SUNGAI CHOH (32) : Once Upon A Time | Social Change

Social Change 

(The Practice Of Bengkulu Traditions Had Become The Norm)

Provide Comfort

Social Changes

Way Of Life

"Old is Gold"

Bengkulu's Honour

Those were the days, when Kampung Sungai Choh had gone through changes, but a bit slow in the progress. However, there were not many facilities that could provide comfort to the villagers. There were also no social changes that could bring great events. Anyhow, we still adhered to the old way of life. Nevertheless, the practice of Bengkulu tradition has become the norm and the value of life during the "puntung berasap" era. So it should be maintained and sustained. As the elders said, "old is gold". So no matter whatever the change was, they had to ensure that it did not affect  the village's stability and Bengkulu's honour. So the old people were the source of the village's wisdom that brought harmony and serenity.

Priority Needs

Basic Necessities

Political Protest

"Ayo Dalam Besi"

Take Its Course

Then as a boy, I just went through my life as usual and went on as before. I  did not even know what were the priority needs in life. In modern times, of course electricity and water are the basic necessities of life. By then it is not only an issue but a big problem if electricity is cut off or there is no water from the pipe. It's however hard to predict what will happen then. Perhaps it will provoke a political protest or it will be street demonstrations by the opposition. Yet in those days, even no "ayo dalam besi" and no "api dalam kace", our life went on as usual. There was nothing to protest and nothing to demonstrate. We do not insist on appealing for convenience. We only smiled as the life went on. We didnot even regret what  happened. Sometimes challenges and hardships were what the life was actually. So might as well we just let life take its course.

Part Of The Life

For Daily Living

Not Polluted

Symbol Of Village

Dignity Of The Village

However in those days, most of the  villagers got  water from the well, not only for drinking but for washing and bathing as well. I still remembered when bathing at the well. I just leaned on my elder brother's back. So I shared the shower with my brother. The well was thus a part of the life of the villagers. Equally important was the river that provided water for daily living. We were not really  fussy, as long as the water was available for our need. Moreover the river was not polluted and not cloudy, but crystal clear. So for us the river was a symbol of village life, from which the village got its name "Kampung Sungai Choh". It was also the lifeblood of the villagers. That’s why the river represented the dignity of the village.

SUNGAI CHOH (31) : Once Upon A Time | Nostalgic Memories

Nostalgic Memories 

(Floating In The Ocean Of Feelings)

Bamboo Cannons

Sad Scenario

Past Memory

Nostalgic Memories

Ocean Of Feeling

There was no television and no fasting month program back then. Yet the joy and excitement almost filled the night's atmosphere. Even the repeated sound of bamboo cannons echoed through the night, making the night even more lively and meaningful. However, the sound of bamboo cannon is no longer  heard nowadays. Just a memory of nostalgia for the lifetime of Grandpas . What a sad scenario. It is just a past memory that has been long forgotten. So yesterday’s memory is tomorrow’s dream for grandpas. Yet today's grandpas have to cover their ears from the sickening firecrackers. It's not as nostalgic as the echoes of bamboo cannon, arousing the joy on the eve of hari raya. Sometimes grandpas shed tears when nostalgic memories kept on floating in the ocean of feelings.

Thousand Of Fingers

Household Chores

Untiring Efforts

Words Of Appreciation

A Heavenly Gift

However on the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, all households were really busy, as if working round-the-clock. That's preparations for the annual religious eid festival, as a victory in the fight against lust. But strangely enough, my mother seemed to have thousand of fingers.   From the first day of fasting month her hands did thousand of works. By then there was no home appliances that could help my mother to ease the burden of household chores. So every work was done only with ten fingers. I wondered where and how my mother got  the energy to handle all the work. What actually made her so passionate and diligent in her kitchen work. I really respected my mother for her untiring efforts to make everything for our needs. Thus true as words of appreciation, mother in the house is really a heavenly gift. That's why heaven is under the soles of the mother.

Preparing "Moreh"

Bengkulu Tradition

"Takbir Raya"

Eye Contact

Best Outfits

That night before breaking the fast, my mother was busy in the living room. Preparing "moreh" light meal for the upcoming midnight male guest. “Moreh” was Bengkulu tradition, visiting each house in group on the eve of hari raya. So we recited "takbir raya" together, before entertaining the dishes. Sometimes with a loud voice so as to challenge the other groups. By then it was quite common when "moreh" ended up early in the morning, as early as two o'clock. However this was a golden opportuniy for the young people to make eye contact with their lovers. How the night of heaven made the heart float. Of course they would be in their best outfits and with very good manners. Surely a sweet smile was always on their lips, so inviting and promising. They looked so innocent, and even an ant would not fall prey to their feet.

