SUNGAI CHOH (8) : Once Upon A Time | No Harm Done

Once Upon A Time

(Pouring More Salt In The Wounds)

"Kedai Seberang"

"Kedai Papan"

Little Apai

"Junas Coffee Shop"

Only Old Memory

Our grandchildren nowadays are well guarded. Even an inch of a movement will be reported. Not a glance they can escape from the eyes of their parents. Sad to say, their parents are always on alert in whatever time and condition. So is their children are subjected to anything harmful, either molested or kidnapped. Even stories from medias are too frightening, but nothing more than  pouring more salt in the wounds.

 Fraser Hill

Wedding Ceremony

Celebrate The Crowd

By The Roadside

Former Taha Shop

Whatever,  the sacred word of  "freedom" is now losing its meaning. Just a word of alphabets without any value. Might be their Atuk was born under a lucky star. That's the story of Kampung Sungai Choh, especially in the late 50s. To us freedom meant we could play and explore anywhere. That's why not even a corner would miss  our grips, and not even a surface would lose our trails. So no harm done, whatever.

Picnic At The Beach

Lunch On The Bench

Wedding Ceremony

"Kedai Seberang Jalan"

"Deretan Kedai Makan"

Even our parents have no idea at all about molestation or kidnap. These words were not in our vocabulary back then,  and totally absent in their minds and even in their daily talks. So there was nothing to worry. For sure we would be home safe and sound, when our stomachs made hungry rhythms or when the night curtain was gradually covering the last rays of  twilight.

SUNGAI CHOH (7) : Once Upon A Time | Expression Of Sympathy

Once Upon A Time

(The Shoulders Feel Heavier To Bear)

Kampung Baru

STAR 1963

Football Team

Junction To Kg. Baru

Kg. Baru From Rawang

The weight of the school bag is once an issue, but unfortunately it is nearly forgotten. Maybe the authorities are still looking for a solution or may be that heavy school bag is not included in the list of problems that require immediate action. Until then we often hear the parents talking about the burden, but then it is just a kitchen talk. Not much a problem and not really a priority. Anyway the weight of the bag is just an expression of sympathy from the eyes. But the pupils who carry the burden do not even complain at all. As the proverb says: "If the eyes feel heavy when looking, then the shoulders feel heavier to bear".

Backyard

In front Of Wooden Shop

Wedding Ceremony

Kg Baru House

Side of Main Road

Anyway, it is totally a different  scenario. In 1957 when accepted as a pupil of Sekolah Umum Sungai Choh, Atuk only enrolled by “sehelai sepinggang”. No bag and no book whatever. Nearly a week Atuk only learned how to behave in the class and how to mingle with friends. Not to forget, learning and memorising a few sentences of great important, such as idiomatic politeness: "buang air kecil" and "buang air besar".  Sometimes we felt bored under class regulation. We had to maintain quietness all along. In fact, we were warned now and again not to wander or talk unnecessarily. We even could not leave the bench without any instructions. However it's sad to say that five pupils had to share the bench and as well as the long desk.

         

Today's Parents 

I'm Grandpa

We're Family

Kampung Baru

Haunted House

Later on we were given a slate which we called it “papan batu” and two “kalam batu” as our pensils. That was actually our first book, with horizontal line for writing on one side, and the other side  for drawing. No eraser whatever, only wet rag to clean the slate. However in emergency time we use our own saliva.  Yet today’s primary pupils have to  carry lot of books on their shoulders or drag them along the way. Pity them, sometimes the load is heavier than their weight. Of course  it was not a burden at all to Atuk back then.  We just  carried it under our arms or tied it to our necks. By then we just danced on our way to school or back home.

SUNGAI CHOH (6) : Once Upon A Time | Make A Virtue Of Necessity

Once Upon A Time

 (The Moment Of Truth)

Roadside Shop

Add caption

Emergency Era

Roadside Shop

Four Intersections

It is just the polemic of black shoes. What a ridiculous. For sure, it only reflects the low standard of mentality. Probably it is just a dramatic maneuver in order to gain political mileage or to gain cheap publicity by being busy. However being busy without any need is ignorance. Anyway sad to say, they could not differentiate between necessity and necessary. Actually it is not really a big issue, but the real issue is how to make a virtue of necessity. To be in position to do right things and to make things right. So, being in the right place at the right time will make you the right person. That's the moment of truth.

  

Feeling Thirsty

Backyard View

Wedding Ceremony

Lost Memory

Today's Dream

Sometimes a sudden idea may give a long time benefits. That’s unexpected intellectual blessing. Anyway they need time to realize what is more important in education. What is really an issue and what is really a problem. Without wisdom, they will interpret the issue as a problem or otherwise. However, let those who have the authority to solve all education problems. They have the expertise and wisdom to solve any problems that may arise. I believe, There is a solution to every problem. In fact, yesterday’s problem will be today’s decision. Of course today’s decision will be tomorrow’s result.

Smile A Mile

Let Love Grow

Yesterday's Memory

Main Road To KL

Main Road To IIpoh

Anyway, back then the words "issue" was quite rare to the ears of our parents. They never crossed the line or interfered any school programs. Especially they didn't care about shoes, whether they were white or black shoes. It made no difference. After all, life is not worse without shoes. Even in the late 50s we just walked barefooted. Roaming aimlessly into every corner of the village. Nevertheless walking barefoot was a feeling close to the mother earth. We could feel the love of the earth from the soles of our feet. However only in school did we have to wear shoes, but then we felt not so comfortable. Yet it was not a problem at all.

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)