP_/s1600/Bikes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmuwbDkv5c0BHS24CK38V4x3wAQkgBcW0dRQgF91z6J7nmg545q6U2R5hr6VerKIiPohLMFbQspAqLVaWG_b8v0ZIz5YKieQb3LmekSJUuDNDutaYhHBkHGVhiCubWBubzxUlqQOSraP_/s400/Bikes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580264696819138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX-_iZjsyNH_bZXPyiCjoRU66AHsTGkC5fhPxVY459VqdONfJ9TmPNNEmwzMfU5P7pNjgIJXn8QWof4Qb30ssk78WipvhMLC__LZ_hRdHkNEogb46vlZdOvXHrvw5jAue2Ky3JYLZI0su/s1600/electrical+cables.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX-_iZjsyNH_bZXPyiCjoRU66AHsTGkC5fhPxVY459VqdONfJ9TmPNNEmwzMfU5P7pNjgIJXn8QWof4Qb30ssk78WipvhMLC__LZ_hRdHkNEogb46vlZdOvXHrvw5jAue2Ky3JYLZI0su/s400/electrical+cables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580283218257410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwitbD7zNayE_x-UdqI-YelvsnDokUis-pJalODbswwcB0m7V8oTn3E8nW4QqZMG1muLrDSsY9JYhpdx90YOzRb2SOSbKw7Mp8fledwNjhgAVzCP3WhbQqGobT-qV7FiaTNo_LvN83fa_p/s1600/safety+helmets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwitbD7zNayE_x-UdqI-YelvsnDokUis-pJalODbswwcB0m7V8oTn3E8nW4QqZMG1muLrDSsY9JYhpdx90YOzRb2SOSbKw7Mp8fledwNjhgAVzCP3WhbQqGobT-qV7FiaTNo_LvN83fa_p/s400/safety+helmets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493581365471251922" border="0" /></a>The wearing of safety helmets is now mandatory in Vietnam. hence you can see them being sold by the roadside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrq7HMxp86K7qRRxvAWW8pcRh4XenqhGSxKqBV6PnwZCk-Mwuxdo5OmWrm1jX1YoDZKHiXgG9gYQam30PjJRW2OjBQTUvhEXLpXJvj2orWcdthXzF0RvI7PE7tKf2Ca8fCI9AzzFx_4nS/s1600/coffee+corner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrq7HMxp86K7qRRxvAWW8pcRh4XenqhGSxKqBV6PnwZCk-Mwuxdo5OmWrm1jX1YoDZKHiXgG9gYQam30PjJRW2OjBQTUvhEXLpXJvj2orWcdthXzF0RvI7PE7tKf2Ca8fCI9AzzFx_4nS/s400/coffee+corner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580267895595666" border="0" /></a>Coffee corners are available around the city for breakfast. locals have their breakfast there before going to work.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzIBF1b9zbiaZ96MD3RAWhx6RJ8tHEKmNwEa98qehRL5Asw7NodStqJpZjox7txGOZNPjQoWuV2SkGYxnvA2hyphenhyphenT78yUbbUl6TYJc-TqijqIUXgNplPNjX0-cZQuBJZVqwD8pAMwI0Eigm/s1600/ppl+excercising.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzIBF1b9zbiaZ96MD3RAWhx6RJ8tHEKmNwEa98qehRL5Asw7NodStqJpZjox7txGOZNPjQoWuV2SkGYxnvA2hyphenhyphenT78yUbbUl6TYJc-TqijqIUXgNplPNjX0-cZQuBJZVqwD8pAMwI0Eigm/s400/ppl+excercising.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493580798177662690" border="0" /></a>The parks are used for recreation and exercise by the locals.<br />Finally our Tour Leader Norma representing POTO Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, thanked the group for travelling wiith the company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2NutJ9Gy35d4b0JyYE9rZZQpeznWc2IMIYUv3t6lsOiVXKfdhhJaQGe2sQ7R213wethYmhJjMfyuQJlhtSDk8LmINO8mNULENi3fYRs4TFEiWoPMAO6R2M-7mA2lB_Bu7Mv6Af5nH27H/s1600/Tour+leader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2NutJ9Gy35d4b0JyYE9rZZQpeznWc2IMIYUv3t6lsOiVXKfdhhJaQGe2sQ7R213wethYmhJjMfyuQJlhtSDk8LmINO8mNULENi3fYRs4TFEiWoPMAO6R2M-7mA2lB_Bu7Mv6Af5nH27H/s400/Tour+leader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493581384322968050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb2AAJErt89cFN-uDv8g3iCswe3VpG0GQmGTb4iBU756wXPTFrrfyZN3lG7dqpfs8aXOfnQOFBWWf2LE-WYlGNsSpKmXmxY5HfuVM3OtIAgAOcOz2RCKaDPVjLwP5Uy5G105FQ9OXXuOT/s1600/waiting+to+board+the+plane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb2AAJErt89cFN-uDv8g3iCswe3VpG0GQmGTb4iBU756wXPTFrrfyZN3lG7dqpfs8aXOfnQOFBWWf2LE-WYlGNsSpKmXmxY5HfuVM3OtIAgAOcOz2RCKaDPVjLwP5Uy5G105FQ9OXXuOT/s400/waiting+to+board+the+plane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493581398368225490" border="0" /></a>Pak Zawi slouching on a bench while waiting for the flight home. Though tiring, we did enjoy this trip to Korea which included stop overs in Saigon.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-89128106459682558622010-07-19T09:12:00.000+08:002010-07-19T09:13:22.304+08:00Korea Part 2I haven't mentioned the mosque in Seoul. This mosque is the centre for the Moslem enclave in Seoul. For the whole of Korea there are about 35,000 Moslems. This mosque in Seoul is located near another Moslem retaurant where we came for our dinner. The mosque is perched on a small hill and we had to walk slowly past it to reach the restaurant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhLy-kBHfubTvIENI0uJ6VqXpEZwCrZtP1becqTZiYDazghk-kDw9RlJihnUgkcpCrPg4B1f11vEq6XPHSWLMMWTJ1PMa5L3eBw6ycfrtLZCPWcjnhMi3D-fAVHPHI3yr4mdBEYSenbs/s1600/mosque+in+seoul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhLy-kBHfubTvIENI0uJ6VqXpEZwCrZtP1becqTZiYDazghk-kDw9RlJihnUgkcpCrPg4B1f11vEq6XPHSWLMMWTJ1PMa5L3eBw6ycfrtLZCPWcjnhMi3D-fAVHPHI3yr4mdBEYSenbs/s400/mosque+in+seoul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997248494404178" border="0" /></a>For the second day our itinerary was the much waited visit to Nami Island in Gangwon Province. The island was made famous by the television series Winter Sonata. It is popular even among Malasysians.<br />Before the departure we had breakfast at the hotel. For the first time I tasted Korean food and I fell in love with kimchi, which is cabbage pickled with chilli. I had some cerals and toasts too for good measure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5CHTdFN4MlxzCLvkWCTcam3XS9RUwR29K2DQLcAk53s8kDZ7vX4c1mOJuK7q-q0TJyslM9HsT-Vd1cUB2hhrZeAEuimtCHdQuyN6sdtAfOwcdoFkI06roSEgR-uPOe-mJ5NLf9EXQL0/s1600/bfast+at+hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5CHTdFN4MlxzCLvkWCTcam3XS9RUwR29K2DQLcAk53s8kDZ7vX4c1mOJuK7q-q0TJyslM9HsT-Vd1cUB2hhrZeAEuimtCHdQuyN6sdtAfOwcdoFkI06roSEgR-uPOe-mJ5NLf9EXQL0/s400/bfast+at+hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994220885304146" border="0" /></a><br />Beside kimchi, sea weeds and mushrooms are the other ingredient that I could identify.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l1rpS_rvZAF14p_cJKBtr5bD2du7QfdXIabPjlSyGvxoTFyvL9GIH0wKgMxLUfDGHfuoBdyJAByG6t0ddYxDAdphBoaUQ8gPt2vkNOC5Cyl_EGP4HKb8TCJSH4ewX4SeGqcCqYgpenI/s1600/Korean+breakfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l1rpS_rvZAF14p_cJKBtr5bD2du7QfdXIabPjlSyGvxoTFyvL9GIH0wKgMxLUfDGHfuoBdyJAByG6t0ddYxDAdphBoaUQ8gPt2vkNOC5Cyl_EGP4HKb8TCJSH4ewX4SeGqcCqYgpenI/s400/Korean+breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996636281577986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cFQx5joeMw8EcBgrbOlmbmWX8bnmPPjNwNDj0WiASN-B4xHGvE6HC20zPUCTuERQFRqA16g4HO_HVOh1PBIVoeGaZqpEDMl5g3VJMIx0hORJyDPyu96IYavr7Ni-oq7rh8YMIUjXqVc/s1600/Hj+Shafie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cFQx5joeMw8EcBgrbOlmbmWX8bnmPPjNwNDj0WiASN-B4xHGvE6HC20zPUCTuERQFRqA16g4HO_HVOh1PBIVoeGaZqpEDMl5g3VJMIx0hORJyDPyu96IYavr7Ni-oq7rh8YMIUjXqVc/s400/Hj+Shafie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488381732471020290" border="0" /></a>Tuan Haji Shafie was caught buttering his toast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRS5Zkz1q7Gw0auBJ794jExPoTV0N3Et-edl9uOWf5bi3dWucmW3Prh6iFWJgkqbcTO6wPu4NsrYveu61z8aI31Rc7D7_Jxbz89dtI1vwAVAhJkUWhuPBh3FH3EX5te49a6MQPGjQaJ0/s1600/Posing+depan+hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRS5Zkz1q7Gw0auBJ794jExPoTV0N3Et-edl9uOWf5bi3dWucmW3Prh6iFWJgkqbcTO6wPu4NsrYveu61z8aI31Rc7D7_Jxbz89dtI1vwAVAhJkUWhuPBh3FH3EX5te49a6MQPGjQaJ0/s400/Posing+depan+hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997865239487858" border="0" /></a>Some of the ladies will not leave the hotel without having their photograph taken in front of it.<br />The ride to Nami Island was a good ride. There wasn't much incline for the bus to negotiate as many tunnels were built where hills were involved.<br />Though subways are available at about 12 meters underground, Korea is set to be underground highways at 60 meters deep. Did you hear that?<br />We reached the jetty at Nami Island. Since we were on a package tour, we did not need to buy the ticket which be considered as the Visa to enter the Republic of Nami.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_Z5f9M9Hx6EKjp-VVACoQYVIgrD-1rDzAVXRXkZ8Ff6VahZUH-KsYDKN8TATgY6u1YWRJI8l-2-TQsjcuAwf6uMP7SFILAR6_oKetEyE_Qs2Ts8ii7HT-mtXflmn7uzXFyNPdfb2XPg/s1600/Ticket+Visa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_Z5f9M9Hx6EKjp-VVACoQYVIgrD-1rDzAVXRXkZ8Ff6VahZUH-KsYDKN8TATgY6u1YWRJI8l-2-TQsjcuAwf6uMP7SFILAR6_oKetEyE_Qs2Ts8ii7HT-mtXflmn7uzXFyNPdfb2XPg/s400/Ticket+Visa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488381768942764306" border="0" /></a>Since you need a Visa to get there, you have to pass the immigration checkpoint where you have to show your ticket to the staff on duty.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MPIWLi8MR7snkAlm4CU3tfFlqX3YyHsOFG6S9hlpT7a6b04Klza_i8lFTKURVXUi6PjbAoG0UKUit1bv8Oy7WcGQJggRTcAjI_hi3cmqOBrPh9_yZ4E4v4n-vJXkr4Mjd1-5J9GIxWA/s1600/Naminara+Republic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MPIWLi8MR7snkAlm4CU3tfFlqX3YyHsOFG6S9hlpT7a6b04Klza_i8lFTKURVXUi6PjbAoG0UKUit1bv8Oy7WcGQJggRTcAjI_hi3cmqOBrPh9_yZ4E4v4n-vJXkr4Mjd1-5J9GIxWA/s400/Naminara+Republic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997259004719410" border="0" /></a>The ferry to Nami Island has standing room only since the ride is only less than 10 minutes. Fortunately the idea to build a bridge to the island was scrapped as it would only lead to pollution. The only vehicle allowed on the islands are electric powered vehicles or mechanical contraption that require leg muscles to propel it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYGmimJ7gN9CdKHVi4u1dwyp5chjtahyphenhyphenKQJg6AMJ7viBOmQIl4VlyFel0d0NwRgp1MK0mWhLXGIOjqY8J76o5qY9Qks1-LJbFYG5-GOwV2FU5-4BJM8ErM9uVGPdfnTs-3AdZM444qY4/s1600/Ferry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYGmimJ7gN9CdKHVi4u1dwyp5chjtahyphenhyphenKQJg6AMJ7viBOmQIl4VlyFel0d0NwRgp1MK0mWhLXGIOjqY8J76o5qY9Qks1-LJbFYG5-GOwV2FU5-4BJM8ErM9uVGPdfnTs-3AdZM444qY4/s400/Ferry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488392472011480114" border="0" /></a>A briefing about Nami Island upon arrival. We were told that the grave of General Nami after whom the island is named, is found on the island.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXnm50JRpDEn8zxKbBHipLRNx_YuP08KbSYeDx0UhmlcuBlZ5QifBfKMu665QE14qMXfM6JEN2HjN6hAOq0gR5aEbJh1wg9cWsb8l_sAjeAn2j3fgeES4Ik9B6Szl7oBMeyD2rqR5GnU/s1600/Welcome+to+nami+island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXnm50JRpDEn8zxKbBHipLRNx_YuP08KbSYeDx0UhmlcuBlZ5QifBfKMu665QE14qMXfM6JEN2HjN6hAOq0gR5aEbJh1wg9cWsb8l_sAjeAn2j3fgeES4Ik9B6Szl7oBMeyD2rqR5GnU/s400/Welcome+to+nami+island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487999063853584450" border="0" /></a>Not far from the jetty we saw a group of people in traditional costumes making offerings to the dead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUolxKZAcU8rfy6fRD6ucwLFC86dmVpEZLwYvuQ_CORrsSTAF_2CObM5UP7bvTL3QHTx0Xss7-Z0E7XpOA5SG98YoJE7TOS_XX7ht3xXh0mVhjQhtLFTbS8LUzaedJ-JkF4kqVWhH9FSI/s1600/offerings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUolxKZAcU8rfy6fRD6ucwLFC86dmVpEZLwYvuQ_CORrsSTAF_2CObM5UP7bvTL3QHTx0Xss7-Z0E7XpOA5SG98YoJE7TOS_XX7ht3xXh0mVhjQhtLFTbS8LUzaedJ-JkF4kqVWhH9FSI/s400/offerings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997857602237074" border="0" /></a>They were singging while accompanied to drum beats and a few other traditional instruments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0fS_Psqzn52jPrFw-r3d8eKVh7oelW_-4V-huXRvP5tJZAkuJ9JqvoXMPR7R-Uf1tU-I5nmkVQKE0ag6HQFFNmeCRXjEA5bhkkZ3lZOGVUdXHXgyzRZrhIeUVWrjWHYkIqgLB6O3INQ/s1600/Religious+ritual.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0fS_Psqzn52jPrFw-r3d8eKVh7oelW_-4V-huXRvP5tJZAkuJ9JqvoXMPR7R-Uf1tU-I5nmkVQKE0ag6HQFFNmeCRXjEA5bhkkZ3lZOGVUdXHXgyzRZrhIeUVWrjWHYkIqgLB6O3INQ/s400/Religious+ritual.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997885630698434" border="0" /></a>Lucy has decided that those couples in the group must make some form of proposal to their spouse. There were 5 couples in the group but only two couples were game enough to do it. One of the two couples is of course Pak Zawi and his wife Fatthiyah. The rest of the group were witnesses to the proposal. In Pak Zawi's proposal he gave Nami Island to his wife.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V8DfmL3ycosaqRiHBk5B-AmlvPiuER6e07HBBRQRzEM2_w52HDO9iGK1uJVbLW20umG2I0P43Z6s1ETbmJwooZ6JzGjmidoNhPR-CeLxlEFazCdDg9IJ0lh09SWOHHk_sBFoYFsavYA/s1600/Making+a+proposal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V8DfmL3ycosaqRiHBk5B-AmlvPiuER6e07HBBRQRzEM2_w52HDO9iGK1uJVbLW20umG2I0P43Z6s1ETbmJwooZ6JzGjmidoNhPR-CeLxlEFazCdDg9IJ0lh09SWOHHk_sBFoYFsavYA/s400/Making+a+proposal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997241805046546" border="0" /></a>There is a 6 star hotel on Nai Island. It is the only 6 star hotel without any television in the hotel. After waiting foralmost a year for it's rating from the Korean Tourism Authority without any response, the hotel management decided to award itself with a 6 star rating.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiiqydj67BWDBi6YU16shsV4FLOPy4RbhHXTlLtrqNY4-LAuwjS0adrao8YsHyJzfZd4d_pXrCNN9LgXvD0-WHGgWU-0YmNUlEv6STJDbztFXsWk1TvDg1pJP0OMYYU_IvPobwMz1cwI/s1600/Nami+Island+Hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiiqydj67BWDBi6YU16shsV4FLOPy4RbhHXTlLtrqNY4-LAuwjS0adrao8YsHyJzfZd4d_pXrCNN9LgXvD0-WHGgWU-0YmNUlEv6STJDbztFXsWk1TvDg1pJP0OMYYU_IvPobwMz1cwI/s400/Nami+Island+Hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488381752611435970" border="0" /></a>The hotel reception is set some distance away from the hotel thus guests staying at the hotel will not be bothered by people making room enquiries or when checking in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7F9kNKbvxaJ4-TN2XlWY-0MLQn_5b5FMIgGtfIdDFypeSfkxeyKIpQx0J7iCicYChisWxtWAWs54JVDbSzDgS51Zvc_3efAOhZBUR1sVbaT0b636DOnZ0B2dOOyDcskeqPzsRXvYJzVE/s1600/Reception.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7F9kNKbvxaJ4-TN2XlWY-0MLQn_5b5FMIgGtfIdDFypeSfkxeyKIpQx0J7iCicYChisWxtWAWs54JVDbSzDgS51Zvc_3efAOhZBUR1sVbaT0b636DOnZ0B2dOOyDcskeqPzsRXvYJzVE/s400/Reception.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997873275090162" border="0" /></a>The hotel from a distance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_F10cRAWa8AfrrtrDTymTB5t0_HyI9yheMW92HQqZVeYQey83VeJyPtiMZVflhv8gRxSCFpXUNYUexqqy02NilVL-5Uxg1tukQuxSZkG-KMERHW5ekTmoXbZz0h_YEiHaURbhEG7vNY/s1600/six+star+hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_F10cRAWa8AfrrtrDTymTB5t0_HyI9yheMW92HQqZVeYQey83VeJyPtiMZVflhv8gRxSCFpXUNYUexqqy02NilVL-5Uxg1tukQuxSZkG-KMERHW5ekTmoXbZz0h_YEiHaURbhEG7vNY/s400/six+star+hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487999039394770066" border="0" /></a><br />There were lots of sculptures on the island. My guess is that these works of art were made from whatever remnants of construction left on it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKsIwECtfabFZYEOYuor8Bd_ZvlFhWGCITcmFNwgfkCSiAhKeMjIbcSmlEZ4nSYVu8dD3vRFb_2hrcxaq_J9dvdyaVOq5dU2nSrgU8iG7QGRfzzHXJys3dKMLVbdlP97FozA4SVRY0sY/s1600/Sculpture3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKsIwECtfabFZYEOYuor8Bd_ZvlFhWGCITcmFNwgfkCSiAhKeMjIbcSmlEZ4nSYVu8dD3vRFb_2hrcxaq_J9dvdyaVOq5dU2nSrgU8iG7QGRfzzHXJys3dKMLVbdlP97FozA4SVRY0sY/s400/Sculpture3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487998575114827154" border="0" /></a>This one is made of wood.