SUNGAI CHOH (30) : Once Upon A Time | Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin Deficiency 

(Obesity Was A Symbol Of Wealth) 

Vitamin Deficiency

Symbol Of Wealth

Obese Victims

Health Problems

Excessive Food

Obesity was less likely to occur amongst us in the late fifties and early sixties. Might be vitamin deficiency made us more or  less skinny, yet healthy and energetic. Probably obesity was a symbol of wealth. By then wealth meant the mouth always swallowed food regardless of time. Anyway this medical term obesity was rarely heard then. Even now a bit confusing to understand the body mass index (BMI), not to mention other terms such as the ratio of waist-to-hip size (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR). However, today's children are easy to become obese victims. The extra kilograms often start the children on the path to health problems. This is what we call diseases of modern civilization. That comes from pleasure and luxury, especially caused by excessive food intake and lack of physical activity.

Look Innocent

Too Active

Immune System

Daily Treatment

Games Online

By then, we were typical kampung boys who looked innocent and naive. Not properly managed, whose skin a bit dark with a few scars on the bodies. Yet we never ever heard the siren sound of ambulance during our days. Even rural clinic was less visited by us. Thus the nurses have some time to talk about cosmetics. Probably my friends and I were too active and energetic to let the germs or virus attack our immune system. “Ape jadak ehh, busik bae”. Anyway today's children have their detailed health reports, as early as their first birthday. Occasionally they undergo daily treatment according to schedule at a nearby klinik desa. So then a series of treatments will follow them until they enroll in primary school. As they grow older they start to enjoy free PC games and games online. Without even realizing that excitement slowly weakens their mind and body.

Extra Names

Body Shape

Inadequate Vitamins

"Cicak Kubin"

Heavenly Pleasure

However during our old days, obesity meant you had to accept extra names. Whether you liked it or not, you were entitled to be called by that name. That's what happened if you did not control your size. This nickname actually as an introduction, specially based on body shape, such as Man Bun (buntal), Mat Cit (buncit), Mah Muk (gemuk), Yah Bong (kembong) and Su Yan (tempayan). Yet those days most of us were underweight, lack of nutritious foods and inadequate vitamins. However, we didn't even care about being called “cikeding” or “Cicak Kubin”. But then, we had never been ill, and hospital never ever kept us bedridden at any time. We were as happy as a lark and as free as a bird although we are penniless. We actually tried to make everything easy and simple. Thus what was told by tok Imam; “simple life was heavenly pleasure and poverty was heavenly wealth”.

SUNGAI CHOH (29) : Once Upon A Time | Mture Age

Mature Age 

(When Their Hearts Were In Bloom)

Mature Age

Flowery Expressions

Ocean Of Love

Lovely Journey

Social Norm

Those were the days, when a teenager of Sungai Choh was looking for a partner. It's said that mature age was ideal to find a partner, when his heart was in bloom and his words were full of flowery expressions. Even in his dreams he always floated in the ocean of love.  So by all means That young man would make every effort to win the girl's heart.  Of course, once her heart was stolen, the girl began to dream of a happy life. This dream was the beginning of a lovely journey  to a happy ending. However, the love-struck couple had to meet under their parents' eyes. This was the social norm of Bengkulu that should be unconditionally obeyed. So there was no free dating whatsoever. No handphone, no whatsapp and no face book to make a free contact. That's why sometimes seeing the roof of her house was enough to care for the longing.

"Expiry Date"

Traditional Therapy

"Pantang Larang"

Body Treatments

Cosmetic Surgery

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However when the virgin status approached the “expiry date”, a Bengkulu girl had to undergo traditional therapy of “mandi bunga”. It was said to get rid of bad luck. So Mak Andam would teach her the secret of how to keep her face and body attractive. Because love started with the eyes, then from the eyes it went down to the heart. So was a few  dietary guidelines and "pantang larang” to be obeyed as well. Simply to form a beautiful and attractive body. However, nowadays spa therapy  is more on facial and body treatments. An hour's treatment is enough to change their appearance as well  as their confidence. However some are too obsessed with self beauty, they even go to the extent of cosmetic surgery. Yet beauty is only in the eye of the beholder and what’s more, different opinions will make different interpretations.

Everyone's Priority

Focal Point

Women's Face

Eternal Beauty

A True Being

No wonder nowadays, looking beauty is everyone's priority. As if beauty is the focal point of feeling and thought. After all, beauty is what makes the world go round and and glamourous with women's faces. Yet, nothing more than just a race to look beautiful round the clock. It seems that beauty has no age in modern times. Indeed, beauty is a legacy of this century. But Instead they are unconsciously  trapped in the myth of eternal beauty.  However in those days it was not a matter of beauty but the inner self. It's the mind, soul, and nature of a true being. That's why  in my days, in the fifties and sixties, courtesy and honesty were all parents' favorite, especially to find a daughter-in law.

(Mentera Mandi Bunga)

Bau-bau arang di hutan

Kayu arang di seberang tasik

Ribu-ribu orang di jalan

Aku sorang dipandang cantik