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.

SUNGAI CHOH (10) : Once Upon A Time | A Family Oriented Game

Once Upon A Time

(A Long-Forgotten Traditional Heritage )

Kg. Padang

Beloved Bonda

STAR 1963

Simpang Kg. Padang

Enterence To Kg. Padang

Sometimes every traditional children's games has its own season. Mostly outdoor games such as marble, kite flying, top spinning, jumping ropes, bamboo gun war game, shooting rubber band, spider tournament, playing cigarette boxes - you name it  . These were the traditional children's games of the 50s. Especially for the boys of Bangkulu, of course very challenging and competating. Actually we did not know who started the game. Might  be every game  had its round. Nevertheless, there was no specific time to stop the round. However, sometimes the season played its role too in starting the game. The game would finish its round as the weather changed,  especially playing kite during windy day.

Kampung Style

Candit Shot

Magnificient 4

Village Street

Cluster Of Houses

However, boys and girls had different fitness,  interest and  taste. So only the boys played the rough games, but then,  did not misinterpret.  We were not against  gender equality.  Once in a while we also ventured  into the girls' corner,  playing their games, such as Batu Saremban, Congkak, Ketiting, Galah Panjang, Hide-and-seek  and konda Kondi. Although, not so challenging, yet the games taught us simple counting, especially Batu Seremban.  So, no wonder the girls  always top in the class. Anyway it was difficult  to accept certain tasks in the game of "masak-masak", especially when you were asked to collect firewood or to make an errand to buy all sort of things. However  It was  a family oriented game.  Teaching us particular roles in the family.

To Catch The Smile

A Day To Celeberate

All In The Family

The Forgotten Street

Lasting In The Memory

Even pretending to cook, had taught the Bangkulu girls how to manage the kitchen and how to be good wives as well.  Unfortunately all those  traditional children's games are no longer children’s favourite nowadays. They are abandoned in the course of time, in the dark corner as a long-forgotten traditional heritage. Gradually losing their artistic value and missing their sign of recognition. Whereas modern gameplays with technological equipments such as computers, mobile phones and other devices have captured the hearts and minds of our young generation. Only to make them floating in cyberspace and losing in their own homes.