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4rMQ4w9EFTlhkQnCdFkK3fX_3cf165pN_VpIdatgwsF6nKFUtmZx_Pk43qtnr1U4fGYAK0SnMwijxMM8sdaK-BLmARwc6I8Wu9pJNanD2crjxLlaArzUk_gBmf94WtGooZXJQ1_fWEM/s1600/Sculpture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4rMQ4w9EFTlhkQnCdFkK3fX_3cf165pN_VpIdatgwsF6nKFUtmZx_Pk43qtnr1U4fGYAK0SnMwijxMM8sdaK-BLmARwc6I8Wu9pJNanD2crjxLlaArzUk_gBmf94WtGooZXJQ1_fWEM/s400/Sculpture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487998565103802610" border="0" /></a>While this one is made of steel plates.<br /><br />The most photograph picture on the island is of course of the actor Bae Yong Jun and actress Choi Ji Woo. Most people would sit on the bench and be photographed against the backdrop of the actor and actresses.<br />In real life Bae Yong Jun was once a little Mafia terrorising the neighbourhood children. He changed his ways after gaining popularity as an actor. As a form of repentece, he employed the very people that he had bullied during his youth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CjkE2Dqoz2X2u07gtrTNAoIhkX7Roh5DIu-1vsdGOx0c6F-euQj4UEZm6gS43L6YOOumkHKk4dUhSrIxX7ZF0K7J0clnBaZ0tv4RADs9RkEMvChHXY35AKUvECA1japtLovIQ9MZRjM/s1600/Most+Photographed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CjkE2Dqoz2X2u07gtrTNAoIhkX7Roh5DIu-1vsdGOx0c6F-euQj4UEZm6gS43L6YOOumkHKk4dUhSrIxX7ZF0K7J0clnBaZ0tv4RADs9RkEMvChHXY35AKUvECA1japtLovIQ9MZRjM/s400/Most+Photographed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997256119836290" border="0" /></a><br />If you can't afford the 6 star hotel on Nami Island, you can always sleep in this thached igloo like huts available not far from Nami Island Hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0G-6vJ6lHebJO9eg87JEVTZJCQ5e4mTCIsH0jkHBISNaKDCJ7_aD3wr7Y3aMAea1LSRw6Mpj8skl2ZfcmKlKdRlr3_EPMzGyepJuu4rtZUwMqr2RP7-k8Sh6mdfaOw2S7fhFb5qismjU/s1600/igloo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0G-6vJ6lHebJO9eg87JEVTZJCQ5e4mTCIsH0jkHBISNaKDCJ7_aD3wr7Y3aMAea1LSRw6Mpj8skl2ZfcmKlKdRlr3_EPMzGyepJuu4rtZUwMqr2RP7-k8Sh6mdfaOw2S7fhFb5qismjU/s400/igloo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996606948617426" border="0" /></a><br />Beside electric bicycles and tri cycles available for hire on the island, there are also quadcycles available. See how eco friendly is tourism in this Republic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMnhsTqtIaek7MAiu3GMi8Uh3EjAK-BTBLDqOAIxca_9a0s8rWNxxv5MR2AyK6dS_OCFz-izyNJmts1PikWXbSZ3wzxOeXvJrJ7ES4UhGe0qIK6tk9AesPQ_p9TSxTi_8PU99gMfnTn8/s1600/Conveyance+for+rental.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMnhsTqtIaek7MAiu3GMi8Uh3EjAK-BTBLDqOAIxca_9a0s8rWNxxv5MR2AyK6dS_OCFz-izyNJmts1PikWXbSZ3wzxOeXvJrJ7ES4UhGe0qIK6tk9AesPQ_p9TSxTi_8PU99gMfnTn8/s400/Conveyance+for+rental.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995501641967794" border="0" /></a>By noon we were done with Nami Island. While waiting for the ferry ride to the mainland, we did or Zohor and Asar prayers near the jetty.<br />A short bus ride took us to a Korean Restaurant for lunch. It was authentic Korean lunch and instead of grilled chicken we were served grilled fish with rice to ensure a truly halal meal. The restaurant owner and our local guide was so happy since we enjoyed the food served there. The restaurant owner was overjoyed when I mentioned in Korean 'Ma Sit Sum Ni Da' meaning 'It is delicious' some Korean words I picked up from the travel phamplets.<br />After another long bus ride, we reached our hotel <a href="http://en.songtanhotel.co.kr/">The Songtan Tourist Hotel</a> loacated in Gyonggi-do Pyeongtaek City.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iSD0m4Nc889DShAfjscfdovtiPwr5x_NCB6Mo1eUMQglx-pG4aMWzYzB9BuuM8C-p3U_yain9Lj0t1JtX3GQLQA1_TUgHU4qVvUC2nJKuplz1YTr3uigtd2bc8Q01aR47ZO4SK_BV2g/s1600/Hotel+in+itawon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iSD0m4Nc889DShAfjscfdovtiPwr5x_NCB6Mo1eUMQglx-pG4aMWzYzB9BuuM8C-p3U_yain9Lj0t1JtX3GQLQA1_TUgHU4qVvUC2nJKuplz1YTr3uigtd2bc8Q01aR47ZO4SK_BV2g/s400/Hotel+in+itawon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996141490677810" border="0" /></a>I like this hotel as it is quite comfortable with free internet connection. If you have no broadband cable, you can ask from the counter with a 3000 won returnable deposit. From now onward, I will not forget to bring along such a cable when I have my laptop with me on my travel.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPXc75HRmQzCeJhiCwDDhQvdX8lNKFhawAIsfkje3kt8_om5ECDUP8ysNpx029rkXfmxwXPCGlJxxusE6bFSUiSF2_nVsIsczYsFUMwt3zIhH5cGp5ZQEaLh_-0YrEVxNaYiU8t-d6YI/s1600/Jap+Rest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPXc75HRmQzCeJhiCwDDhQvdX8lNKFhawAIsfkje3kt8_om5ECDUP8ysNpx029rkXfmxwXPCGlJxxusE6bFSUiSF2_nVsIsczYsFUMwt3zIhH5cGp5ZQEaLh_-0YrEVxNaYiU8t-d6YI/s400/Jap+Rest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488381749076157282" border="0" /></a>For dinner, Lucy Kim the local guide had arranged for us the Japanese seafood restaurant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOisewBwV05_2ynnLJqbJvjaAVwPEJVL4HPhtR_9jwsiju_gMGbzlyO3ZvWlCaTWOokG4Lvcr-wUOusjnOlNMluXEDbp5qAxyBjaIuPlCxC4taAmrTbcscEBt0sV8CQjuRy7OfrTwAoEM/s1600/Japanese+seafood+dinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOisewBwV05_2ynnLJqbJvjaAVwPEJVL4HPhtR_9jwsiju_gMGbzlyO3ZvWlCaTWOokG4Lvcr-wUOusjnOlNMluXEDbp5qAxyBjaIuPlCxC4taAmrTbcscEBt0sV8CQjuRy7OfrTwAoEM/s400/Japanese+seafood+dinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996623922468610" border="0" /></a>This is what we had, some crabs, cuttle fish and whatever else to be shared among the four of us sitting crosslegged around this low table. Noticeably absent is the loctopus tentacles to be swallowed live as an authentic Japanese food.<br /><br />Since there was ample time before breakfast is served at 7 AM, I took a walk around the hotel area to sample part of Pyeongtaek City.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ07y56DGbm4s46J_7t2wWD-hzeNFzktmzbAzbXyEs_46TQnxDdciJ7On3Y_g2i16iofOWjTHEUEr7CGkQ0BIVjV8WdcwNliSSty-ZYWeIpeCQBxfwG1s_Ds59HdxVRyJZoF4-fgb0zD4/s1600/Bakery+near+the+hotel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ07y56DGbm4s46J_7t2wWD-hzeNFzktmzbAzbXyEs_46TQnxDdciJ7On3Y_g2i16iofOWjTHEUEr7CGkQ0BIVjV8WdcwNliSSty-ZYWeIpeCQBxfwG1s_Ds59HdxVRyJZoF4-fgb0zD4/s400/Bakery+near+the+hotel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994209263616786" border="0" /></a>Sign of the French influence in Korea, a French bakery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_OGTrgmc_Kq4zg3SIZb-N1YTdxSVxB1OwiUL3bmB6TvX3DSLI15yuTFG3USmp2yk7G3f6vFwHte3ujV0udeyEFJJATtuV9Qs_4xeVn5Vo6Et56FbvjBRCfWKYhowejrg4H2nfEfu7o0/s1600/Rubbish+collection.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_OGTrgmc_Kq4zg3SIZb-N1YTdxSVxB1OwiUL3bmB6TvX3DSLI15yuTFG3USmp2yk7G3f6vFwHte3ujV0udeyEFJJATtuV9Qs_4xeVn5Vo6Et56FbvjBRCfWKYhowejrg4H2nfEfu7o0/s400/Rubbish+collection.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487998544182948466" border="0" /></a>I saw workers cleaning up the streets after a street market the night before. Look, the workers had to run to keep up with the vehicles which moved ahead to the next pick up point. That way no time is lost for the workers to hitch on the vehicle since it was a short distance away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oYZ3didLLCPj-OYnRC7iEpBn9P4y2LrVSMC2ecMRj3oOkl55NNvHlGy1sfknznpLqTnhW0dApZaUl0DcN8cXlt2h5RnpTsDNorjOxcqrkzrcRnIgsWr1yXdkoDAnE-71c-n7woEL03o/s1600/cab+drivers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oYZ3didLLCPj-OYnRC7iEpBn9P4y2LrVSMC2ecMRj3oOkl55NNvHlGy1sfknznpLqTnhW0dApZaUl0DcN8cXlt2h5RnpTsDNorjOxcqrkzrcRnIgsWr1yXdkoDAnE-71c-n7woEL03o/s400/cab+drivers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994880496827346" border="0" /></a>les Vity taxis waiting for customers. Luxurious Koreans vehicles were used.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpxi0t1FoYYtEWHzfG6tEqBvC7hHoct9m_8L4I7at0mHHejXfGggmb4f-cX0520TU2TF6LuSGIwJjdd4MEnmSasWqID6OihbRQGlSB6DBT4NeweWAe0LZPreDoO4AW_rPauW1H3fkh0w/s1600/Joong+ang+market.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpxi0t1FoYYtEWHzfG6tEqBvC7hHoct9m_8L4I7at0mHHejXfGggmb4f-cX0520TU2TF6LuSGIwJjdd4MEnmSasWqID6OihbRQGlSB6DBT4NeweWAe0LZPreDoO4AW_rPauW1H3fkh0w/s400/Joong+ang+market.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996628750967778" border="0" /></a>This street was a busy street market in the evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LeeQE4iSW0BNttD7ERCB_5iNbgtVKyuuFkiqCxtP_t9i88SpB5JgLSeHyVfTbABct_BDX5pjF5U0NgMKbw02NwywE5InuIQnDHQrq4rxZqAJejIcgxbiLfWt2emtlAYIZXxdfLQqvSM/s1600/Hang+Ten.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LeeQE4iSW0BNttD7ERCB_5iNbgtVKyuuFkiqCxtP_t9i88SpB5JgLSeHyVfTbABct_BDX5pjF5U0NgMKbw02NwywE5InuIQnDHQrq4rxZqAJejIcgxbiLfWt2emtlAYIZXxdfLQqvSM/s400/Hang+Ten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996132200406578" border="0" /></a>Hang Ten, the brand that I used to wear when I was living in Labis Johor in the 70's. The material is of a very good quality.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthwoPVkBRUMQSQayfQxx7UjttrvurowDse3J-R_6KlVl5YtrRorLsQhP9G1bl2iQhO8eMn7kr6W7u_v1fUR5XsmulRZO0JErLA_5g8Gm6NtHuXETtZP7Kb4yIyM6KIzCtBo8GIMhpFTI/s1600/Free+Newspapers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthwoPVkBRUMQSQayfQxx7UjttrvurowDse3J-R_6KlVl5YtrRorLsQhP9G1bl2iQhO8eMn7kr6W7u_v1fUR5XsmulRZO0JErLA_5g8Gm6NtHuXETtZP7Kb4yIyM6KIzCtBo8GIMhpFTI/s400/Free+Newspapers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995536971026770" border="0" /></a>Free newspapers on a lamp pole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeexp9b30Sl63ZOQcF34Aws02hyphenhyphen5TmlbX2PhmU7H9yH8lYzcq4U3u09eq8BbPbXA4se-jh_9trE9vD1LB8DnqgF8yn9jIBFlKa0LGYh4qYO7GbmS7v-BKW9uDoYrMccgRV04nBnpP_Eo/s1600/too+close.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeexp9b30Sl63ZOQcF34Aws02hyphenhyphen5TmlbX2PhmU7H9yH8lYzcq4U3u09eq8BbPbXA4se-jh_9trE9vD1LB8DnqgF8yn9jIBFlKa0LGYh4qYO7GbmS7v-BKW9uDoYrMccgRV04nBnpP_Eo/s400/too+close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487999051731291938" border="0" /></a>A luxury car parked so close to the railway line. I guess this line is not in use anymore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nRaQvCALv8hThtWxDotfj34DBzeDLL6hFgANabEj5HACNMw4cogVahWSwjdYZNNuRhY-Cr5bTbv4o10pKbuQeaJSXrbHbwHVO6PjrOiMsJb7-GFt-dilw3X5-llpN-3W_GBxN19MOhQ/s1600/Early+morning+strt+scene.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nRaQvCALv8hThtWxDotfj34DBzeDLL6hFgANabEj5HACNMw4cogVahWSwjdYZNNuRhY-Cr5bTbv4o10pKbuQeaJSXrbHbwHVO6PjrOiMsJb7-GFt-dilw3X5-llpN-3W_GBxN19MOhQ/s400/Early+morning+strt+scene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995525499316690" border="0" /></a>Branded goods.<br />By 7 AM I was back for breakfast at the hotel. Lucy Kim told us that in Korea labour is scarce and we have to send our used dishes after use. Non of us remembered to do that and Lucy reminded us after that.<br />Labour (cheap labour) is scarce in Korea. In all of Korea only about 30,ooo expatriates are available. Compare that to the millions that we have in Malaysia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFJhPQw2J5EJj3X0vL0yDcj90zWcHXVILEQvp8-g6d9QlOn2ld9FwlBqp5jh8YWrEXf0wHl5i0AOobkpR3SVHWhGQQE6Z87XqGVwONHxs_3qtgV6B9U8TtZATePVNqkO_3CayhokwRpo/s1600/Breakfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFJhPQw2J5EJj3X0vL0yDcj90zWcHXVILEQvp8-g6d9QlOn2ld9FwlBqp5jh8YWrEXf0wHl5i0AOobkpR3SVHWhGQQE6Z87XqGVwONHxs_3qtgV6B9U8TtZATePVNqkO_3CayhokwRpo/s400/Breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994869978250418" border="0" /></a>Lucy Kim, our guide and Pae Yun Jun, her assistant cum cameraman, joined us for breakfast. Pae used to work elsewhere before earning about 1.7 million Won (equivalent to RM5,000) a month which is a very low income in Korea and will not be sufficient to make ends meet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djOuIF_VwXjkUJnK79DzNgAbIIEw0nAXrb7BxJH_ZxnX_Zp_6a4S7bP5Zr1jRmVdBKOW6iAFuczjwcPTCgVyromMjHaZXlQT8sV1P_uZy95XKxGDozT0QtYhjQztTszIjldfSnfWxYs/s1600/Guide+n+assistant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djOuIF_VwXjkUJnK79DzNgAbIIEw0nAXrb7BxJH_ZxnX_Zp_6a4S7bP5Zr1jRmVdBKOW6iAFuczjwcPTCgVyromMjHaZXlQT8sV1P_uZy95XKxGDozT0QtYhjQztTszIjldfSnfWxYs/s400/Guide+n+assistant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996119528025698" border="0" /></a>I saw a stair leading up to the hotel rooftop so I sneaked up to shoot some photograph and video of the city from the roof top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3ZPX0RGm3sS196_UoZNIRd_bWppgC3UwcIyJrOdPW9GIUvg4Gah_oW_oTAgNfPDqVIbAKLHDo0s0bmF3ASWGdz6HN0MMjQzTrk5mBKEdmdkqFgAfIUHH75KlHHsscdiHd3oiVYP-6-E/s1600/shooting+video+from+top.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3ZPX0RGm3sS196_UoZNIRd_bWppgC3UwcIyJrOdPW9GIUvg4Gah_oW_oTAgNfPDqVIbAKLHDo0s0bmF3ASWGdz6HN0MMjQzTrk5mBKEdmdkqFgAfIUHH75KlHHsscdiHd3oiVYP-6-E/s400/shooting+video+from+top.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487999027105907122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTdzDi6NkTItlt4vFDvbhF0SyPdPECJW5RGv6BA_GWQJyNRxIjCm1DznoJNNXuHmJ77W04QnNtwIc_Y1bfb8DRM0WluKkHhRbNMqFiLNolY4_aRsVRmmmLjBZCLHTqfOhtd7Zvsl7aa8/s1600/It+means+love.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTdzDi6NkTItlt4vFDvbhF0SyPdPECJW5RGv6BA_GWQJyNRxIjCm1DznoJNNXuHmJ77W04QnNtwIc_Y1bfb8DRM0WluKkHhRbNMqFiLNolY4_aRsVRmmmLjBZCLHTqfOhtd7Zvsl7aa8/s400/It+means+love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996614944137202" border="0" /></a>Before boarding the bus for our visit to Everland theme park, I saw these 3 girls from our group posing for the camera. We the elderly were perflexed as to what they were doing. They were making the heart sign as a symbol of love with their hands.<br />Everland, here we come! This guy was directing our bus to head for the bus parking lot quite a distance away. Only cars were allowed to be parked near the entrance to the park. From the bus parking areas, shuttle busses will take us to the entrance.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNNLnWvqdl4BAqdezs4IbvLle5ofttfTfdIxeJuTq9RQZ4FTC4nYTr9P-KOu_8eliJN34RgGtML2KOQod8N4pNLhXxYerYI8JMWz1aDdkdiO362k-qFIe3vceRcnnEnVNqC9UgI_azsE/s1600/Everland+resort.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNNLnWvqdl4BAqdezs4IbvLle5ofttfTfdIxeJuTq9RQZ4FTC4nYTr9P-KOu_8eliJN34RgGtML2KOQod8N4pNLhXxYerYI8JMWz1aDdkdiO362k-qFIe3vceRcnnEnVNqC9UgI_azsE/s400/Everland+resort.