SUNGAI CHOH (11) : Once Upon A Time | A Journey Of Romahtic Escapism

Once Upon A Time

(Togetherness Did Not Make Any Difference)

River Umbai

Three Siblings

"Gotong-Royong" 

Entrance To Kg. Hulu

Houses Along The Road

I couldn't remember when I started making a romantic approach  or  appearing as a macho boy.  Might be this was the beginning of a dream, a journey of romantic escapism. However in the late 50s,  there was no such a word "girlfriend" or "boyfriend". No business of matching or  pairing  with each other. It's just that, there was no love feeling whatever. Actually The Bangkulu boys in the fifty were too naive and innocent to explore the girls' secret. We only accepted the girls as  regular friends, no feeling whatsoever. Even  their smiles had no vibration, as to make a second look or to feel strange or awkward.

Youngest Sister

Women's Tour

Elo's Wedding Ceremony

Surau Kg. Padang

Bibah's Shop

That's why their parents had nothing to worry because their daughters would be safe and sound in our hands, whose “hingus masih melilih”.  Actually we were like siblings. We went to school together, learned together and went home together.  Normally togetherness did not make any difference  amongst us.  So did habitual relationship made us feel nothing, “funny or weird”. We even  played "pondok-pondok", as husband and wife with four or five children. Yet, no "monkey business" whatever. Sometimes holding hands in a dark corner when playing Hide and Seek. However there was no harm done. Might be, we were too naive or too immature  to have a close relationship with girls or  to try something bad or immoral.

We were actually ignorant with feelings of wanting to love and being loved. Even the feeling of wanting to be stylish or admired did not  cross our minds and feelings. Instead,  today's  children  are self-conscious. That’s the awareness of their existence as an individual being. Feeling that everyone is looking and everyone is whispering.  Therefore, as far as possible the boys will try to look smart in the eyes of others, especially the girls. On the other hand, the girls are more beauty conscious. The word “pretty’ is a magical motivation to make them always appear attractive. So it is not a strange phenomenon to see our granddaughters  always looking at the mirror, smiling or complaining about their appearance.