SUNGAI CHOH (5) : Once Upon A Time | To Share The Fun Is A Gift

Once Upon A Time

 (The More We Get Together)

SK Sungai Choh

Standard 6

Memory 1962

Nearby Main Road

Formerly Sekolah Umum

What a joy to see my grandchildren smiling in their best attire. Anyway they are lucky because everything is affordable for the parents. Whereas their Atuk, who came from a simple family, wore anything. Just to cover the thin body. Of course the short pants was quite big and loose. Only tightened by "tali rafia" as a belt.  So was the light blue short-sleeved shirt, quite big to suit the body. Sometimes like a clown in a loose-fitting suit, walking a bit weird.  Anyway I couldn’t care less. After all, I was not fashion-minded to get girls’ attention. Even so, I was too naive to be Casanova or Romeo or whatever. Might be, it's typical of me.

Fraser Hill

Wooden Shop

Wedding Ceremony

Panoramic View

SK Sungai Choh

Actually the light blue colour came from indigo dye or "nila". Well, in the first round of the days,  Atuk’s uniform was quite hard and rigid due to the starch or “kanji”. During that time “kanji” was quite popular substances for stiffening the fabric. That's why most of the pupils were walking like robots. However we were not really bother about our uniform whatever. School uniform was not a priority back then. We only went to school because we could get together with friends and then played together. By then, I somehow believed the secret of togetherness. That belief still stands today. So trust me, my friends. We are just a drop of water if we are alone but we are an ocean if we get together. So  the wind wave will be our strength and as well as the ocean depth  will be our mind. 

Shared The Joy

ARAM Siblings

Sungai Buaya

Main Gate

From Jalan Mawar

Back then,  we were nonetheless a little vague  about the purpose of going to school. Might be basically  able to read, write and count.  Nothing more than the needs and abilities of primary school pupils. In fact, we didn't have any ambition at all. We were just playful village boys. Even playing was  fun and was an exciting daily activity, although we had to study religion in the afternoon. However we still had good-time opportunity to play together. Surprisingly, happiness had made the body feel less tired. Instead, we always promised to play again the next day. Thus having many friends to share the  fun was a gift unlike any other. In other words, being alone was a dream but together was a reality which we shared together.

The more we get together

Together, together

The happier we’ll be

'Cause your friends are my friends

And my friends are your friends

The more we get together

The happier we'll be

(Nursery Rhyme)

SUNGAI CHOH (4) : Once Upon A Time | Problems Of Generation Y

Once Upon A time

(Missing In Their Own Homes)

We even explored the bush, climbing all trees to be  the "Tarzan of the bush". Targeting birds with catapult and searching spiders for spider fighting tournament. The winner of this tournament would be acknowledged as,  “Raja Kampung”. All these ventures had nurtured us to be well-behaved kampung boys. Of course we were not involved in any social problems. That’s the Bangkulu boys of  Kampung Sungai Choh back then. Of course we were proud to be nature boys. But then I wonder what happen to the children in the world of today's technology.

Kg. Hilir Terendam

Selangor Boys

Future Mothers

Sungai Choh Road

"The Last Road"

I am afraid they are slowly losing their characters. Needless to say, they are increasingly  surrounded by technology, especially computers, laptops, internets and mobile phones. This technology has dramatically changed the lives of our grandchildren. Even new forms of technology addiction can lead to social isolation. It's really a scary phenomenon. So, right now side effects are beginning to show signs of it, bit by bit. Not to mention the physical and mental problems or Neurosis. This is sometimes  called IAD:  Internet addiction disorder, (Am I right Doc?). However, this is really a new generation Y problem in the 20th century.

Backyard

Siblings

Village Boys

Junction To Sg. Buaya

Sungai Choh Road

They are  somehow missing in their own homes and sometimes alone in the crowd. They are gradually becoming robotic human beings. Unconsciously controlled by certain devices or gadgets. I am afraid their moral backbones are not that strong and their hearts are not that ironwilled. They will be easily influenced and seduced. By then they will be the lame ducks. So it is high time to programme them to be MEPs (Morally Educated Persons). To be mature and ethical with intellectual honesty, practical wisdom and professional commitment. That's what they should be for the future.