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995532773923554" border="0" /></a><br />Queeing to ride the shuttle bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBA7kJ6DlhrwOqqhMnn342QLIRj3mMsi7CCBgIugOeGTsaFvUd8uaiVldyM5AWrKb4uJK2SLZQGO3liYVPLx3SdsyJfAScCfH4jUFtPDwWtjL94kQ3EMCEGhTI4JYqMRmrFEJdbeLPEs/s1600/boarding+shuttle+bus2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBA7kJ6DlhrwOqqhMnn342QLIRj3mMsi7CCBgIugOeGTsaFvUd8uaiVldyM5AWrKb4uJK2SLZQGO3liYVPLx3SdsyJfAScCfH4jUFtPDwWtjL94kQ3EMCEGhTI4JYqMRmrFEJdbeLPEs/s400/boarding+shuttle+bus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994227930117010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_8tRmd5fRPDot-pGlB4C4ZLeXq_GB6bgViv9bmEwQNPpDTclxBLfXKeWiooFhRNM0PXe-gBClPXoiZ905T_Nc0jrzVnaLtmUn-Daem9NZoEz21hh21J3tkMMohAQ1HvJCqxVKqWvqNs/s1600/Main+entrance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_8tRmd5fRPDot-pGlB4C4ZLeXq_GB6bgViv9bmEwQNPpDTclxBLfXKeWiooFhRNM0PXe-gBClPXoiZ905T_Nc0jrzVnaLtmUn-Daem9NZoEz21hh21J3tkMMohAQ1HvJCqxVKqWvqNs/s400/Main+entrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487997234658964850" border="0" /></a>The main entrance to the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiQ6ZW9uu-FtzPY94BR2685hOKzzWsrp7ZYZEU-8Gyh-7vjrsJHbFllPi382xfC0aVh-neokPeVSp0U-EBVDJ2CI8JUAPcdRQHq4a7s-Xg6X_1pZ846Zn1PVAUD7wZlyHa6-ceXzVy9w/s1600/colorful+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiQ6ZW9uu-FtzPY94BR2685hOKzzWsrp7ZYZEU-8Gyh-7vjrsJHbFllPi382xfC0aVh-neokPeVSp0U-EBVDJ2CI8JUAPcdRQHq4a7s-Xg6X_1pZ846Zn1PVAUD7wZlyHa6-ceXzVy9w/s400/colorful+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994900341142610" border="0" /></a>A huge colorful tree greeted us upon entering the main entrance. Upon checking, the tree was a synthetic tree so the colors will remain throughout the four seasons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCUpS58FzdDolTVOCsl-UG_YXtdeB_mNBSB8XGTivqu-dDohUSxwZywkZpMHlFHBlrmQnpNb4H6zYMO-jJ0l_8nRPVihcews87me6_pRuoJohSkpBTAtGEX6w2RpSM6p_rrq7To5aMjo/s1600/colorful+flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCUpS58FzdDolTVOCsl-UG_YXtdeB_mNBSB8XGTivqu-dDohUSxwZywkZpMHlFHBlrmQnpNb4H6zYMO-jJ0l_8nRPVihcews87me6_pRuoJohSkpBTAtGEX6w2RpSM6p_rrq7To5aMjo/s400/colorful+flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994892570451890" border="0" /></a>Any way the flowers in the planter box at the base of the tree are real flowers.<br />The first thing we were shown was the landmark building where we must gather at 1.30 PM at the end of the visit to the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZXGKoMyN18JgBb1pMLkdBE568qGPgoBol_tWIUgPEEs6ZRIjYVrVuBYe_1YhpIl1oI5k9GosjlwT_e89jfg1MQa06qsAobKghwFi__WZhYz13oG1gFST1H7E_XW1u_onAYE2ROo0HIk/s1600/Gondola+ride+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZXGKoMyN18JgBb1pMLkdBE568qGPgoBol_tWIUgPEEs6ZRIjYVrVuBYe_1YhpIl1oI5k9GosjlwT_e89jfg1MQa06qsAobKghwFi__WZhYz13oG1gFST1H7E_XW1u_onAYE2ROo0HIk/s400/Gondola+ride+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996107688531346" border="0" /></a>We rode the cable cars to get down to the area where the action is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XAiJyTDa-3ePTnqczYPrJE4DGoccLmPcZJLnu0TXzCQwKS_4R1BXdEdSzIri7OQFfD-hhhkvz9Qnl4hqgpcTOwKYpC2nybPDhuqJc6Qal9XjLktmQiCE45GyxwVWpjkU2zK6pFY0qc/s1600/Gondola+ride.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XAiJyTDa-3ePTnqczYPrJE4DGoccLmPcZJLnu0TXzCQwKS_4R1BXdEdSzIri7OQFfD-hhhkvz9Qnl4hqgpcTOwKYpC2nybPDhuqJc6Qal9XjLktmQiCE45GyxwVWpjkU2zK6pFY0qc/s400/Gondola+ride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487996103874722882" border="0" /></a>The highest roller coaster as seen from the cable cars. This roller coaster is of course not recconmended for the faint hearted elderly people like me.<br />We took another bus ride to visit the zoo within the park compound. Unlike our Zoo Negara, the animals here are not caged up. They have ample space to roam like they do in nature. Only difference is that they are fed.<br /><br />Some Siberian Tigers.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Beside the tigers we saw some bears, lions, girrafe and elephants. The most exciting was of course the ligers which was a cross between the Lion and the tiger.<br />Next we were taken on a water ride which simulate the raft ride on a fast flowing river of the Amazon. It was quite fun. Before we were allowed to see the rest of the park on our own, we were taken to see a 3D movie. The characters seemed to come close at us as if they were the real thing and our bodies moved in tune to the movement on the screen.It was an experience that first timers like me enjoyed immensely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjUuEZIrsRwliY4s-otuVIeoDmtxxvzFiZFoPUiuv3rAG3VYIu1dlpQZEuBdcuBx6dCRnnhnPT_FTi9M76eXq6b8Dq-mquHIPEN9ZIC2PekMQ-MLFdzGkp3jEuidH3KuLy3h8fOXHYT0/s1600/3D+Movie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjUuEZIrsRwliY4s-otuVIeoDmtxxvzFiZFoPUiuv3rAG3VYIu1dlpQZEuBdcuBx6dCRnnhnPT_FTi9M76eXq6b8Dq-mquHIPEN9ZIC2PekMQ-MLFdzGkp3jEuidH3KuLy3h8fOXHYT0/s400/3D+Movie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488381721526892402" border="0" /></a>Waiting to enter the 3D cinema hall.<br />Then we were free to roam on our own. Since no lunch were provided, we had to survive onwhatever we carried in our lunch pack. Most of us brought along instant mee in cups where only hot water need to be added to give us instant noodles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTxTQT_MHvaI2-B68WsrWBte_tsAr8afcQIJLTvLYZB5f6Hq6RmDGYY0BhXoBTp7a8btH0PNYRlznz4MEniV6ea8n5YXAPV1cYtvyLiSGDOdmA8rhZHTXnSUhVsX0sZ-7-Bo0BiSN2c/s1600/cascading+water.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTxTQT_MHvaI2-B68WsrWBte_tsAr8afcQIJLTvLYZB5f6Hq6RmDGYY0BhXoBTp7a8btH0PNYRlznz4MEniV6ea8n5YXAPV1cYtvyLiSGDOdmA8rhZHTXnSUhVsX0sZ-7-Bo0BiSN2c/s400/cascading+water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994883594824738" border="0" /></a>The cascading water wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYOTZI9fWjqiWBtHeVRyM0sGoog0buirjshodJfKWdzpydHdzNF66u9b6SbHDrGYwbxHm_zxBP9XQ5L1_ve1teC5CHDQyy9wPGZdY6MQ8xkWtDnOnhaIfRfcPE89ojkqcBbma4zdH3P4/s1600/4seasons+garden2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYOTZI9fWjqiWBtHeVRyM0sGoog0buirjshodJfKWdzpydHdzNF66u9b6SbHDrGYwbxHm_zxBP9XQ5L1_ve1teC5CHDQyy9wPGZdY6MQ8xkWtDnOnhaIfRfcPE89ojkqcBbma4zdH3P4/s400/4seasons+garden2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487994193662382898" border="0" /></a>The Four Seasons Garden in full bloom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaz5wY1Dyze-f5r6NFt2EACOjlQTDeS4VHClLcLsYTjpbyF_jlTpQuV7svqIz-h3R7kSb9WZFKBTOy2NPcU0JSr3_c03ahCsXmOsntGH2YIR7OPUZgkteT0EwLRoU1oIVgRXp5AwsIsk/s1600/rose+garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaz5wY1Dyze-f5r6NFt2EACOjlQTDeS4VHClLcLsYTjpbyF_jlTpQuV7svqIz-h3R7kSb9WZFKBTOy2NPcU0JSr3_c03ahCsXmOsntGH2YIR7OPUZgkteT0EwLRoU1oIVgRXp5AwsIsk/s400/rose+garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487998537070886802" border="0" /></a>The rose garden near where we had some bread for lunch and did our Zohor and Asar prayers to the stares of passerbys.<br />There is alot more to see and experience in Everland but being a hot day, we now crave to be back in our air conditioned bus to head back to Seoul City.<br />We did not head directly to our hotel but instead we were taken to another part of Seoul for abit more shopping while waiting for an early dinner at the restaurant near to the mosque in the top picture above.<br />It was already dark when we checked in at our hotel. My friend David had come to the hotel earlier and the reception had told him that our group would be checking in at 9.00 PM. By a twist of fate the lift we were in didn't stop at my floor and we somehow were brought back to the lobby and when the lift door opened, there I saw David talking to the receptionist. My one wish to meet David Ritchie in person in Seoul was fullfilled. After sending my wife to our hotel room, David and me adjourned for a cup of coffee at Starbuck not far from hotel Stay Seven where we were to stay for the night.<br />While surfing for more information about Winter Sonata, I was shocked to learn from the internet that Park Yong-Ha another actor who shot to fame from the TV series Winter Sonata was found dead from an apparent suicide at his mothers home in Seoul some 2 hours ago.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-29789174531400032082010-07-19T08:56:00.000+08:002010-07-19T09:06:28.562+08:00Korea Part 1<p>The plan to tour Korea has been mooted some six months ago. We were undecided on whether to do Korea during the spring, summer, autumn or winter. All the seasons seems to be alluring with their own pluses and cons. Since the latest school holiday was in early summer and our favorite travel agent POTO Travel have scheduled a tour for the school holiday beginning on 5th June 2010, we decided to go at that time. Though we have booked our tour early, POTO Travel didn't seem to put on their priority list and we did not make to the list that was supposed to depart on the 5th of June 2010. That package was over booked. Their personnel told us there was another group going on the 6th of June but the number wasn't enough. As luck would have it, the travel company didn't manage to secure airline seats for the tour beginning on the fifth and some of the members were put on the tour that begins on the 6th of June whose airline seats was confirmed.<br />The change on dates from the 5th to the 6th of June scuttled my other airline flight from Kota Bharu to KL on the 5th and also the return on the 11th of June using Firefly airlines. I bought another ticket with MAS for the me and my wife leaving KB on the 5th and returning on the 11th intending to foregone the tickets purchased with Firefly Air. Again luck intervened when upon checking my purchase of airline tickets with Firefly was on pending status. They seemed to have problems charging the ticket costs to my credit card which MAS didn't seem to encounter. That saved me some money.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau4Zxms1ZoqlaGTu521bdtDAKyNblRM6AZKo229FouIo1mF5pTm27F9IIQDCylY3napTkCHE0h6CYoVsLGHhvTm0JKlUBUpgxaa2VOXL1_ZwjkLxiLL6EnTLFdj3_0zhQjzbwecSnIs8/s1600/at+KLIA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau4Zxms1ZoqlaGTu521bdtDAKyNblRM6AZKo229FouIo1mF5pTm27F9IIQDCylY3napTkCHE0h6CYoVsLGHhvTm0JKlUBUpgxaa2VOXL1_ZwjkLxiLL6EnTLFdj3_0zhQjzbwecSnIs8/s400/at+KLIA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484697672875593298" border="0" /></a>We were at KLIA early on the 6th of June even though our flight out via Vietnam Air was scheduled at 2.30 PM and we were advised to be at the airport at the latest by 12.00 noon. Our daughter who lives and work in Labuan was on the way home and would transit in KLIA at 10.30 AM. So we had a bit of time to meet her and her 2 year old daughter Balkis.<br />The tour to Korea was via Vietnam Air and we were to have a stopover in Saigon which is now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Initially we thought this was a good arrangement as we could do a short tour of HCMC which we have never done yet. It will also provide us with and opportunity to stretch our legs before the longer trip from HCMC to Incheon.<br />A bus picked us up at the airport upon arrival and we were whisked to a lacquerware factory where the disabled were employed. We did our bit for charity by purchasing beautiful laquerware products all tagged in USD.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhTl9RlQZIMxB42TbTLu1YwsVrkhWLPcz9Fb4ejM4_PkN3DK1OSJMIg0ZqPBcGRo0vA3v-wcyoe5lp4m1DmrjVd2x3v1dVcn3uyBHfjLZucWReHniE4YsZXVDwxJottwTbB5xubmraiU/s1600/Souvenir+HCMC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhTl9RlQZIMxB42TbTLu1YwsVrkhWLPcz9Fb4ejM4_PkN3DK1OSJMIg0ZqPBcGRo0vA3v-wcyoe5lp4m1DmrjVd2x3v1dVcn3uyBHfjLZucWReHniE4YsZXVDwxJottwTbB5xubmraiU/s400/Souvenir+HCMC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484701935422744978" border="0" /></a>Here my other half did our bit for charity fearing that we may not be able to visit the place on the return trip. Since we brought along some Vietnam Dongs and some USD, making purchases was no problem.<br />The next stop in HCMC was at the General Post Office, an old colonial building built by the French which sits next to a cathedral built by the same colonialists and named what else but The Notre Dame to remind them of the one in Paris. On the day that we were there, there were many couples who were married there and were busy taking photographs in front of the cathedral.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmg93XibI0eyoskGl2kWA-TT4Ti5iB8i0A00mH7EOEtj6kctnhujedtsFyBodzf3MKikALJqO4nyvt7bwNEFcNyU_bxGmtp5l7HMeNTYjbbpHgzEbUnzPpEe_WLIDu0CK0zdh7yT1SXg/s1600/GPO+HCMC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmg93XibI0eyoskGl2kWA-TT4Ti5iB8i0A00mH7EOEtj6kctnhujedtsFyBodzf3MKikALJqO4nyvt7bwNEFcNyU_bxGmtp5l7HMeNTYjbbpHgzEbUnzPpEe_WLIDu0CK0zdh7yT1SXg/s400/GPO+HCMC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698770808042034" border="0" /></a>The General Post Office built by the French.<br />This building not only function as a post office but the huge interior was used to sell souvenirs. They surely knows how to extract tourist monies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rh5Dbic1DpArBLealsv7NYxlUnE1hmcaVHwsZp7z6gFWVBqaA6zLAj9mt7mG1k95apTLpFuvIly8FhdWvXhomy5d7qK8zSTdH2mma5Syy3gg1l4DN3cXEGm0xyyIMKuaInGGIB_zs9A/s1600/Park+at+HCMC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rh5Dbic1DpArBLealsv7NYxlUnE1hmcaVHwsZp7z6gFWVBqaA6zLAj9mt7mG1k95apTLpFuvIly8FhdWvXhomy5d7qK8zSTdH2mma5Syy3gg1l4DN3cXEGm0xyyIMKuaInGGIB_zs9A/s400/Park+at+HCMC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699913680387010" border="0" /></a>In the midst of Saigon there are wooded parks where people come to rest and do some recreations. In our own countries such parks would be targeted for development by heartless greedy businessmen abetted by corrupt officials and politicians.<br /><br />For dinner we were taken to Four Seasons Restaurant, a halal restaurant operated by some Champa Malays originally from Cambodia. The staffs there have mastered the Malay language due to either the frequency of visits by Malaysians or they may have worked in Malaysia before. I would rate their food as so,so, nothing out of the world, just good enough to placate our hunger.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30pSsrAFqM-x258_pD8OsSjqvvibN0_9LQosFwmaZH1P9roTlnJpQpJCMRt1Ae41jKggZPMcRAKPQXCBXhWpEsGxMuuo2tSlB-6QMu94ATCOXEjVMMZQGzILjnS4q6SR5snc1EYAKeZw/s1600/Dinner+at+4+Season.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30pSsrAFqM-x258_pD8OsSjqvvibN0_9LQosFwmaZH1P9roTlnJpQpJCMRt1Ae41jKggZPMcRAKPQXCBXhWpEsGxMuuo2tSlB-6QMu94ATCOXEjVMMZQGzILjnS4q6SR5snc1EYAKeZw/s400/Dinner+at+4+Season.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484718342844648402" border="0" /></a>Dinner at Four Seasons Saigon.<br /><br />Then we proceeded to the local mosque located beside the Saigon Sheraton Hotel for our Maghrib prayers which we did together with the Isyak. So if you want to be close to the mosque and be near a halal place to eat, stay at Sheraton Hotel as the restaurant Halal@Saigon is just on the opposite side of the road. Halal@Saigon is operated by a couple from Perlis, Malaysia.<br />After the prayers we requested to go direct to the airport to rest and have access to better restroom facilities. Saigon was well decorated with colorful lights to make the city look beautiful at night.<br />When we finally boarded our flight to Korea, we were quite happy as finally we could have some rest and probably some shut eye to prepare for tomorrows tour which will start immediately after touch down at Incheon Airport.