Merry Christmas

Opss, i hope it's not too late to wish all the human kind a Happy Christmas 2012 and a blessed new year 2013!! Attached is the wedding picture of my cousin's wedding at the Rajah court's hotel!! Congratulations Michael and Willis!

1st time away from home Part 3

I never been to a boarding school and never dream to be in it.Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman is an Ellite school and most of the students comes from some royal or a well known rich families. I was blessed to be in that boys school.

The next day we use the same taxi driver's service after the early arrangment before and he drove us the the STAR Ipoh. My first impression was... WOW!, what a beautiful school, and it is boarding school for Boys and the USM adopt the school for doing its Matriculations programme for Level 1, meaning i'm going to be there for 2 semesters or nearly a year before I go for Level 2 which is in USM Penang.

The 1st person we met was Ayahanda, ths school Principal. We got to enter his room and he did some interview but somehow I felt that I won't like him starting from that time. He was impolite to my dad. Maklumlah orang berpengaruh and berpendidikan tinggi... I was surprised to see dad was so timid and quiet at that time. He didn't talked or defenced me when disagreement happened. Maybe he knows when is the time to talked and when to listen especially infront of an academic person..Don't know lah.. Later we were greeted by a teacher and he brought us to see my dormitory.

It was a 15 minutes walked from the office and my 1st impression was, wow, so far, huge but a little bit messy... The 2 storeys buidling have 4 dorms and I got the room on the 1st floor dorm 3, the 1st lower bed near to the exit door and I got the middle cupboard. There is a 1.5 meters high divider in between all beds for us to put books and personal things. There were about 10 double deckers wehich means 20 beds or 20 students in 1 dorm. But actually only 16 including mine were occupied. The rest were empty. The bed above me also empty. So I have such a big space for myself I reckoned. Dad being dad complain to the teacher on how messy the place was and requested to add more fans for his “Anak”... hehheh...

Then finally the melodrama thingy happen. It's time to say goodbye to dad. I looked at him for the last time but I was still strong. I don't know whether dad cried or not,. It happened too fast and half minutes after dad disappeared from my sight, and the teacher in charge also left and I was alone in the dorm then suddenlty I sat down on my bed and I burst into tears.


It was 10am and a reccess time and there were few boys came back to the dorm. My eyes were still red and I felt alone. I never been into any of the boys school but I did watch how they live in tv. But then, out of nowhere;

Hi, my name is John ak Chukit. Welcome to STAR.

I looked up and I saw a fair handsome figure introducing himself to me. Starting from that day, I was not alone anymore and John an Iban lad became my close friend. I know God will provide me a good companion. God is so good, all the time... Amen.

1st time away from home Part 2

I love to fly at that time and I still remember during my long SPM holidays, my family and I went to KL for a week . Adding to the excitment and to our surprised, dad bought an AIRbus flight where we got to transit in Singapore before heading to KL. So same as my flight to Ipoh, I think this is the 1st time I tell people about my journey to IPOH....

That morning, our 1st destination was to Johore Bahru...Yes, from Kuching we flew to Johore. Transit 1 hour there, I got to see how Johore airport looked like, small, old and no aero bridge so we have to walk from the plane to the terminal to get some drinks. Then guess where next, Ipoh? No no no.. next we flew to KL and have to wait about 2 hours at Subang terminal 3 before we got the last connection flight to Ipoh. Finally We arrived at Ipoh around 5pm.

Ipoh airport is quite similar to JB, old fashioned, small and no aero bridge. Again we have to walk into the terminal. We took taxi to the hotel and believe me, the hotel was P. Ramlee movie liked hotel, similar to the one in TV lah.. hehe... Very old fashioned at that time. Near by the hotel, I can see the Grandys, a fast food like KFC and Sugar bun. I don't know about dad's feeling at that time but I got a good sleep that night due to the jet leg.

To be continued!

1st time away from home...

May 1994, it was the time when I entered the lower 6 science 2 in SMK Green Road Kuching. There were many new faces in my class. But the common ones were Margaret, Haseanti, Yohanna and finally Melcome. I can still remember the subjects which we took were all the “killer subjects”. Mathematics S & T, Physics, Organic and Physical Chemistry, Biology and General Knowledge. I can still remember every tests which I took I never passed any of it. The subjects seemed to be so alien and tough as if I never studied it before. They all are about the fundemental or basics stuffs like how this person came up with the formula and then how to apply it in our daily life.