Guitar Rhythm

Front Yard

Past Shadow

Trail Of Memory

Row Of Shops

SUNGAI CHOH (3) : Once Upon A Time | Until The last Raindrop

Once Upon A time

(Ia menjadi mimpi dan menjadi rindu)

5

Road Shops

2 Year Kid

Old Memory

Cowboy Town

"Kedai Seberang"

This morning was blurred by a thin curtain of mist, gently floating among the leaves. Nevertheless in the serenity I could hear the rhythm of raindrops and the whisper of gentle  breeze. Then unknowingly I felt my mind  slowly floating into old memories. Anyhow  I couldn't hold back my memory of late 50s. Where the rain brought excitement and joy. Regardless of girls and boys, every single drop of rain was like a rhythm of a song that brings  nostalgia back. We're wet together and we're happy together.

Rain, rain, go away

Come again another day

Brother wants to play

Rain, rain, go away

(The traditional nursery rhyme)

The yougest

Little Children

3 Siblings

Lembak Relative

Those  were the days of my nostalgic memories of  Sungai Choh  in the late 50s. My friends and I, of course danced happily following the rhythm of the rain, and together with the wild cry.  Just to answer "the battle cry" of the thunder. By then we were really the children of the season, and the  guests of nature. But then, all of a sudden a drop of tears flowed down my cheeks. Might be this was only  my imagination or might be the morning mist got into my eyes. Oh God, I really miss the rain dance. Where are you now my old friends? I really miss you all. Until now you are all gone without leaving any trace.

Feeling Cold

Abah's House

In Memory

New Buildings

 Side Of The Road

We really chilled to the bones then. But the joy was everything to ignore the cold. We could not deny the dripping sound of raindrops and the humming sound of wind. So exciting and enchanting. Thus, each shared moment gave deep meaning to the life of every child back then. Then unknowingly everything synchronized to form the melodious rhythm of rain dance.  So we kept on  dancing and singing,  until the last raindrop.

Masihkah kau ingat

Ia menjadi mimpi dan menjadi rindu

Masihkah kau ingat

Masihkah kau ingat

Kita berlari-lari di kaki langit mencari pelangi

Lalu hujan turun kita basah bersama

Masihkah kau ingat

Masihkah kau ingat

(Kopratasa)

SUNGAI CHOH (2) : Once Upon A Time | Who Am I?

Once Upon A time

(A Secret Makes A Woman Pretty)

My Home Town 

Abah's House

Born Here

Colouful Life

Sungai Choh Simpang

I was born in 1950 in Kampung Sungai Choh Simpang,  as ordinary infant. No thunderstorm and no lightning whatever  to celebrate my first birthday. There was even no extraordinary phenomenon or miraculous event to make myself a legend.  Whatever legendry birth, It is just a myht. Just a fairy-tale or a bedtime story. So, I was born normally and later became a normal boy with no problems, because everything I took for granted. So, I was just a plain and simple village boy, that’s all. Anyway I was  the second son to the family, and so the youngest to get parents’ love by then.

2 Month

3 Years 

3 Little Kids

Mother's Love

From Serendah

But now it's only a step to enter 7 series. Oh God, what a big number to count. Anyway I don't care less, it is just a number. Nothing significant about it. Yet to a woman it is exclusively a secret. Sometimes it becomes a taboo to ask about age. May be, a secret makes a woman pretty. Anyway I keep on wondering when people talk about the greatness of being old. Sometimes they just create something of glamour for themselves. Even they've given  a thousand reasons to keep themselves glamourous, but it always comes back to where it started. Perhaps it is just an illusion or hype to say that, "old is gold". Really ridiculous, or do I misinterpret?

Second Son

Two Siblings

Big Brother

To Sungai Buaya

However "once upon  a time", there was no birthday celeberation during my childhood. I was even not aware of my age. My friends and I just let the day pass by. Sometimes  did not know how old we were  when asked. Anyway today's children  smile proudly when friends come to celeberate their birthday. What a joy to be a celebrity of the day. Then they all clap their hands together after the "happy birthday" song. It's really a joy to share. By then,  the old grandpa just witness the event, as a guest of the day. But I wonder, do people  remember the day of our death? May be, but after years we will be gradually disappear from their memory. That is the fate after death. Sorry to say that.

Arya 3 Months

Ayla 2 Years

Ayla 4 Years 

Ayla's Birthday

Ayra's Birthday

Birthday Party