<br />At 4.30 AM we were woken up from much needed sleep when the cabin crew started serving breakfast. Though the food was welcome, we prefer to have more sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0RW5tH1GCShyKhaIRCbk1WHaOBeeHcjvOTqXm4PgPvWEhIWTEI-gnrDamRympZ6IZ6GgXpO_935KvvakmC__IKboeCnUvpajLH7DIVbua08p9JzF96dZCbwB9BgmGyivvb6fxwURqdo/s1600/Pic+of+Korea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0RW5tH1GCShyKhaIRCbk1WHaOBeeHcjvOTqXm4PgPvWEhIWTEI-gnrDamRympZ6IZ6GgXpO_935KvvakmC__IKboeCnUvpajLH7DIVbua08p9JzF96dZCbwB9BgmGyivvb6fxwURqdo/s400/Pic+of+Korea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699930350871154" border="0" /></a>Upon alighting from the plane we saw this huge wall picture of beautiful Korea. What a way of opening our eyes to their country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX12VGMBfJIM_AEYPxl4KjSok7-V8kqpy0pfMyh9G6W4OcN6OmzskpcTpX4xNYCrI0fre3TOJJ3mpsbmuu13H34403Azaa-T4EcBBRxY3NkWOiFqCZploggPolxA47W21AZygYczbdvFA/s1600/Lucy+Kim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX12VGMBfJIM_AEYPxl4KjSok7-V8kqpy0pfMyh9G6W4OcN6OmzskpcTpX4xNYCrI0fre3TOJJ3mpsbmuu13H34403Azaa-T4EcBBRxY3NkWOiFqCZploggPolxA47W21AZygYczbdvFA/s400/Lucy+Kim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699311726050194" border="0" /></a>Lucy Kim<br /><br />We were met at the airport and boarded the bus. The tour guide for Korea was Lucy Kim. A very knowledgeable guide who could spew information interspersed with funny anecdotes that kept us mesmerized and ease our uneasiness over the need for a morning bath.<br />Some information from Lucy Kim.<br />1. Fifty percent of Koreans are named Kim.<br />2. The Incheon area has a tidal difference of 10 meters (The difference between the highest and the lowest tide). The second biggest in the world after Alaska.<br />3. The road to Incheon has one of the highest toll at the equivalent of RM40.00 with the aim of the prevention of vehicle congestion and also due to the road being a private financial initiative.<br />4. Along the way into Seould city, we were shown the garbage hill that rise to 90 meters hill after 30 years of filling. There is a chimney on it to harvest the gas produced which is used for heating and generating electricity.<br />After that she went into the history of how the 38th parallel became the divider between North and South Korea. From that point onward I lost my interest to jot down my notes.<br />Suddenly I was all ears when she mentioned the reasons why Koreans eat dog. During the difficult times Koreans had to eat clay to prevent themselves from going hungry. Due to clay consumption they had to suffer acute constipation. So to them dogs are just another animal that can provide them with much needed protein. No wonder you don't find many strays or even non stray dogs around.<br />Soon the Korean government will classify dog as food to prevent illegal beating to death of the animal for their meat. Once so classified, the dogs must be slaughtered in more humane ways as done with other animals for their meat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7bezUvDHx2LAievMa243WHnFq90k7Ks_2JPYX_ogPs4acpHZrq8dw5B5rdjWvPntxfGjAx_Zh2m0UBUhyffTUig_uz51w5nxQ8npw5dSUt615uzswu3-fMuRDeC8tcXJaWMtIbTKh7A/s1600/beautification+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7bezUvDHx2LAievMa243WHnFq90k7Ks_2JPYX_ogPs4acpHZrq8dw5B5rdjWvPntxfGjAx_Zh2m0UBUhyffTUig_uz51w5nxQ8npw5dSUt615uzswu3-fMuRDeC8tcXJaWMtIbTKh7A/s400/beautification+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484697686830775858" border="0" /></a>Further more beautiful sceneries are always a distraction to me compared to the history of a place. Along the way we saw beautiful flowering plants being used as landscape. Unless I could touch them, I tend to doubt that they are real flowers but the benefit of the doubt is more on them as being real plants.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnx0yh0f0tPwmapyjJGcn9k23-mjStXI8hBg-USIswmJ7hEXceOI_9-Y7eikuzadn111yA_T5Gijb12gmB6t8cQoAhQJEGTWkz_E9y0KYV4Z736SmUN2Tu-JKPuCwEJg4Py5AVDoJC8g/s1600/Presidents+Palace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnx0yh0f0tPwmapyjJGcn9k23-mjStXI8hBg-USIswmJ7hEXceOI_9-Y7eikuzadn111yA_T5Gijb12gmB6t8cQoAhQJEGTWkz_E9y0KYV4Z736SmUN2Tu-JKPuCwEJg4Py5AVDoJC8g/s400/Presidents+Palace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699947580310370" border="0" /></a>We stopped by near an imposing building with a blue roof against a backdrop of a nude hill. It is the Blue House, which is the Presidential Palace. It appears that Korean Presidents don't harbor building new expensive palaces as usually happened in some developing countries.<br />Actually our stop there was for toilet stop before we visit an old palace called Gyeongbokgung where the royal family used to live.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pOroRsasX2EpHiNzW1O2Qj5ip7uElyZHuR20IJQX37KwAW9-SybJCrn1mLszSB7OowseSxntEA7D7wlXvALR1wTzkQxqHmZ-zDlCXSsUxPpaLSTyL139yGgDL7KzhzFlJjMoz9-KVXA/s1600/beautification+at+work.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pOroRsasX2EpHiNzW1O2Qj5ip7uElyZHuR20IJQX37KwAW9-SybJCrn1mLszSB7OowseSxntEA7D7wlXvALR1wTzkQxqHmZ-zDlCXSsUxPpaLSTyL139yGgDL7KzhzFlJjMoz9-KVXA/s400/beautification+at+work.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484697696625699330" border="0" /></a>At the time of our arrival workers were replacing the flowering plants with new ones as a beautification program.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWr29LJndGgwqD6obhNG6ohyphenhyphenPpkI6_RlRri_XQl-QUpsPUszKzpF30djbrmkDz5KDE2gZV09RPI3IAh9KF8EOziKHjypAY2Og_QgZIpCxmSXdTRYbdUosHyX0PmpUz5j_Dk9U_k_s5xs/s1600/pretty+white+flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWr29LJndGgwqD6obhNG6ohyphenhyphenPpkI6_RlRri_XQl-QUpsPUszKzpF30djbrmkDz5KDE2gZV09RPI3IAh9KF8EOziKHjypAY2Og_QgZIpCxmSXdTRYbdUosHyX0PmpUz5j_Dk9U_k_s5xs/s400/pretty+white+flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699960154185394" border="0" /></a>See how beautiful they are.<br /><br />Before we proceed with the tour, we had a group photograph in front of this beautiful building. Climbing the steps to the building seems to be a temptation but we were too tired for such an activity. Later the tour guide commented that our group is a group who are always tired. What can I say as some of us have already breached the 50th birthday a couple of years earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs17UJYMVf6E6DODC8kErsn-s6DmJDQnE-Q-sFIDamcpSkJnkXkHLFfA57Bv5RwIIPffrFkp3ZWNKoy9itCs45HYVpOnDStiEXJIkm1ShsFRFOIadl9CX22yS7eBDHfU4LFz1CUjKZG0/s1600/Group+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs17UJYMVf6E6DODC8kErsn-s6DmJDQnE-Q-sFIDamcpSkJnkXkHLFfA57Bv5RwIIPffrFkp3ZWNKoy9itCs45HYVpOnDStiEXJIkm1ShsFRFOIadl9CX22yS7eBDHfU4LFz1CUjKZG0/s400/Group+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698787261480498" border="0" /></a><br />Pak Zawi is the one wearing the orange Firefly cap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd2dtoPmgkpNjbivX_ISBB87LfxoQ4NEehjEr4RKAnMVZovlXp5DZO-cOFqacbEmnpEcY0L9l5KRJfPv9GzxkCJpZ48D2chlSvUfDcfV9z0tuS-08dxXPf0uWENU_CWXp9b7j0GnhJj4/s1600/listening+to+the+guide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd2dtoPmgkpNjbivX_ISBB87LfxoQ4NEehjEr4RKAnMVZovlXp5DZO-cOFqacbEmnpEcY0L9l5KRJfPv9GzxkCJpZ48D2chlSvUfDcfV9z0tuS-08dxXPf0uWENU_CWXp9b7j0GnhJj4/s400/listening+to+the+guide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699300749439794" border="0" /></a>Inside the palace we were given a briefing by our tourist guides. The briefing was about the history of the palace. Personally I have never met a tourist guide who is as professional as Lucy Kim in Malaysia. She has all the information at her fingertip. I guess she is well trained and very experienced. Her mastery of the English language is commendable. Something our own guides lack in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxPOuwgGsRxvCzUHyh1P2B7XlgAk8oPXHAGTC3pbMoXKmr1G1MktQi3ZXxkNrVOFEwadVd1MPnRdjEtMrIDKzcgkKYADaSCSqpyfJKPQ-mxZcVzkq9JLIs7LfqA0y04L4gDQ-9SC53Ew/s1600/wooden+columns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxPOuwgGsRxvCzUHyh1P2B7XlgAk8oPXHAGTC3pbMoXKmr1G1MktQi3ZXxkNrVOFEwadVd1MPnRdjEtMrIDKzcgkKYADaSCSqpyfJKPQ-mxZcVzkq9JLIs7LfqA0y04L4gDQ-9SC53Ew/s400/wooden+columns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484702268410640818" border="0" /></a>Massive wooden column that have withstood the test of time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqNAKQppbD4P2XFJMK3XjGR2CmDcGodxNR614hduUHIKIr4pReK2tE-1vZmaQe1ySUVG1u0GH43qWzPgGP8Zgcgr4nDCUTvcOgdy43rWbD5P7u3XGooAOIwX0HAfmvwzfJ_t70iX_Eow/s1600/Main+building.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqNAKQppbD4P2XFJMK3XjGR2CmDcGodxNR614hduUHIKIr4pReK2tE-1vZmaQe1ySUVG1u0GH43qWzPgGP8Zgcgr4nDCUTvcOgdy43rWbD5P7u3XGooAOIwX0HAfmvwzfJ_t70iX_Eow/s400/Main+building.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699315035771650" border="0" /></a>Is this the throne room?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi2RTH8FK53MVz7IqdM2Xv4tQ4kpPILFjVJXYpFig8TAOsMYb3KupxyWs-Ax1FD4iIwMM5-yiwDV057Ae_BDTq6_TAG2CGTbTz0O7bdvuCfK740Jw6ngH6LBQNYsU1gZdBEHZLRi5yDM/s1600/Palace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi2RTH8FK53MVz7IqdM2Xv4tQ4kpPILFjVJXYpFig8TAOsMYb3KupxyWs-Ax1FD4iIwMM5-yiwDV057Ae_BDTq6_TAG2CGTbTz0O7bdvuCfK740Jw6ngH6LBQNYsU1gZdBEHZLRi5yDM/s400/Palace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699335568808690" border="0" /></a>Or is it this one?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCPRUQZbKUW4u3rnWSdfw1FrNcd5mhx9FERs_Lcnwf6LdB6o5zne1VgQ2afsSeYor5pmM6ntjDxCjGKsr2G02qYrSCbNv3_b0JjNMkxCJrFMo6a3AJGMsY15tqfmj1Gl6_lzPDxbZDiI/s1600/Intricate+design.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCPRUQZbKUW4u3rnWSdfw1FrNcd5mhx9FERs_Lcnwf6LdB6o5zne1VgQ2afsSeYor5pmM6ntjDxCjGKsr2G02qYrSCbNv3_b0JjNMkxCJrFMo6a3AJGMsY15tqfmj1Gl6_lzPDxbZDiI/s400/Intricate+design.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698816614329026" border="0" /></a>The intricate design<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyjvap3J09M1VE3MGJ9qWIvTzBMVLR_LPNUWvIB3jjm0vqkscov1BfKhGColMyiwgi3hm5qLrITANbGiPLjBQleHDQFA1qY0o8L2fHoITvBu7xIjqpB66AlW49Gi269NqAm1ks9oxKao/s1600/Guest+Palace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyjvap3J09M1VE3MGJ9qWIvTzBMVLR_LPNUWvIB3jjm0vqkscov1BfKhGColMyiwgi3hm5qLrITANbGiPLjBQleHDQFA1qY0o8L2fHoITvBu7xIjqpB66AlW49Gi269NqAm1ks9oxKao/s400/Guest+Palace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698797859301410" border="0" /></a>Another imposing building in the complex.<br />At the end of the palace tour, our group was brought into the city proper for lunch at a halal restaurant not far from a Mosque. We were told that there are 35,000 Moslems in Korea.<br />I was happy with the Indian food.<br />Now it is time for some shopping. I can't resist the temptation of photographing this fountain in the middle of an intersection close to where we were dropped. We were given ample time to shop at two shopping areas close to each other. Or prefered choice was of course the Namdaemum Market which are made up of open air stalls along many streets in the heart of the city. These street stalls were purported to be operating for 24 hours daily.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly516epIYl1JUFyMqQPn4LfOwEgyLfg9Lcs0ogLpu2F9esCl-uXM1Mm-dTQoxASOnBYHT3CP8SeGC2KjcSRuAVJ6rjhyyrAeXPjKLpvTtNYnT5TosmEYhR6jxK8cg9uBuqObbZSIMEt0/s1600/wide+roads.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly516epIYl1JUFyMqQPn4LfOwEgyLfg9Lcs0ogLpu2F9esCl-uXM1Mm-dTQoxASOnBYHT3CP8SeGC2KjcSRuAVJ6rjhyyrAeXPjKLpvTtNYnT5TosmEYhR6jxK8cg9uBuqObbZSIMEt0/s400/wide+roads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484701941834738258" border="0" /></a>Before splitting into smaller groups we were reminded to remember this shopping complex as the landmark to where we should gather at the end of the stipulated time. Shinsegae is a name to is known to most the 12 million inhabitants of Seoul. To help us remember, Lucy Kim told us to think of a gay sinseh and pronounce the words sinseh gay. Later I did a test and a Korean immediately pointed the way to the place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiepRflaxZWe7S6TREkOYiduzhsMdAqI6NfWm7eTZjh5D78-T3aOEHu0LnGy5hHEvXGgcZiugsK7ZFcQ_vELD1OQQokPA9qDhBDyKRnjdivC1VUi74E4i41UcALrVHZ2kcKszhY_69Vvo/s1600/Shinsegae.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiepRflaxZWe7S6TREkOYiduzhsMdAqI6NfWm7eTZjh5D78-T3aOEHu0LnGy5hHEvXGgcZiugsK7ZFcQ_vELD1OQQokPA9qDhBDyKRnjdivC1VUi74E4i41UcALrVHZ2kcKszhY_69Vvo/s400/Shinsegae.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484701931263690002" border="0" /></a>The Shinsegae is one of the earliest shopping centers to be established in Seoul.<br /><br />Along the way to the shopping areas we saw this handicapped persons busking using minus ones. I didn't contribute to him as I didn't have small change on me and wanted to do it on the return trek. We didn't come back via the same route and we missed our bit for charity.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh5Yl2ur38_9qaoaXEF4a1zvIrnztliYRRQuMx9IZz1qrW2_dXzXEBnOYQOudFA8z4m0y41qlWc68XdPRIE9_pWHw56qqzzXYWP26fW4cOA_FM26La0eFF8Zm8VZTXjn3sUhMwY_sU10/s1600/disabled+person.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh5Yl2ur38_9qaoaXEF4a1zvIrnztliYRRQuMx9IZz1qrW2_dXzXEBnOYQOudFA8z4m0y41qlWc68XdPRIE9_pWHw56qqzzXYWP26fW4cOA_FM26La0eFF8Zm8VZTXjn3sUhMwY_sU10/s400/disabled+person.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698317009880626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlFZNBXmyYtNymTVzVVWS-eVHj5POHHzj17brHBiMkMVym15BRzoUvgkcvuuueYXvvs5cEhfRFut3zz-5FR9neAvYFqAn-_ycaIlIhiLwz984e7eUcuB3g1hfprs2IcDm8dJuLsOrj_4/s1600/Road+side+stalls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlFZNBXmyYtNymTVzVVWS-eVHj5POHHzj17brHBiMkMVym15BRzoUvgkcvuuueYXvvs5cEhfRFut3zz-5FR9neAvYFqAn-_ycaIlIhiLwz984e7eUcuB3g1hfprs2IcDm8dJuLsOrj_4/s400/Road+side+stalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484701919115732178" border="0" /></a>This is just one of the streets and there are many streets like this. You could easily be carried away if you were to wander as your heart fancy. So remembering the landmark building Shinsigae is a must if you were to find your way back to the meeting point.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr5e1Pd8QEzUJiqINzOu3R1tm4HWlfaX7wfiOsVFjziwOCyOe4Kd9f7VjvgTobcsC9qlmA995TpNfA0y6GiaT0PUIMGKdN3ytDT239rtszIsyn2NjQ8ylwvAKMiw_a8XQ_Ot26WSXya0/s1600/Brooches.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr5e1Pd8QEzUJiqINzOu3R1tm4HWlfaX7wfiOsVFjziwOCyOe4Kd9f7VjvgTobcsC9qlmA995TpNfA0y6GiaT0PUIMGKdN3ytDT239rtszIsyn2NjQ8ylwvAKMiw_a8XQ_Ot26WSXya0/s400/Brooches.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698292188055954" border="0" /></a>The stalls selling brooches and other accessories were the favourite among the mostly ladies member of the group. The minority male members had to endure the hot confined areas where the booths were set up. The ladies of course took their time to make their purchases. Most brooches cost Korean Won 5000 (approx RM15) which is definitely a bargain compared to the prices once it reaches Malaysian shores.<br />With the shopping finally done for the day, we boarded the bus again to get to our hotel.<br />After almost two days without a bath, most of us can't even bear our own smell. It is time for a good bath.