Frankly we were waiting for any offer be it a diploma programme or matriculations which ever comes first we would be happily take it. FYI, there were no internet during our time and no such thing as ONLINE applications. Every thing need to do manually where ones bring his IC and buy the PIN number at the Post office due to the forms were limited and ONLY the '93 SPM holder can buy it.

During our time, only USM, UM, UKM, UUM and UIA offer the matriculations programme and the programme is handled by individual university where unlike now, that programe is fully under Ministry of higher education. UPM and UTM offers direct Diploma and Degree courses. ITM (now UITM) only offer Diploma level. UNIMAS and UMS and other Unis masih belum wujud ya.. Melcome and I applied for Matrix in USM while Margaret, Haseanti and Yohanna applied for Matrix in UM. Among all, I was the last one whom get the offer and the last one to fly to tanah Malaya. The waiting part was so hurting only God knows how I felt.

That Saturday morning, I received a telegram from the mr postman written;

Please register yourself at STAR Ipoh Perak on Monday 15/08/1994 ; 8:00am. Please bring a pair of school uniform and baju melayu, sports wear, towel and etc.

I was very happy and called my dad whom was working at PDRM at Petra Jaya. At that time, my mom and my sister Dolina was at home I guess... I can't remember all the detail, my sister Ivy was still in Sandakan sabah, my late brother Igat was in Kapit while my brother Andy was still studying in UPM Bintulu.

When dad arrived, we talked a lot and doing some planning such as doing shopping, buy air tickets ( mind you , the ait tickets were quite expensive at that time... Air ASIA was not born yet). Finally we got the Sunday morning flight tickets and that evening we went shopping and I got my 1st big brown travellers bag for me to put my stuffs. I know mom was the saddest woman in the world because her youngest son and the last child finally would left home and being far away for quite sometimes. But she hid her emotions very well and I did so, well I have to show her that his 'anak emak' is strong!

The next day I flew to IPOH accompanied by dad. I only remembered hugging and kissing mum good bye. The rest, somebody need to story me, please.

To be continued!

All Souls Day

This morning i drove the family to visit Igat's resting place. It was the 1st time his wife and his only son May and Jeremiah visit. Many other people were there to show thier love and respects to their beloved ones. As usual i couldn't control my emotion and started to cry, well, mom and dad cried too.. In times of grievness, words are hardly said or perhaps i rather not to say anything at all because the cry iteself was telling amd showing you how and what i felt at that time. Jeremiah unlike the mother was still in his own baby world. What can an 8 months old baby do or say or think? Yes, he was really innocent but in his really best outfit. He was handsome that morning! The visit ended with a word of prayer by the sub deacon. November is here and i hope it brings more blessings! Tomorrow we will be going to Lundu for for a wedding. Mom is so excited to go i guess. To me, Lundu has been a place where many things happen, things that change partial of my spiritual life and only some people know about this because the had experienced it too. This year we have been staying night in Lundu more than twice. 2 times over night at Gunung Gading, 1 night at rumah merah and several day trips. <- For my own record! Today is Friday and my wife and i have not plan anything yet. I pray that God protcets everyone who trust and put their believe in Him, in Jesus name i pray.. Amen!

The day is here again....

Yup, the day is here again, and it comes only once ayear and when it comes, your age increases and the day comes with a celebration, depends how you want it to be and where you want to celebrate it and with whom you want to celebrate it, its your choice. To me, I'd like to share that day in a small family and close friends gathering doing some BBQ and some cordial, accompany by a light and easy music, perhaps some jazz.. karaoke would be consider depends on time and whether there are people who wants to sing a long and make things running smoothly. Jokes and gossips are mostly welcome to make the night alive and stress-less..; Yes, i did ever experience that day... it was a perfect day where you celebrate it with the right people.... But maybe that time would not repeat as the way you ALWAYS like it because the RIGHT people won't always be there with you or you won't always be there with them... This year it would be my 1st ever birthday without my late brother Igat. I always remember during the day, henever fails to call and wish me a Happy Birthday, no matter where he was, Bintulu, Sibu or Miri, though it was a short call, he remembered! Now tho i wouldn't receive any call from him, i will cherished all the 35 wishes he ever wished to me and today surprisingly i recieved the 36 birthday wish from his wife, May! Anyway, i really put my faith in God's hand! I'm married happily to Snah and we have a small house at riveria and we do have plans to have kids one fine day... It's just the matter of time :)