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoz9-NbjLvtFGJcPQ_MiefMOEepvh6yHwfwuwNX50sTTw_naWesJXqNF-eQ1tTSbjOhOas-I1l-fTTDG7wfFCePfxosFniWGtb7sp0OAHYbHmcWDpJmM0ugA0MMhaz3wjOBT6i8pjGxE/s1600/Our+Hotel+in+Seoul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoz9-NbjLvtFGJcPQ_MiefMOEepvh6yHwfwuwNX50sTTw_naWesJXqNF-eQ1tTSbjOhOas-I1l-fTTDG7wfFCePfxosFniWGtb7sp0OAHYbHmcWDpJmM0ugA0MMhaz3wjOBT6i8pjGxE/s400/Our+Hotel+in+Seoul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699323506989346" border="0" /></a><br />The Hotel Seoul Leisure where we stayed is located at<br /></p><address><span rel="v:address"> <span class="street-address" property="v:street-address">302-13 Bulgwang 2-dong, Eunpyeong-gu</span>, <span class="locality"><span property="v:locality">Seoul</span></span>, <span class="country-name" property="v:country-name">South Korea<br />http://www.slhotel.co.kr/<br /><br /></span></span></address><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWznBUs3XHCLhrnQIoSCxmRNqFJtHzVS2OUkW8bAAjOdy8Hwc-xdqM01a2sAUWP_xUowSpNGP5PsLHHmAQLztgbLVC9S7NgLwOUsHrbpMRxAlfGkoNZldKowTCPZfa85h3yRNQX9vD5k/s1600/Breakfast+rates.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWznBUs3XHCLhrnQIoSCxmRNqFJtHzVS2OUkW8bAAjOdy8Hwc-xdqM01a2sAUWP_xUowSpNGP5PsLHHmAQLztgbLVC9S7NgLwOUsHrbpMRxAlfGkoNZldKowTCPZfa85h3yRNQX9vD5k/s400/Breakfast+rates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698284947277442" border="0" /></a>That is the rate for breakfast at the hotel. An American breakfast is about RM30 per head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeE3RmdHLZrp2evwGG76Kxcmn_Itpn1endPv8j35FN3yujZXhlghKCAmzoPBkD4aeouk2OSIfAJXcog0_3u-g3KSV5cqbfGUQfi8auuM-CabhJk2GMiYdNRyvvZcmsGEpSoGYbrHMhHU/s1600/2+double+beds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeE3RmdHLZrp2evwGG76Kxcmn_Itpn1endPv8j35FN3yujZXhlghKCAmzoPBkD4aeouk2OSIfAJXcog0_3u-g3KSV5cqbfGUQfi8auuM-CabhJk2GMiYdNRyvvZcmsGEpSoGYbrHMhHU/s400/2+double+beds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484697653508836002" border="0" /></a>The room alloted to me was so huge with 2 beds. The bathroom is extremely large with a jacuzzi which I didn't manage to use. Above all I like the internet connection which was free as is with most of the other hotels that we stayed in including the one in Saigon on the last day of the tour. If there is no broadband cable available in the room, you can ask for one at th.e counter and you will be given one after a refundable deposit of 3000 Korean Won is paid.<br />We were taken by bus for dinner to the same area near the mosque in Seoul. Some of the members opted not to go and have their own meals in their room. Most are tired.<br />Upon returning to the hotel, I walked some length of the street near the hotel for some window shoppings and see some street vendors that set up business at night selling T shirts and fruits.<br /><br />A walk around the hotel in the morning before breakfast I caught on camera some of these sights.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0vPpM07XhVuW7kPgmpY8SiMdmkev9gwRrvkZQifYYnwSQy2FkUJe2vHWyFjdJdHtA90xIRoh2wJWHcP0LonxUXNub_VR63yJAGad4-CJhUpHoHPlQA-MgnZ-yyPTTym4P0XAQPkDtmQ/s1600/Pizza+hut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0vPpM07XhVuW7kPgmpY8SiMdmkev9gwRrvkZQifYYnwSQy2FkUJe2vHWyFjdJdHtA90xIRoh2wJWHcP0LonxUXNub_VR63yJAGad4-CJhUpHoHPlQA-MgnZ-yyPTTym4P0XAQPkDtmQ/s400/Pizza+hut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484699938899688386" border="0" /></a>A Pizza School?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSKXefpP5gB-Y29DQhc71cDWEOI3mpqloxRR2HVxSSQ_UCvUxYLz2a69ysUySHRkUlVSsZ511BTkWahyphenhyphenWSsi4-I5W7Oh_kpsGlnu4JFt6KNVmhNzMYD4-dRwURlxgwHsMRihzUysa7_E/s1600/Work+in+progress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSKXefpP5gB-Y29DQhc71cDWEOI3mpqloxRR2HVxSSQ_UCvUxYLz2a69ysUySHRkUlVSsZ511BTkWahyphenhyphenWSsi4-I5W7Oh_kpsGlnu4JFt6KNVmhNzMYD4-dRwURlxgwHsMRihzUysa7_E/s400/Work+in+progress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484702279851492210" border="0" /></a>New pavements with the work area properly enclosed ensuring safety to passersby which is never a criteria in our own country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm88kZOrG03Ur3XO2qngt1YDxBfL5YWNCk-Ftz0irvzdgg1nGG25RvP3nDRV6gcHj-Ru3XT2eMK_jJMaILp2Mokbw4APWFq9nhwDA3I-TYz01j621Z3PVec2vSao-hMmzg6ZsjUOAXVc/s1600/Clean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm88kZOrG03Ur3XO2qngt1YDxBfL5YWNCk-Ftz0irvzdgg1nGG25RvP3nDRV6gcHj-Ru3XT2eMK_jJMaILp2Mokbw4APWFq9nhwDA3I-TYz01j621Z3PVec2vSao-hMmzg6ZsjUOAXVc/s400/Clean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698310806343090" border="0" /></a>Clean sidewalks although the night before street vendors plied their trade there. In the country where I came from heaps of rubbish is the norms as a sign that street vendors had used the place earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMyVMnITe3OXp0VTrKRHOXkE0ESamjzU_-EDf668vkR1GHYAK630M6QZAey5y0zTCsLE3l2_SHEPkNpDXcLdTbBdrv-1TSzYxYQAsFL_JKksgm2FwTmlOqgvNWJkgZpi9Si9ajgF4LI4/s1600/Bike+Shop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMyVMnITe3OXp0VTrKRHOXkE0ESamjzU_-EDf668vkR1GHYAK630M6QZAey5y0zTCsLE3l2_SHEPkNpDXcLdTbBdrv-1TSzYxYQAsFL_JKksgm2FwTmlOqgvNWJkgZpi9Si9ajgF4LI4/s400/Bike+Shop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484698275083032770" border="0" /></a>A bicycle shops displaying their wares.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp2wQSeyo_GLX4OTuysjfwOdBPdHE-M1rdbSceUrdB2_a-KtrPZ5j3Xw6UjshNFD82wZKxxAle23hhGSd_LrIIR2HQsJUKmlavIc_ZY_nNUS3SEX4A6KHk9HxsbltCamM1Ys-PQn045M/s1600/All+models.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp2wQSeyo_GLX4OTuysjfwOdBPdHE-M1rdbSceUrdB2_a-KtrPZ5j3Xw6UjshNFD82wZKxxAle23hhGSd_LrIIR2HQsJUKmlavIc_ZY_nNUS3SEX4A6KHk9HxsbltCamM1Ys-PQn045M/s400/All+models.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484697658462934514" border="0" /></a>More displays from the windows on the upper floors.<br /><br />Only this much for the First Part. More to come later. So please come back if you like what I am writing about Korea.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-48757221152413074412010-07-17T13:17:00.001+08:002010-07-17T21:51:42.821+08:00Ibrahim Ali Pahlawan Melayu (Ibrahim Ali The Malay Warrior)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBsv4-e6BvPTToRcSynUrcvuf9x8vRSyPYo-EQsHOTePYMjGFv9yCd0GkFh0xW4JdqNIaGkKHW_xkHlWQrUoK6ZpNl0XNz8zFf4DUfxpTu-7s7Mkx7CPauq2KkCsJTdpgtRaDBdSkLtjs/s1600/pahlawan.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBsv4-e6BvPTToRcSynUrcvuf9x8vRSyPYo-EQsHOTePYMjGFv9yCd0GkFh0xW4JdqNIaGkKHW_xkHlWQrUoK6ZpNl0XNz8zFf4DUfxpTu-7s7Mkx7CPauq2KkCsJTdpgtRaDBdSkLtjs/s400/pahlawan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494655359281099522" border="0" /></a>TOK HIM PAHLAWAN MELAYU are the words printed on the sheath worn by Dato' Ibrahim Ali (or Tok Him as he is locally known) the independent member of Parliament for Pasir Mas. Today he is standing tall as the President of Perkasa Malaysia. Perkasa was once an obscure non governmental organization which took on a different prominence once Datok Ibrahim Ali took over the helm. He used it to the hilt to promote Malay rights and above all to promote himself as a politician and save him from obscurity for the lack of a suitable platform to voice his issues.<br />He was once the Head of UMNO Division Pasir Mas having won the battle for the post from the late Haji Hassan Ismail. Later he left UMNO to join Semangat 46 with Tengku Razaleigh. When Semangat 46 was dissolved, his attempt to come back to the high office of Pasir Mas Division was thwarted by the then head of the division, Dato' Rahim Ab. Rahman who later lost the post to his deputy, Hanafi Mamat. Dato' Rahim and Hanafi managed to maneuver Dato' Ibrahim Ali out of UMNO Pasir Mas and he was in the doldrum until he was elected as the MP of Pasir Mas under the PAS banner. Without the assistance from PAS, he would garner less than 1 thousand votes based on his own steam as an independent as happened when he stood as an Independent in the 2004 General Election.<br />Now Dato' Ibrahim Ali no more enjoy the support of PAS and of course not UMNO too.<br />Today 16th July 2010 is D Day for Dato' Ibrahim Ali. It is the day of reckoning for him. His group of workers is welcoming him home to Pasir Mas after a considerable success on the national front, championing the Malay Rights. Many people including yours truly are skeptical about his ability to draw a crowd even on his own turf of Pasir Mas. All the more so when PAS is no more backing him.<br />The event was scheduled at 2.30 PM at Dataran Keretapi, a very strategic place in the middle of this small town. The place is big enough to accommodate a sizable crowd but not too big to make it look empty should there be a small crowd. This is clearly an excellent strategy.<br />It was almost 4.00 PM when Dato' Ibrahim's entourage reached his service center in Kg. Mekasar. Here a sizable number of motor bikers were waiting to join those bikers from Tendong already with the entourage. The entourage was led by a number of police outriders who ensured a smooth flow of traffic for the bike procession.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zDlJFlPx4KJofpbgkD6icNPBttBFNCqvQcybmQBriE_x7kwBIeELdg5yKW0S3f51kPgxJMrRCZRZGssYqO-m1fi_pwQXVqBJp3XKD6Bi7vhrFVhm2T5By6vcwHqAfpaQ_ca3q29wqfuo/s1600/stage.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFxCM7B7yIIuCK0NU1koBa19fHIe4txTiNU2kt93dpNBvjGniH-PbpiqH0-s31KAEzUbUhTqct54PFyOOWO4DWVFoXZ7fqxdbXiARU82f3JM8u-BKAUmLMZc_HgKvswk4v3YEz3KB0AOl/s1600/outrider.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFxCM7B7yIIuCK0NU1koBa19fHIe4txTiNU2kt93dpNBvjGniH-PbpiqH0-s31KAEzUbUhTqct54PFyOOWO4DWVFoXZ7fqxdbXiARU82f3JM8u-BKAUmLMZc_HgKvswk4v3YEz3KB0AOl/s400/outrider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652775477104882" border="0" /></a>The traffic police outrider.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXHNsKuhOv0WpWT4qTQRSnPm836QD7Z26GlJr0aL86XOqG_dzCwWUwiTPUSAIlvvRr9LhtRtjjcFgF-IiB1fwUdOYV0XRjONbtFilWOj0ZXcm6ajGFmcIv9ieyaUZej9EBAl0x8RJ6oDb/s1600/rebana.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXHNsKuhOv0WpWT4qTQRSnPm836QD7Z26GlJr0aL86XOqG_dzCwWUwiTPUSAIlvvRr9LhtRtjjcFgF-IiB1fwUdOYV0XRjONbtFilWOj0ZXcm6ajGFmcIv9ieyaUZej9EBAl0x8RJ6oDb/s400/rebana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652790982927714" border="0" /></a>A Rebana Ubi group provided the merriment along with the entourage. This is a good way to attract the attention of the people along the route. His workers definitely knows how to do things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1EU4b-uC9fyuoudYHGjCPeGuf-7qM-LErH-7IcPLZfB0b4GsaiyQE5DCPaty4agnVTMWoB6isPs82x0CKEtE3rHNF8nlM2ow60kxJtQ1aIfNtFe2C7UreFae2jjOia18Xj1duAAiw8zZ/s1600/alphard.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1EU4b-uC9fyuoudYHGjCPeGuf-7qM-LErH-7IcPLZfB0b4GsaiyQE5DCPaty4agnVTMWoB6isPs82x0CKEtE3rHNF8nlM2ow60kxJtQ1aIfNtFe2C7UreFae2jjOia18Xj1duAAiw8zZ/s400/alphard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652442389769938" border="0" /></a>This was the car that Dato'Ibrahim Ali traveled in. He waved at yours truly upon seeing yours truly snapping pictures of the event, acknowledging any effort to help him get some publicity however small. I guess holding a bulky DSLR helps yours truly to be seen by Tok Him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrrvriJ327MdTrj_2m-0Tu0ub8B4wIV-_grnnusYgAO2FuObZChyAal7TN0OJ2x1A4xokTw3Qo_CNArRj__PTdwpMfUq7O0lOnUAYU15ZEboqfB3VYZ7bjg7UL3kMpqu74NM5JDLzdcLe/s1600/jammed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrrvriJ327MdTrj_2m-0Tu0ub8B4wIV-_grnnusYgAO2FuObZChyAal7TN0OJ2x1A4xokTw3Qo_CNArRj__PTdwpMfUq7O0lOnUAYU15ZEboqfB3VYZ7bjg7UL3kMpqu74NM5JDLzdcLe/s400/jammed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494655332268525890" border="0" /></a>The street of Pasir Mas was jammed packed when other bikers from all over Pasir Mas joined the procession towards Dataran Keretapi. Dato' Ibrahim Ali could sense success from this point onward.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFnx_ssVDiDBbglf3VIuHmj3WdQvFzhd16H__GPNbQRZk4rkcF1H0iXT8K7kWATSS2aRLyfmdcVKHSftTJ4Hd_BHRKxqZ4T7OI4IVC_Dd6E7NccLV9v5Vq8Zb_dVARuQDP4DAwLufEzRr/s1600/vehicle.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iNMcRNhtg4zZRBFezUtrVBwp7-FZmSJzLM_C33Ree7QmzHcbNcgiKxn7l4AqLwLOwKNXKhD_6eXN_sbKQYTsxmtCw6k824p4reM3DXY8qZQ_yP2BWtLnCjN8oas3GCW-THLPhdW8TpLE/s1600/tok+him+arrive.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iNMcRNhtg4zZRBFezUtrVBwp7-FZmSJzLM_C33Ree7QmzHcbNcgiKxn7l4AqLwLOwKNXKhD_6eXN_sbKQYTsxmtCw6k824p4reM3DXY8qZQ_yP2BWtLnCjN8oas3GCW-THLPhdW8TpLE/s400/tok+him+arrive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653353533704658" border="0" /></a>Upon arrival at Dataran Keretapi he was received by the people there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFnx_ssVDiDBbglf3VIuHmj3WdQvFzhd16H__GPNbQRZk4rkcF1H0iXT8K7kWATSS2aRLyfmdcVKHSftTJ4Hd_BHRKxqZ4T7OI4IVC_Dd6E7NccLV9v5Vq8Zb_dVARuQDP4DAwLufEzRr/s1600/vehicle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFnx_ssVDiDBbglf3VIuHmj3WdQvFzhd16H__GPNbQRZk4rkcF1H0iXT8K7kWATSS2aRLyfmdcVKHSftTJ4Hd_BHRKxqZ4T7OI4IVC_Dd6E7NccLV9v5Vq8Zb_dVARuQDP4DAwLufEzRr/s400/vehicle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653353986395746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPghYronk-R7Afc8JUqP9OYgmzaQdg8k54rzDeDL-mvKZIsy03GlswtQnwpygS0W7akRjOpKqF7fJhydM96NYNp4uH6GYDZaXjPhGyNscxEq2yy2cAxfgLCr7alur6U3AYKvzmWj1-UEx0/s1600/tengkolok.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPghYronk-R7Afc8JUqP9OYgmzaQdg8k54rzDeDL-mvKZIsy03GlswtQnwpygS0W7akRjOpKqF7fJhydM96NYNp4uH6GYDZaXjPhGyNscxEq2yy2cAxfgLCr7alur6U3AYKvzmWj1-UEx0/s400/tengkolok.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653127125678466" border="0" /></a>The Master of Ceremony was on the spot where Tok Him was given the Tengkolok (head gear) to wear and the Keris (Malay Dagger) to hold with while the red sheath he worn bore the words Tok Him Pahlawan Melayu. That was the symbol carried by the Tengkolok and Keris.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h0vUf5XvLXGqeea8NUyLp21pY1Q37hFx-0qU8RLz84_Hn1Els9Qwj30haNupM4i_ytLIy4EaSpA2vQ3zQ66o-zzrWd-QQm6BpmG9xzHpx-BfAb4juqf0lICEvRuZy4cbZAb3l7rkhsLN/s1600/ride.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h0vUf5XvLXGqeea8NUyLp21pY1Q37hFx-0qU8RLz84_Hn1Els9Qwj30haNupM4i_ytLIy4EaSpA2vQ3zQ66o-zzrWd-QQm6BpmG9xzHpx-BfAb4juqf0lICEvRuZy4cbZAb3l7rkhsLN/s400/ride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652791146254818" border="0" /></a>Tok Him reluctantly mounted a special chair to carry him to the stage where he will be making his speech.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJgEbBjyZDuPAk-GXG0-hjfolp4fCFKRuk0pMJr_SWlyHPXObASt7AE5WI4nd-1eeFB5CduHvDgo9Z3a3V8uMuE9c5Y1KZEEsg42sMvy4m-EMiqUFWHIPGntfkZ2JX5qU2aYz8fSmftZf/s1600/enjoying+the+ride.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJgEbBjyZDuPAk-GXG0-hjfolp4fCFKRuk0pMJr_SWlyHPXObASt7AE5WI4nd-1eeFB5CduHvDgo9Z3a3V8uMuE9c5Y1KZEEsg42sMvy4m-EMiqUFWHIPGntfkZ2JX5qU2aYz8fSmftZf/s400/enjoying+the+ride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494655346488941730" border="0" /></a>The special chair was carried on the shoulders of four people and Tok Him seemed to enjoy himself immensely while on it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJjShptfLU5vy4R2ccURsw-F7BMuaQUgJATxlBUjgbzIiKJwjbdFP2Sok1f7OeobHq_4YOCqP737d5q1TmrufD-tyUsjUnCu69L_up3ppfgfE74rSrMOh79ygiAKDFc8TScMnTxpNPJUz/s1600/the+chair.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJjShptfLU5vy4R2ccURsw-F7BMuaQUgJATxlBUjgbzIiKJwjbdFP2Sok1f7OeobHq_4YOCqP737d5q1TmrufD-tyUsjUnCu69L_up3ppfgfE74rSrMOh79ygiAKDFc8TScMnTxpNPJUz/s400/the+chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653130575770754" border="0" /></a>This is the special chair left behind the stage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC5bXC5DHtcfS2XkfC1q3_s6sDqXtbxYhhFRDYB3OgC-AO33RlR-80OX8oo0-ZmJsGgkyLwz5UD0Nmh4rL2GufE7wvOA2YIc5yOTR5yRwwQfLz1tfyTBYvTrB0xR1y65YF1q73A1pvc2c/s1600/the+crowd.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC5bXC5DHtcfS2XkfC1q3_s6sDqXtbxYhhFRDYB3OgC-AO33RlR-80OX8oo0-ZmJsGgkyLwz5UD0Nmh4rL2GufE7wvOA2YIc5yOTR5yRwwQfLz1tfyTBYvTrB0xR1y65YF1q73A1pvc2c/s400/the+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653344838555298" border="0" /></a>The crowd infront of the stage. Be my guest to guestimate the number of people in the crowd. A miss by 5,000 either way is normal depending on who is reporting it. The foe will report less and the friends will report more.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJjShptfLU5vy4R2ccURsw-F7BMuaQUgJATxlBUjgbzIiKJwjbdFP2Sok1f7OeobHq_4YOCqP737d5q1TmrufD-tyUsjUnCu69L_up3ppfgfE74rSrMOh79ygiAKDFc8TScMnTxpNPJUz/s1600/the+chair.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz1Hjyy3DIJuo-thVsg_W0d2dqe6-CUl6TWkR3MYBvVayE_Ll7pXsv5pdBhmyXruetyMw24Fj39Y-hu7fX-5wRF-9q1w1VcTzZh2c6Hm-UHUuUzeyzXrClRYotYA0Rv-PkMRDer4l7iOF/s1600/crowd2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz1Hjyy3DIJuo-thVsg_W0d2dqe6-CUl6TWkR3MYBvVayE_Ll7pXsv5pdBhmyXruetyMw24Fj39Y-hu7fX-5wRF-9q1w1VcTzZh2c6Hm-UHUuUzeyzXrClRYotYA0Rv-PkMRDer4l7iOF/s400/crowd2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652447126385602" border="0" /></a>Another view of the crowd which preferred to stay under the shady trees rather than bear the hot sun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPZIN8UpdG31AM1_GVLQiF97_mysPiD2zYGgroVGrkjvyQMV_i9i_uI6YMlcVdAl_Miz9CcKhNPHp84JZpYAaVM80yPRXUde5NNwoRlnnqhZDPTpHL9Rd1YgujmSWZ7Lt3n6BbBCmeb0I/s1600/on+the+stage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPZIN8UpdG31AM1_GVLQiF97_mysPiD2zYGgroVGrkjvyQMV_i9i_uI6YMlcVdAl_Miz9CcKhNPHp84JZpYAaVM80yPRXUde5NNwoRlnnqhZDPTpHL9Rd1YgujmSWZ7Lt3n6BbBCmeb0I/s400/on+the+stage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494655336805718034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPghYronk-R7Afc8JUqP9OYgmzaQdg8k54rzDeDL-mvKZIsy03GlswtQnwpygS0W7akRjOpKqF7fJhydM96NYNp4uH6GYDZaXjPhGyNscxEq2yy2cAxfgLCr7alur6U3AYKvzmWj1-UEx0/s1600/tengkolok.jpg">Tok Him taken to his seat.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RTRrTftMlUJmRcOF04MLPbhWs0t3-wCAaBOSJaO-8zpBqBXFFvfJQUX3quiUolQpCKXRG_w47OL8nrVmPA6vgv237DS6aKXOkWBZimlA2dJU_PvsIUNFU9akMSs0ZyP9B50foEMd3hQt/s1600/holding+court.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RTRrTftMlUJmRcOF04MLPbhWs0t3-wCAaBOSJaO-8zpBqBXFFvfJQUX3quiUolQpCKXRG_w47OL8nrVmPA6vgv237DS6aKXOkWBZimlA2dJU_PvsIUNFU9akMSs0ZyP9B50foEMd3hQt/s400/holding+court.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494655350990908802" border="0" /></a>He is an orator. When in his element he could hold his audience spellbound for hours. Read the papers if you want to know what he said. I am not really bothered by what he said. Now he has tasted blood and he announced that many more such gatherings will be carried out in Pasir Mas. Yes he must keep the momentum going and get more support before his foe could cut him down to size which I think is difficult given the support he seems to have within Pasir Mas UMNO itself.<br />During his campaign under PAS banner for the 2008 election, he had established his own workforce rather than rely on PAS workers for support. I guess this is the workers that remain loyal to him and are working for him now. As a strategist, he is brilliant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiLkGlUR6pMyFRYvAICefXPiGDwBuTSg2fbl-k5gh4VJepZSca93hAjNZ4wVPtyKSzMeUCW1T_MMNgn1lSdjilXMCI9WP9Rf1l0NMV4YnSD8f6pQtsI8F3dScjnMI404GJDKOoLCkIMGQ/s1600/semangat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiLkGlUR6pMyFRYvAICefXPiGDwBuTSg2fbl-k5gh4VJepZSca93hAjNZ4wVPtyKSzMeUCW1T_MMNgn1lSdjilXMCI9WP9Rf1l0NMV4YnSD8f6pQtsI8F3dScjnMI404GJDKOoLCkIMGQ/s400/semangat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653116185972930" border="0" /></a>Tok Him is giving a speech against the backdrop of a building with the writing Semangat 46, Bahagian Pasir Mas in green.<br /><br />Frankly I would say Pasir Mas UMNO could have been better if he were allowed to hold the rein. He not only is a vocal man but he has ideas and will not hold any grudges against his fallen enemy. A case in point is when he won the post of UMNO Division head against the late Tuan Haji Hassan Ismail, he still put Tuan Haji Hassan on his committee. Unfortunately politics is such, only the victor survives.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23RR6Bc7aHhehOemjb4q-x4yjcvdtmEgvhsQdcT2OzXVXKudfRbCnwWa6FCG6L1pX2i1x1UXYN6vjiJE7DMc13lg9fVymrvY6kc_PDF-4xbPbJAj1zUORDvzkfHowxKK9Hl-zs0Tnm5zm/s1600/doa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23RR6Bc7aHhehOemjb4q-x4yjcvdtmEgvhsQdcT2OzXVXKudfRbCnwWa6FCG6L1pX2i1x1UXYN6vjiJE7DMc13lg9fVymrvY6kc_PDF-4xbPbJAj1zUORDvzkfHowxKK9Hl-zs0Tnm5zm/s400/doa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652772256592050" border="0" /></a><br />The finale of the event was the doa recital by white robed Ustaz with Tok Him mingling with the crowd. He was later raised on the shoulders of his supporters to the shout of Hidup Melayu. Hidup Tok Him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSxWfztlpn6F-Qlgcj8zplDpzZCUpnfMYm4VjhA8AkUYleUHXWrBffjKelIlC6GFro5Jmbp8kDnpfJZDEgAZCl6JAfTHMw99-0DPt6L0Y1Ro9eJ9xLwCm2eXEVQdrgeP070xK0M2uqTuM/s1600/shoulder.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSxWfztlpn6F-Qlgcj8zplDpzZCUpnfMYm4VjhA8AkUYleUHXWrBffjKelIlC6GFro5Jmbp8kDnpfJZDEgAZCl6JAfTHMw99-0DPt6L0Y1Ro9eJ9xLwCm2eXEVQdrgeP070xK0M2uqTuM/s400/shoulder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494653118622425490" border="0" /></a>Below the crowd responding to the shouts and cheers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvOL8PnUH6z63xAUY_iFU16JHQkxhah5IIjaEXilE-_aCQZhgRCMZQan3LmIkGD0EmaNnGqtF5e-9Bn85QvDQ0e_NsD-SamiohsAQleLUrRnu73KMTTSTN-LfEajqytUQxbB1TC62uAsP/s1600/dataran.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI480iIEuqGfhTNVyxDtAuNaPmMCKyu2tk-VvCKqdGZyPS3i2j_gBQO7PHARdqHInrnhnnqEpJbOJFekRNHOGzT1jWqESwmdPdTT6hMfe_nHa5tEqDouazOMxbnY2tKDkLDIjWuK4tlnnz/s1600/crowd+responding.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI480iIEuqGfhTNVyxDtAuNaPmMCKyu2tk-VvCKqdGZyPS3i2j_gBQO7PHARdqHInrnhnnqEpJbOJFekRNHOGzT1jWqESwmdPdTT6hMfe_nHa5tEqDouazOMxbnY2tKDkLDIjWuK4tlnnz/s400/crowd+responding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494652455260722242" border="0" /></a>Ain't that a big crowd enough? Some among the crowd are PAS supporters who are disillusioned by the way PAS is going. Something that the PAS leaders must immediately address. Dato' Ibrahim Ali could win the next General Election should UMNO Pasir Mas provide him with the platform. There are dissent within the party too against the current divisional leader as well as there are sympathizers within it. Now the UMNO leadership at national level must think of readmitting Dato' Ibrahim Ali if it want to have any semblance of winning back the Pasir Mas Parliamentary constituency in the coming 13th General Election.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz1Hjyy3DIJuo-thVsg_W0d2dqe6-CUl6TWkR3MYBvVayE_Ll7pXsv5pdBhmyXruetyMw24Fj39Y-hu7fX-5wRF-9q1w1VcTzZh2c6Hm-UHUuUzeyzXrClRYotYA0Rv-PkMRDer4l7iOF/s1600/crowd2.jpg"><br /></a>Read Utusan Malaysia's report on the event <a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0717&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_14.htm">here</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1EU4b-uC9fyuoudYHGjCPeGuf-7qM-LErH-7IcPLZfB0b4GsaiyQE5DCPaty4agnVTMWoB6isPs82x0CKEtE3rHNF8nlM2ow60kxJtQ1aIfNtFe2C7UreFae2jjOia18Xj1duAAiw8zZ/s1600/alphard.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YagxvFZRkl6LVy0EGiLOnEtNhFf8cKCEgkrlp0ISOw6AVuHKXC4pOVpmOFoZHaX7tuQQ6ELfmOgfyZaqbcsTqHxbzBskLVbFSWVNGzOq6FgoLA6pRpANzAbZx7y_sweiUOUGNQQ6usWh/s1600/12.30.jpg"><br /></a>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-38314832450360264732010-07-15T12:01:00.000+08:002010-07-15T12:02:40.747+08:00Ib Ali's Homecoming<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUlRHhret-77Dz-Lc5SDzMDsF4pxD2W-II7RN_csRYYnMcJ4anNNvxUE90ZX-6zAIcgzUSvmNKbHDcbv9tXAQAPLGeSXQjrwvS5pvYkE5Tv0V3nAi_eEnZIJjcwFvyeCZHdKlrlBuwPtZ/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUlRHhret-77Dz-Lc5SDzMDsF4pxD2W-II7RN_csRYYnMcJ4anNNvxUE90ZX-6zAIcgzUSvmNKbHDcbv9tXAQAPLGeSXQjrwvS5pvYkE5Tv0V3nAi_eEnZIJjcwFvyeCZHdKlrlBuwPtZ/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972425598566722" border="0" /></a>If you look at this banner and read it, you wouldn't understand at all what message is the banner trying to deliver. But when you move all down the road from Mekasar to the Pasir Mas town you will find more banners and slowly you will understand the full message.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D7c9jeiYnFCZHICx5djM2Fi-vb7X2rOsQJEfqu9iLxayaRnOgTo-OtYQiDFazeZ3oBpHmfUkx5gdwlSeZWQkFxs8vKeVIHLtSrG7r-bGxMTBzQKHbPgGxNHM1XlILkfk-u6n0K7DpINF/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D7c9jeiYnFCZHICx5djM2Fi-vb7X2rOsQJEfqu9iLxayaRnOgTo-OtYQiDFazeZ3oBpHmfUkx5gdwlSeZWQkFxs8vKeVIHLtSrG7r-bGxMTBzQKHbPgGxNHM1XlILkfk-u6n0K7DpINF/s400/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972860868848370" border="0" /></a>This one is for Bangsa Melaya if ever there is one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuwpTlpH7De4FAzNbWwK9LrFUipKs2q63G6plldA7mk6yoPINyFkpFijEDFKTrVXP-Ks7jt69h6ETyd6mDtIGNmgdgGUgoJBjCTA7qU2zyVRHEZ9u09o3sN5ckGNFuTxBNB0LlAbmdRbg/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuwpTlpH7De4FAzNbWwK9LrFUipKs2q63G6plldA7mk6yoPINyFkpFijEDFKTrVXP-Ks7jt69h6ETyd6mDtIGNmgdgGUgoJBjCTA7qU2zyVRHEZ9u09o3sN5ckGNFuTxBNB0LlAbmdRbg/s400/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972838511904978" border="0" /></a>Now you know all the banners are referring to Tok Him, or Dato' Ibrahim Ali or Setopa as he is known in his childhood days. read on and you will see more banners.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianvqGTG9L7KZIUoG2BLBf2S_m5QywCO_HW3pB3_39AS9y1xjmNRQ2WNvXrvzx-occP_7P_lPiLvUrI1D5x1bep1BqnAluHvYdEojG4zGprvaqyraS7ir3erRcTPTeoRY3wydmKb8de0uC/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianvqGTG9L7KZIUoG2BLBf2S_m5QywCO_HW3pB3_39AS9y1xjmNRQ2WNvXrvzx-occP_7P_lPiLvUrI1D5x1bep1BqnAluHvYdEojG4zGprvaqyraS7ir3erRcTPTeoRY3wydmKb8de0uC/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972827491436450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepT7agKs3-J_58hkOW_75d1v85dgKvDnQBze8Jzy8QexEYXYRvpw1jQdBL6XvQPbI9siyWPH-81LGkhKeAo5PU9iGT4dtmp95CTEZhl3cf6eBvcGU-KqpAJIx2veYjy0vJHaA_B3nt-tt/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepT7agKs3-J_58hkOW_75d1v85dgKvDnQBze8Jzy8QexEYXYRvpw1jQdBL6XvQPbI9siyWPH-81LGkhKeAo5PU9iGT4dtmp95CTEZhl3cf6eBvcGU-KqpAJIx2veYjy0vJHaA_B3nt-tt/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972412763785698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsupECUZH69xEFaZKRKSlLJ2eE5KmPTBcfNG1znWP8ULZgiPqTgWpGocN6jw5Sob1AoDlTJ5-NeBCik_lc4nsMMPGDfegQ6NRzxPuzkPa_taXuf4b9AQmBQrrTxScPZajJC2_pYTV8vO1q/s1600/11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsupECUZH69xEFaZKRKSlLJ2eE5KmPTBcfNG1znWP8ULZgiPqTgWpGocN6jw5Sob1AoDlTJ5-NeBCik_lc4nsMMPGDfegQ6NRzxPuzkPa_taXuf4b9AQmBQrrTxScPZajJC2_pYTV8vO1q/s400/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972974147651714" border="0" /></a>From this office in Kg. Kasa or Mekasar, a procession will begin tomorrow moving towards Dataran Keretapi right in the heart of the small town of Pasir Mas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeboPBFrg7X0ao9bB2u3SJWX2O4yqI3lY7digkrMMApjPgTsYFWXvS9uPMTydXqzfwKK2ZT9RTekScyJFaNtKXn89mKIEBxelsIEPZsZOZMoHC9pdCGxKp_SV-jCmoWESBfqi-la3KHdNg/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeboPBFrg7X0ao9bB2u3SJWX2O4yqI3lY7digkrMMApjPgTsYFWXvS9uPMTydXqzfwKK2ZT9RTekScyJFaNtKXn89mKIEBxelsIEPZsZOZMoHC9pdCGxKp_SV-jCmoWESBfqi-la3KHdNg/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972421251343298" border="0" /></a>The time will be 2.30 PM tomorrow 16th July 2010, that is immediately after the Friday prayers. There will be merriment to not only bring in the crowd but also entertain them so that they will stay long enough to listen to Dato' Ibrahim Ali make his speech at Dataran Keretapi. There will be Dikir Barat, Kompang, Silat, Rebana, kertok and motorbike procession.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnf5zrqIO8qCqqrEB-gtHokPXfmAK3nzY6uI5zIb4zbhrvUy3mcpAYjlRhVG-Wdduc51Q1fDeZYJwgoQxt7LsRwWc0Ibjj_UU266QUd3vxKVrwYAf8ihT1rl9DuijNEn8VD_kDZ4EbeX3/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnf5zrqIO8qCqqrEB-gtHokPXfmAK3nzY6uI5zIb4zbhrvUy3mcpAYjlRhVG-Wdduc51Q1fDeZYJwgoQxt7LsRwWc0Ibjj_UU266QUd3vxKVrwYAf8ihT1rl9DuijNEn8VD_kDZ4EbeX3/s400/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972823278841186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OOSTMRM92wRD4SDrdUGXEkQWR6bMi2yh0d_FJpEL8qmif1TyP-saqoVFCMtBp6s-z6aY2R6NH9qP_Fz6jAI0zZd21gx-D3IHcGNRsKqcOBQk3pbIBVU5HkWR3d5QnR5mkyNszbRugpPO/s1600/5.jpg">More banners in town.<br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBNIffM-i4C5_21Pm0vjidudIAtdjkFWyqp5eFZyM-XizgoZPURbIfDO1o-AmhP3QwgAsyXLTIdroXsEIjLilEv0wsVuSBpegDq4HCjmG0hTVkDnnJ6osRQEyb31BdUex5_PtI_0YtAN4/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBNIffM-i4C5_21Pm0vjidudIAtdjkFWyqp5eFZyM-XizgoZPURbIfDO1o-AmhP3QwgAsyXLTIdroXsEIjLilEv0wsVuSBpegDq4HCjmG0hTVkDnnJ6osRQEyb31BdUex5_PtI_0YtAN4/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972434352682706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepT7agKs3-J_58hkOW_75d1v85dgKvDnQBze8Jzy8QexEYXYRvpw1jQdBL6XvQPbI9siyWPH-81LGkhKeAo5PU9iGT4dtmp95CTEZhl3cf6eBvcGU-KqpAJIx2veYjy0vJHaA_B3nt-tt/s1600/1.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OOSTMRM92wRD4SDrdUGXEkQWR6bMi2yh0d_FJpEL8qmif1TyP-saqoVFCMtBp6s-z6aY2R6NH9qP_Fz6jAI0zZd21gx-D3IHcGNRsKqcOBQk3pbIBVU5HkWR3d5QnR5mkyNszbRugpPO/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OOSTMRM92wRD4SDrdUGXEkQWR6bMi2yh0d_FJpEL8qmif1TyP-saqoVFCMtBp6s-z6aY2R6NH9qP_Fz6jAI0zZd21gx-D3IHcGNRsKqcOBQk3pbIBVU5HkWR3d5QnR5mkyNszbRugpPO/s400/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493972446031251106" border="0" /></a>This is Dataran Keretapi in front of the railway station. Will there be enough crowd to fill up this place? Comeback for more report of the event tomorrow.Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-79701738376075289082010-07-12T11:45:00.000+08:002010-07-12T11:45:02.329+08:00What Went Wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MG_C3YHdBqwQ6QuSHgsKT0htdBlkT5Y0pOn4yq3U9jf0YNUdDfpTnUtFqQRtq4tTWcep7jOlXlajK4q9MWXNwRlgqBBIt6TPjCFRo2eH8qDuvXsmzTYTpuJPocetP0huUhQVDs4w12_H/s1600/Tema.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MG_C3YHdBqwQ6QuSHgsKT0htdBlkT5Y0pOn4yq3U9jf0YNUdDfpTnUtFqQRtq4tTWcep7jOlXlajK4q9MWXNwRlgqBBIt6TPjCFRo2eH8qDuvXsmzTYTpuJPocetP0huUhQVDs4w12_H/s400/Tema.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492081883772554674" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Life goes on at the fish landing jetty in Kg.Pulau Gajah, Pantai Sabak, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.</span>
<br />
<br />It was at 6.12 AM today July 9, 2010 when I heard the sound of my phone buzzing indicating an incoming SMS. Being a light sleeper I immediately woke up to check the SMS. It must be something urgent for someone to send such a message at this hour.
<br />True enough there was a message from my Virtual Tourist friend Chia BH. He mentioned about an urgent email he had sent to my Yahoo account.
<br />Though still groggy I powered up my PC and immediately opened my yahoo mail. There were two messages from Chia. The earlier one was the shocker that said my Gmail account had been compromised and it was being used by someone to solicit fund since I was purportedly stranded over seas in Scotland. The second one was to tell me why he had to use my yahoo account as using the Gmail account would only alert the perpetrators that his misdeed has been found.
<br />The next step was to open my Gmail email account. Sure enough, they have changed my password and I was unable to open it and I immediately reported the matter to Google to reset the password.
<br />While doing all that at recovering my account, another SMS came in from Pi Bani telling me about the same thing and alerting me of the scam.
<br />My next step was to access my facebook account. Luckily I had used a different password and it opens up with no problem. It wasn't so with my blog Life As I See It... (LAISI) as I had used the gmail account to access it. What a blow to me as this blog is important to me. Without it I will not be able to reach to the many friends and readers who had been following it.
<br />An attempt to reset the password to the Gmail account also met with failure as I have used an email address that was long dormant, a Hotmail account which I have forgotten the password and with so many changes to Hotmail, it became unfamiliar to me. The access to my Hotmail account was also denied. I guess the perpetrators must have reset the password to that account too.
<br />Oh God, to a non computer savvy people like me, such a problem is a monumental one and the techniques toward recovery are laced with hurdles that are difficult for me to surmount.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Here is the email from Chia,
<br /><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">
<br />
<br />hi zawi...</span></strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div> <div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">i recieve this email this morning (july 9th) of which i know is a spam... please inform all your friends in your address book of the compromise in your gmail address... salam and regards...</span></strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div> <div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">~chia</span></strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div> <div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">*******</span></strong></div> <div>
<br />--- On <b>Fri, 7/9/10, Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad <i><<span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278903059_0">mohdzawi@gmail.com</span>></i></b> wrote:
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">From: Mohamad Zawawi Ahmad <mohdzawi@gmail.com></mohdzawi@gmail.com></span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Subject: I need your Help Urgently</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">To: </span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Date: Friday, July 9, 2010, 5:31 AM</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Hello,</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">How are you doing?hope all is well with you and family,I am sorry I didn't inform you about my traveling to </span><span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278903059_1">Scotland</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> for a Seminar.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I need a favor from you because I misplaced my wallet where my money,and other valuable things were kept.I hate to ask you for help but I will like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently with the sum of $1,500 US Dollars to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I will appreciate whatever you can afford and i'll pay you back as soon as I return, You will help me to send the money through </span><span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278903059_2">Western union</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> with this details below.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Name: Mohamad Zawawi</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Address: </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278903059_3">1 William Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom G3 8HT</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Kindly get back to me with the transfer details as soon as the transfer is complete. and also get back to me with you account details so i can refund the money immediately I get back home</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Your reply will be appreciated. Thanks</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Mohamad</span>
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<br />I shot back a reply asking Chia to ignore it as I am home in Kelantan.
<br />
<br />On facebook I saw a message from Mek Yam in New York.
<br />The one from Mek Yam contains the same appeal.
<br />
<br /><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Main"> <div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Info"> <span bindpoint="authorLinkWrapper" class="GBThreadMessageRow_AuthorLink_Wrapper"> <a class="GBThreadMessageRow_AuthorLink" href="http://www.facebook.com/mekyam">Mek Yam</a> </span> <span class="GBThreadMessageRow_Date"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">July 9 at 6:11am </span></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="GBThreadMessageRow_BranchLink" bindpoint="branchLinkWrapper"></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="GBThreadMessageRow_ReportLink" bindpoint="reportLinkWrapper"></span> </div> <div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body"> <div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> would you happen to be in scotland attending a seminar?</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">judging from your last status in fb, not likely ya? </span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">but i have to check because i just received this email a few minutes ago, purportedly from you, asking for urgent help. hope you don't mind confirming if the email is indeed from you:</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">********</span>
<br />
<br /></div></div></div>Lucky thing Mek Yam was suspicious and not immediately succum to the scam.
<br />
<br />Jacqueline Tegju from USA and Rita Ho from Duval, Washington also sent me messages on facebook.
<br />Rita wrote this to me after she had read the messages from the others:
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Hi Pak Zawi,</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">David just advised me to reset my password since I actually chatted with the hacker. You may want to advice all your contacts who received the mail to do the same since it wouldn't hurt and better to be safe than sorry.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">I'm sorry this happened to you, not your fault at all and hope everything clears up for you to have your account back soon.</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Enjoy the weekend!</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Rita </span>
<br />
<br />The guy even tried to chat up Rita. Fortunately Rita sensed something was amiss and told the guy that he wasn't really me and the guy stopped the chat.
<br />Other facebook messages came from my friend Shahrir Saadon. Other friends including my ex teacher called to confirm. I guess everybody else with an address in the account received the scam but simply ignore it. As per Rita's advice, please reset your password so as to safeguard yourself from any eventualities. Though Rita sensed it was an amateur job, place take heed as it is better to be safe than sorry.
<br />My attempt to recover the gmail and blogger account is a failure as I could not supply the Google team with the correct information to establish ownership of the accounts. Thus I am compelled to open up a new account for my email with Google. For the blogsite, it will be known as LAISI and the URL is http://zlaisi.blogspot.com.
<br />There will be no new posting at the old blogsite. It will be left to become dormant as an archive since I cant access them or delete them.
<br />
<br />Just how did I get into this trouble? It was sheer stupidity on my part as I too fell for this silly scam as per this email. Only difference it it came in my Gmail.
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<br /><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" class="vcard"> <div class="row"> <div class="label">From: </div> <div class="details"><div class="abook"><span class="email">"yahoo-account-services@cc.yahoo-inc.com" <customer@cc.yahoo-inc.com></customer@cc.yahoo-inc.com></span></div><a id="message_view_ab" title="Add sender to Contacts" href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTBsdTZpcnZpBF9TAzM5ODMwMTAyNwRhYwNhZGRBQg--/SIG=1vvnk5g9q/**http%3A//address.mail.yahoo.com/yab%3Fv=YM%26A=m%26simp=1%26e=customer%2540cc.yahoo-inc.com%26fn=yahoo-account-services%2540cc.yahoo-inc.com%26.done=http%253A%252F%252Fus.mc526.mail.yahoo.com%252Fmc%252FshowMessage%253FsMid%253D66%2526filterBy%253D%2526.rand%253D341468715%2526midIndex%253D16%2526mid%253D1_44526_ANMwvs4AAE3GTCKfeAFCKhjYpgQ%2526fromId%253Dcustomer%252540cc.yahoo-inc.com%2526m%253D1_40397_ANIwvs4AAWGGTC3%25252B5gag%25252FnSGCag%25252C1_41079_ANAwvs4AATW5TCNEUgRcYTFK%25252FJ4%25252C1_41942_AMwwvs4AADxITCMyxAcqY1o5wh0%25252C1_42759_ANIwvs4AAC0RTCMswglESwV3DUk%25252C1_43801_ANIwvs4AAMFCTCMUEwXxvCfhrQs%25252C1_44526_ANMwvs4AAE3GTCKfeAFCKhjYpgQ%25252C1_45275_ANEwvs4AASq0TBL80Qz3H0nnpFE%25252C1_46224_ANEwvs4AAFxzTBB8VwBxRlekCpA%25252C1_47217_AM8wvs4AAJt4TA16kAdN9F8a%25252FEU%25252C1_48187_ANAwvs4AANdqTA1xAgytlFF0H1I%25252C1_49354_AM4wvs4AAIJATA0Z9gW%25252FrWfxdQM%25252C%2526sort%253Ddate%2526order%253Ddown%2526startMid%253D50%2526hash%253Daa85209b8baaa2764b9c607d58a99083%2526.jsrand%253D2673923%2526acrumb%253DJ.SL7dm8i.d%2526enc%253Dauto" class="pim addtoab"> <span class="offscreen">Add sender to Contacts</span></a> </div> </div><div class="row"> <div class="label">To: </div> <div class="details">undisclosed-recipients</div></div></div> <div id="yiv432293234"><style></style><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> GENERATOR </span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Accounts,Yahoo would shut down all unused Accounts,You will have to confirm your E-mail by fill in your login info below after clicking the reply botton or your Account will be suspended within one week for security reasons.
<br />
<br />CONFIRM YOUR IDENTITY. VERIFY YOUR FREE YAHOOACCOUNT NOW !!!
<br />
<br />
<br />* Username: ...............................
<br />
<br />* Password: ................................
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<br />* Date of Birth: ............................
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<br />* Occupation:................................
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<br />* Country of Residence:................................
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<br />After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconvenience.
<br />
<br />
<br />Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account before two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.</div>
<br /></div>Any fool would have noticed that it was a scam. I was much foolish than a fool and I did submit to te request because once I had problem with my blogger account and I attribute that to my failure to conform to the request.
<br />So please all of you who read this, learn this lesson from me and not respond to the request. It will lead you to the same trouble that I went through resulting in many friends to suffer some form of anxiety.
<br />To all of you concerned friends who were affected, I offer you my humblest apology. It was my fault for being so stupid.
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<br />Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-31446844169474687852010-03-12T15:51:00.000+08:002010-07-22T17:51:52.537+08:0012th General Election - The Final Post<div class="post-body entry-content"> <p>This is my final post about the 12th General Election. We all know the result and further discussions are of course available on the political blogs. I will continue to post my comments there as right from the very beginning I wanted to refrain from turning this site into a political one.<br />The need to inform readers about the goings on in Pasir Mas made me change my mind to temporarily use this site to disseminate informations about the GE in my beloved Pasir Mas. If I succeed in making you all happy and informed, then my mission is a success. It was impossible for me to be impartial as the pent up feeling in me of the injustices done was too much for me to hold back. To those whom I may have offended, I tender my sincerest unreserved apology.<br />Ahead of us is uncharted territory. Kelantan is the only state that has experienced changes in government on regular basis with about 18 to 20 years as the normal cycle. The trend is bucked this once. It is OK for Kelantan as we know we are in good hands. No one could say for sure about the other new states like the rich Selangor whose wealth itself can be a cause for concern. it is only too easy for someone to lose their level thinking at the sight of instant wealth. Not many can withhold the desire to be instant millionaires given the opportunity.<br />There is hope of course to go the straight path if we allow ourselves to be guided by sincere group of people in the form of Ombudsman which should immediately be formed. Let us show the Federal Government how to run a state using good governance as a tool to keep the country running and make the people happy.<br />When PAS took over Kelantan in 1990, they inherit the same staff from the previous Government. After sometimes, their mindset was changed to the same tune as the Government of the day. This was achieved by none other than the adage of leadership by example. If the leaders are perceived to be clean and examplary, the rest of the government servants will just follow suit. Humility is never a bad trait in a leader, it will endear him more to the rakyat.<br />With this post, I would like to close this chapter on the General Election in Pasir Mas and Kelantan in general. Thank you all for bearing with me.</p> </div> <span class="post-author vcard"> Posted by <span class="fn">Pak Zawi</span> </span> <span class="post-timestamp"> at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://mohdzawi.blogspot.com/2008/03/12th-general-election-final-post.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-03-12T00:36:00+08:00">Wednesday, March 12, 2008</abbr></a> </span> <span class="post-comment-link"> <a class="comment-link" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=954959063772294381" onclick="">50 comments</a> </span> <span class="post-icons"> <span class="item-action"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=954959063772294381" title="Email Post"> <img alt="" class="icon-action" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/icon18_email.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=954959063772294381" title="Email Post"> </a> </span></span>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-11962887714505001962008-03-15T15:51:00.000+08:002010-07-22T15:55:00.494+08:00eTAK oh eTOK<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHb_5hykcisnU20E_MlrkUpDjRQgkrh2EwZDRu_JGtyaRDGyThoV0tZuUA3izTCjWEMv5a_o0XxtMRFfQqSAQqxslVwgz3sRxG80JqIf517HtLnxHTrrlup6Siu_EmwV3lhMwGlQ0g0YK/s1600-h/Fresh+etak.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177886628526559554" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHb_5hykcisnU20E_MlrkUpDjRQgkrh2EwZDRu_JGtyaRDGyThoV0tZuUA3izTCjWEMv5a_o0XxtMRFfQqSAQqxslVwgz3sRxG80JqIf517HtLnxHTrrlup6Siu_EmwV3lhMwGlQ0g0YK/s400/Fresh+etak.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177885593439441122" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMcYC0hY01oSbNUMb8BtP6Vdp34_neWcNmAmPqS4ZyhWUL7sw4rqCG9-rtSIMyDIUM-urJosl8kaZZAWWhOINwuInt8_EA0vqMz24-1M66QbarUS8E-oEmIfpRIdMpFQjQ5173L8TGLWr/s400/Close+up+fresh+etak.jpg" border="0" /> Fresh etak being soaked in water<br /><br /></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><p><a href="http://letswheel.blogspot.com/">kerp (ph.d) of Let's Go Land </a>has been persistently asking me about etak, so to answer your questions about etak, I dedicate this post to you for being interested in this bivalves and hopefully one day you will get to taste it the way the Kelantanese has been enjoying it for generations. Kerp, this blog is dedicated to you.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><a href="http://raykinzoku.fotopages.com/">Raykinzoku</a></span> wrote a great informative piece about etak which he called etok (the way the Kelantanese called it is somewhere in between etak and etok) in his blog: <a href="http://raykinzoku.fotopages.com/?entry=680228"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Distinctively KeLaTte : ETOK</span> </a>This is how Ray describe the etak.<br />Etok is a small, pebble-sized, freshwater corbicula clam which lives at the bottom of rivers and canals, alongside scavanging fishes and crustaceans. Mostly found in the shallows and sandy parts of the river, they are least known or simply neglected by most Malaysians.<br />A very apt description. I can't do any better than that.Via his blog we now know that etok is not only found in Kelantan but also in other states of Malaysia and as faraway as Japan! Only thing I would like to add is it is found only in fresh waters and it is very sensitive to the quality of the water.<br />When I started schooling in 1957, I went to school in Kampong Kangkong about 5 miles from my home in Kg Chekok both in the district of Pasir Mas to live with my maternal grandparents. The river was our source of life. We get our water for cooking and drinking from there carrying by the pails. My being small I have to carry a small container which is a kettle. We depend almost everything that has got to do with water on the river. Washing, bathing and as the toilet. A floating raft complete with cubcles with a gunny sack of a curtain as the door was the public toilet! Transportation back then was by river boat plying downstream to Pasir Mas and around noon upstream back home. Tarred road only became available much later.<br />Above all that we get some of our food like freshwater fish and prawns and etak from the river too.<br />Every time we go to the river for whatever activities especially bathing where we will get wet, we will use the opportunity to collect some etak. Without the <em>pengokok</em>, we either use our hands or feet to search for them. To use the hands was easy provided the place is muddy and there is no pebbles in that area. Most of such areas are by the river bank and much deeper than the sandy area. The way we do it is to dive in and feel for the pebble like etak among the mud and throw them on the bank or put them in the part of the cloth we wore to cover our 'aurat'. I was considered to small then and can just dip in without covering the 'aurat'. The etok from muddy areas are usually darker in colour and larger. The sandy areas where the water flows mcuh faster the etak is of much lighter color and look very clean.<br />For the sandy areas usually towards the middle of the river where the water level is much shallower due to flat sandbank, etak can be collected by shifting the top 2 or 3 inches of the sand on the river bed to one side using our bare feet. If the etak were there they would be exposed and become visible to the naked eye provided the water is clear which was often the case in the olden days. The water should be shallow enough to bend down like you are in the <em>roko'</em> position when doing the prayers. Another condition is there must not be ripples on the surface of the water which was usually caused by the wind if it was a windy day. The ripples will prevent you from seeing the etak when it was exposed. During the dry spell some parts of the riverbed will be exposed. If it was recently exposed many etak will still survive and there are tell tale signs to show where the etak are. Digging it with the finger will expose it and if it is big enough, it will be collected. If the sandy river bed is exposed to the sun for too long the etak will die off.<br />Using the <em>pengokok</em> needs some strength.The <em>pengokok</em> is made of metal bars of about 2 mm diameter strung together with wires to form an open cage attached to a long bamboo or wooden pole for handle like in the picture below. A bamboo pole is preferred as it is lighter.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177889330060988882" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiWTEJztgJtEwHBEto1zJRNPCznyY27wmzhx0HiKrsIIQ667AoGwf926xixsASVPKRRInqEH2jfYZ_edtBYC3HUE_XI0wkskt304uqjSN0OJNXuN-OjzQFhLi5Le3_rWo-frwIU8c5sly/s400/How+it+is+used.jpg" border="0" />Syed Azmi demonstrating how the pengokok is used</p></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177891924221235730" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TzAZXvs-rzSRdtu1fosjfy04EH8kpYBzHEQIy_re2MDeZnAeBDd5GilmG_2InoipiNJ3hl5xMtgTCUhNhRC7XBhqGe5k-b71RHe9T4niW8oM1fb78xdlLMnL-ZTqGt_KEAIu_Fp3IF2j/s400/Pengokok.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177891919926268418" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRUQtmJxWP2gipbTG6_wUiLDPkaQetFsw9PVzYzlyQoQLFt7ue71iU0djz5oEgWi5XxWRlpNrTvNZE_mJNWkSO_U01Vxea157K9giLPBESHApotmI2HX9Mjmk6CRIfuHAj5CmN5UTstpF/s400/Metal+wires.jpg" border="0" />Details of how the pengokok is made </div><div><br />It is like a sieve to filter out the smaller sands and keep the etak inside. Some pebbles that are larger than the gaps between the metal sieve will also be retained. At the stage where the etok and pebbles are caught in the <em>pengokok</em>, an expert can segregate the etak from the pebbles using the principle of differences of specific gravity between the etok and the pebbles and the water flowing through the sieve. While the non expert will have to collect the etak by sight. In places where the sand is fine, only the etak will remain in it.<br />My activities of collecting etok ceased after I went to an English school in Pasir Mas. The occassional weekend trip home didn't provide enough time for such activities. Only after 1981 when I started working with Kumpulan Fima and based in Kuala Besut that I began to go to Sungai Besut to collect the etak. The locals there who were mostly descendents from Kelantan knows how to collect and consume etak. So whenever I feel like having etak, a trip to the river near Kg Amir will yield enough etak for my small family.<br />Later in 1996 when we moved into our own house in Kg. Kasa, Pasir Mas that we were able to enjoy etak again. Kampong Kasa is located on the bank of Sungai Kelantan and lots of etak were found. They were gathered and cooked by roasting it on a small fire after marinating it in a paste made of salt, blended with lemon grass, shallots, ginger and garlic. I suspect monosodium glutamate is lavishly added. Some may deny using it entirely to entice those non MSG consuming etok lovers. The marinating process takes at least an hour.<br />Before marinating the etak it must be washed clean and soaked in clean water. The soaking will make the etak purge all sand particles and mud within itself which may make it feel gritty when eating it if it is not totally purged. Soaking it over a minimum of 3 hours is necessary and overnight will be best.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177892813279466114" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU07m2kn5bImrKaYjXPYOPlRUkvncznvPKAwmJuXXu_D7iCOMnB-jbN6cfP6W8QsMqx2kjIxhRYuLWH_IgC7NhORxiwnsEbax4-kVa6JPscuNBakLaDWIzw081vAOVaS1BZuTsFE-Gc5lq/s400/Washing.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><div>Washing the etak</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177892796099596882" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZitxTR4DLBZVICovbhjpebtWCiuL_A-lklLFsCoMG2AKvQAka1CSqzkOa9Jz010mT3UXxm0m9b4k9oCU9Xpn0-0ZOsK00bU0L_n9enEl6plO8PvNiKPgkAG1-qijIWK7908Erm9OAapUU/s400/tempat+menyalai.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Roasting platform</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177889334355956194" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaxbiaRLL9NQ-pbArMiAISxHcOWCTCysI9dl987a5Cbq6Zwmz5yFwYtvw4foUCtiO0ZTg_xKkYFj2cuR3wNpcpbVt6mMrq0BcEEBDf6-1FAssufg5A3aEz5k_E4KM8LjXHilUekGG-5PW/s400/Lighting+the+fire.jpg" border="0" />Lighting the fire.</div><div><br />As Ray correctly said it, etak are mainly used as light snack but some people use it as appetizer to go with their rice ecpecially nasi kerabu. It can also be taken as lauk which I will describe later.<br />Roasting over a small fire on a platform raised 2.5 feet above the floor. The platform is made of long split bamboo pieces spaced close enough to each other to prevent the etak from slipping through. Over a slow fire the etok are constanly turned with a piece of plank attached to a wooden handle. The constant turning over is necessary to ensure eveness of exposure to the heat below. An hour of roasting is enough. Overheating or too long an exposure can result in the split up and the flesh to dry up and become less succulent. If there are extremely large etak in the mix, they must be seperataed and roasted first before adding the rest to it.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177891932811170354" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-1MGIcRiAfzsoM8nDZPrVwKbBWxWoPzpRKg0P-wL65a304lhz27tTSfvqtKIxPiwCUR0hjbydREGdpkGXFOfYFvm7gibX5H_ZNGPxAaqW7qkpBWbhMweC6necORpGXI7ENzQJpQplmMC/s400/Stirring+the+etak.jpg" border="0" />Turning ove the etak<br /><br />Other than roasting over a fire, the etak can also be roasted in the hot sun. Some people love it that way. This way will ensure that the flesh will be succulent enough. For those who make a living out of roasting and selling etok, the sun is not a reliable source of heat and the timing isn't suitable. Grilling job must be finished by the latest at 11 am for them to start selling.<br />Roasted etak or etak <em>salai</em> as the local term for it is highly hygroscopic due to the salt coating on its shell. The best container to keep it is a <em>badang</em> which has more surface area or a <em>bakul</em>. A <em>badang</em> is best. Both are made of plaited bamboo slices and so has better breathing quality compared to metal containers. Thus the etok will not become wet too soon due to the hygroscopic nature of the salt coating it. If metal containers are to be used, absorbing materials are necessary to be placed on the container before putting the etak in it.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177885589144473794" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5wkDbNEE5pzRxpRn_ZOR2gCaWYHZZZhGBqDVsr2F3HT25Vo7j1kNB_bUw3ZEC_KURFTJstK6GG7SBV9Z9HWHaYpl1-ps80-UCHFbmH57QdSkaFGoqy_SIxdh_Xhl7C-Nviga15ZJ3XfE/s400/Badang.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>A badang</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177885602029375730" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP21t2Bc9a-W8yeOVxC18mP-mx81NlW2TgMZR7aK_cpOxRO9DzSYULIg37tuDeP4nqdTYBdYN09oZ-ZAQ82LxA17ySNj3y-fTvAFwZz_IbjHAqOIolVN-mL3brb_OPY9HQlW6dLF88O4kY/s400/Etak+dlm+badang.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Etak in a badang</div><div>Newspapers being very good material to absorb moisture is the best material to use as wrappers. Unfortunately the ink used for printing is hazardous to health and the sellers are often reminded by health inspectors to refrain from using newspapers as wrappers. If you care for your health, better don't buy them when they are wrapped in newspapers. If you still have to use newspapers, quickly transfer them to some other containers so as not to allow the newspaper ink to stick to the shell of the etak.<br />Etak salai can be taken as snack or as <em>lauk</em> with rice be it <em>nasi kerabu</em> or <em>nasi putih</em>.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177886615641657618" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_lJUWRaSyc4mrFuL3rfSkzQ5b5wD4WEp39cgsE8Cmbu4vLf7cU1b-HQ5qjpgXE4JhZV4XMEhumR1_mLnRY1NfiaOd6icpr-CyHQcnV3XgmkSq0CeHDI-gi6ueCkn0rWbT8IqzRsyqyU8/s400/Etak+Salai+1.jpg" border="0" />Etak salai showing the succulent flesh.</div><div><br />Beside roasting, etok are also consumed by making it into a dish called sayur etok where the gravy becomes opaque like, after adding pounded shallots, garlic and crushed lemon grass with salt and sugar to taste. MSG can be used instead of sugar. For etak masak lemak, santan is used instead of plain water as in the case of sayur etak. Why the word <em>sayur</em> etak is used by the Kelantanese really confounds me. It must be the misuse of the word like they say makan air or makan rokok. <em>Makan angin</em> is of course a different matter altogether.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177886624231592242" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFfqWMRX83UqCo4X8FJOBtqqOjlHaD_lghok1WF6LrCLG1gSCEgv5sdPGBZ8CpEWsSAR975wKNCcRcZyg_fS_gGI5uzO8trveTXpm7BhCAbUJpinjvnQ7BfgMui1qrLMUsXgzKycfE-SX/s400/Etak+sayur+with+gravy.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><div>Etak sayur</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177887466045182322" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpciJEDIKREBjKwoHtNARDZg3Q9kzEyjrOc__Al3LBQlgToXNItTOBJ9UWEW9CPL-K9whgX7bK_E0cEYHT_3bjBbPWa75hdn5ylpp5iZYaGLGem5trW9ue6wB1CNJdk4TVvyrNvdbUBTq/s400/Gulai+lemak+1.jpg" border="0" />Etak masak lemak</div><div><br />Eating <em>sayur</em> etok or etok <em>masak lemak</em> is easy as the shell will be split open when subjected to heat but eating etok salai is a different ball game altogether. To retain the flesh succulent, the shell must not be allowed to split. If it is splitted, the flesh will dry up.<br />Lots of practise is required to acquire the skill to open the shell of the etak. Unlike the cockles which merely needs sufficient force to open them, the etak is too small and smooth to grip the shell the way you do to cockles. The regular eaters will just use their teeth to split them using the incisors (the front teeth) without breaking the two sides apart. The shell should open outward with the hinged part intact. The next act is to suck out the flesh from the inner side of the shell. The ingredients sticking to the external part of the shell will give flavour to the flesh. That is why splitting it with the teeth always taste better.<br />Those without the incisors or using dentures can still enjoy etak <em>salai</em> as there are other means of opening it. Ray's mother taught him how to use the knife to open the shell to save his teeth from wearing out faster. In Ray's case his mother taught him to scrape the edge of the etak to reveal the slit between the two sides. Inserting the blade of the knife and twisting the blade to either side will open the shell. In my case I will just put the knife blade across the slit and slowly turning the blade to align with the slit with a little pressure will make the blade penetrate the slit. A slight twist of the blade will open up the shell. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177892808984498802" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe4VfypFaH6T7GYsgUr7xJN-8pHv-tb-nF1vavFbn_eo2DCRLHc7mUaLa66rgTCnLmND_A7tiTpy17vB63BAsLj6vPJFCUEaPCUbiba_SRPMH8ghKp8Va9LrdrWOc7lKjXQXjfiKAKdxE/s400/Using+the+knife.jpg" border="0" />Using the knife to open the shell<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177889325766021570" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhipTa7xPJONE-ScioYkfez1dDpTC3GgsKYEaE5xDVfbGXcTKHU5tbce6petHVydcgfEyvKsyUcKoK2NCHbOBuspYpLgcXbN8ISXNsWBE9qHBCjA7KRK8NAImhK9bjlytZQO824R8TF92/s400/Guna+Kulit.jpg" border="0" />Using half a shell<br /><br />If you dont have a knife around, using one half of the shell can be a substitute for the knife.Using the sharp edge of the shell, use it the same way as a knife. With some practise, it will get just as good as a knife and less dangerous.<br />My two grand daughters Lis 8 years old and As 6 yrs from Puchong which I used to call <strong>Budak Puchong</strong> in my earlier blogs is back in Pasir Mas for 2 months. We have introduced them to etak salai and they are learning up on how to open up the etak with their teeth. For the moment they could open them but the shells spilt apart. Give them abit more time they will soon get the hang of it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177885589144473810" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQnjqtVnIN2yjXDPv3VVyhaJ-ZCz2eYsvCEfi4N8UDbEJ2a6_FD9R4tQG3zk1N64sEocRLqyqpjBEMnJ-0nOEGIVBvueWy-Y8u70QaWRHT0zrGFOQm80WgHW6cUZiyUiCWg50XRsvxAgM/s400/Budak+Puch4.jpg" border="0" />Lis and her sister As enjoying etak</p><p>Etak salai can be purchased in many places like the markets and roadsides. Near my home in Kampung Kasar there is a special gerai constructed by the Majlis Bandaran Pasir Mas solely to sell etak. Unfortunately not many sellers prefer the place and only one or two sellers use the place. Others prefer their own spots down the road.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177886632821526866" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxWMfJSILZkZfIX3iKLwFvDbv9sl2zbJX1iNY1_pP0uou47OPyZQeeUtx9UbLUjG6vCwAflzqsFz4ucZBHK4m6KJn2PwaKqwWp7VKh72pBsYr7eBnvRvp4dZSjUHo7UhmzOoxdp-xFFAE/s400/Gerai.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177887461750215010" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gPZqn7JPugAP4j8-XUK2nXWvm8YtXbxk2RQaVKjpMHsGj-JNTkZisJRRocUdHjHdxFsTgU37XagL3TKJmyJUziV5mrKu6cp5ln2WnCXbjP2Dl4oypVcw5CTMt2eyqtoD0M4BGMYOiWb_/s400/Gerai+etak.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177889338650923506" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YCBzB4Wu05XU7l2SBtt52g1paJSCDYdblO6BYektdiyXYyn5_4dFSj0tnDtrSi8FF3EVzscrdww91njNI5rMUewncHtXRXa3i4iUgdQyeIQyBldxSaz5QS_IXwYnF_rU8M2NPIpmwzof/s400/Mak+su+minah.jpg" border="0" />Mak Su Minah selling etak</p><p>I told you when I first returned in Pasir Mas in 1996, etok was still available in the Kelantan river. A few years later they were not there anymore. What happened?<br />I asked Syed Azmi a regular etak gatherer whose livelihood solely depends on etak. He said etak disappeared from the Kelantan river some years back. The reasons was the proliferation of the use of chemicals to catch <em>udang galah</em>, the fresh water prawns. The other reason is the many sand mining operations along the river. The spawns of the etak were sucked up by the powerful water pumps used to suck up the sand being mined.<br />So where does the etak come from now?<br />He said he has to go everywhere as far as Pekan in Pahang, Terengganu and Perak to get his supplies. He will go in a mini lorry with his other brothers and brother in law. They now know where the locations are and every trip will secure about 100 kg. His own need is about 30 kg perday so he had to store them somewhere. Earlier they tried putting them in the Kelantan river and harvest them again for use on the day itself. To his consternation he found that only 50 percent survived.That was a heavy price to pay. Now he kept them under referigeration. At RM8.00 a kg, his loss was quite substantial.<br />A commentator at Ray's blog said etak was a nuisance at his place in Pahang. During the dry season they had this vast expanse of flat sandbar near they village which they use as a football field. They even call it the stadium. The problem is the dead etak leave behind sharp shells that often cut up the players feet as 'beach soccer' is of course played bare footed in his kampong in Pahang. He is appealing to anybody to come and harvest all the etak from his place. It will be a gold mine to people like Syed Azmi if he were to know the place.<br />The only solution is to educate the people there on how to consume etak. Once they have acquired the taste, they will harvest them for their own consumption. Another way is to teach them how to harvest the etak and sell them in Kelantan. It will be an economic activity and contribute to their income. Hey isn't that an easy way to make money? </p> </div> <div class="post-footer"> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard"> Posted by <span class="fn">Pak Zawi</span> </span> <span class="post-timestamp"> at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://mohdzawi.blogspot.com/2008/03/etak-oh-etak.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-03-15T09:00:00+08:00">Saturday, March 15, 2008</abbr></a> </span> <span class="post-comment-link"> <a class="comment-link" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=291745787877907661" onclick="">94 comments</a> </span> <span class="post-icons"> <span class="item-action"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=291745787877907661" title="Email Post"> <img alt="" class="icon-action" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/icon18_email.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=291745787877907661" title="Email Post"> </a> </span></span></div></div>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689575216303017837.post-45260723595975357162008-03-09T15:49:00.001+08:002010-07-22T15:50:57.145+08:00Kelantan Is Saved<div class="post-body entry-content"> <p>Unofficial Result. PAS won 31 seats and retains Kelantan, Allahu Akbar.<br /><br />When the election result was streaming in, I was looking in disbelief at the Malaysiakini unofficial result that PAS had already won 31 seats in Kelantan and Penang was already in the hand of DAP. My ex teacher from the Pasir Mas school days and now residing in Johor called me to congratulate me on the success of the incumbent state government to retain Kelantan with an even bigger majority. He knew that I was supportive of this government even though I was a member of the other party opposed to it. I could guess his happiness at having heard that DAP has taken over from Gerakan in Penang. Congratulating him on that and throw him a caution that the DAP must not neglect the Malays of Penang. He assured me that the DAP won't neglect them. It will be detrimental to the whole intention of bringing the BN government if the DAP choose to be another UMNO which they had been unhappy with all these while. The DAP being similarly race based is still looked upon with suspicion by the Malays. It will be detrimental in the long run if DAP doesn't improve its image as multi racial party like the PKR is.<br /><br />Today 9th March 2008, the mood among the supporters of the current state government is in a state of euphoria. Who would have thought that PAS would be returned with such an overwhelming majority, 39 to 6 for BN?<br />In my post on nomination day I made the following prediction:<br /><br />CURRENT PREDICTION FOR THE STATE<br />PAS - 33<br />BN - 10<br /><br />I can't predict the other two seats.<br />Well, I wasn't far off wasn't I? The prediction was made on nomination day and based on gut feeling.<br />So what next? It is time to walk the talk. Those who have found power must walk the talk. State like Penang which be governed by the DAP for the first time must tread carefully lest they maybe accused of the same thing that of favouring a specific race and thus damage once and for all the good faith that were accorded to them.<br />Time for me to grab some sleep.<br />Thank you God.</p> </div> <span class="post-author vcard"> Posted by <span class="fn">Pak Zawi</span> </span> <span class="post-timestamp"> at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://mohdzawi.blogspot.com/2008/03/kelantan-is-saved.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-03-09T12:17:00+08:00">Sunday, March 09, 2008</abbr></a> </span> <span class="post-comment-link"> <a class="comment-link" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=6447942482506328659" onclick="">51 comments</a> </span> <span class="post-icons"> <span class="item-action"> <a href="email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=6447942482506328659" title="Email Post"> <img alt="" class="icon-action" src="img/icon18_email.gif" /></a><a href="email-post.g?blogID=5229359910176145531&postID=6447942482506328659" title="Email Post"> </a> </span></span>Pak Zawihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252281956285567055noreply@blogger.com0