Here and there

Last February to early of March my wife and I went to the peninsular for a short holiday. I didn't expect too much from the trip but it ended with lots of memmories. I have my own mission which was to visit my old university in Minden Penang and in Tronoh Perak. The direct Airasia flight from Kuching to Penang was superb because i prepare everything thru the net starting from the place to seats till the food that we consumed in the plane, i ensure that both of us had enough and feel cosy and yes we did! Penang airport is still under renovation, but the design is very similar to KLIA nor KIA. 1st day in Penang, after checked in at the inn, I immediately brought my wife to visit USM main campus, the matriculation block, the clinic and some of the dewan kuliah there. It changed a little bit i guess. The guards are more strick, more new buildings too...Later we took the bus to KOMTAR and sight sseeing there...We went to Perangin Mall while waiting for cousin Jamie whom later brought us round Island. Unexpectedly we went to Penang Hard Rock cafe for dinner. I never been there and little that i know that we had hard rock cafe in Penang. The weather that night was very bad. HEavy rains and thinder caused massive jams due to some fallen trees by the road side. But Jamie was so preofessional in her driving that Michael Shumacer also might lose if they were to compete in litar sepang... oh, it was flooded too everywhere.. nothing new i guess. Thas't one of the 7 wonders in Penang. hehehee... Zen, the foods were sumptuos, up the brim, extravaganza and delicious.. I don't know whether Kuching have things like this or not... The live band from Philipine was so entertaining because not long after that, 3 of us were already dancing at the front stage... whooo haaaa.... The ferry ride I guess my wife was the happiest person in the world when we took a ferry to Seberang Prai. Like Penang, the ferry also did some makeover. 13 years back, the vehicles area are located at the base of the ferry while the top lever is occupied by passengers. Nowadays, the passangers is sharing some of its space to the vehicles. I think it's one of the way to improve throuhput i guess... but they should not overlooked saftey... The Prai bus station also looked different, the Parkson and the food stall are no longer there.. I wonder why... The 2 hours bus trip to Medan Gopeng was so fast. I slept the whole way because i know i need the energy to explore the next city where i spent 4 years of my lives in STAR and USM Tronoh. That evening, we were taken care by Ruth, my wife's cousin. With the rented car, I managed to see all plan places such us Tronoh, USM KCP, Taman Maju , TESCO, etc. Seri Iskandar really went under a great changed!! Lucky those students, last time we could only see civilization after an hour drive to Ipoh, but now it's a stone throw!! The Express Train Ride That Saturday morning, we planned to ride on train from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur. It was a new experienced to me and my wife because besides commuter, LRT, MRT, STAR and city link, i never ride on a train. Frankly, i don't like it because my seats was facing to the opposite side of the train and it casued a headache becasue my brain need to adjust along the way to KL and added to that, the toilet odour was so strong because it was just outside of the train, attached to the next couch. Anyway, just called it "experience"! To be continue... TAG: KL, Met Sister Ivy and family, Tiara's Inn

He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

IT was 5 o’clock and I’m still waiting for my turn to be interviewed. Everything seemed to be perfect only that I dropped my handphone in the car while I was getting of the car. It was my 1st time being into Hitachi compound. It was well known as KOMAG before and later it was take over by the Western Digital and finally Hitachi. I managed to see the person’s name who is in the room and being interveiwed currently. He jotted down Johnny. No surname or I couldn’t figure out what race he is. So cunning, I reckoned. Giving a very little clue so that people won’t know yourself. Around 5:15pm I saw a well known just came out from the interview room. Oh, what a small world it is. We chat for a while, wishing each other all the best and then I was called into the same room where 2 chinese interviewers waiting to interview me. I went out from the room around 6pm, with mix feeling. I walked straight to the car and saw a misscalled from mom. I didn’t called straight, only untill reached the Sama Jaya FIZ main gate then I dialled the number:

Me : HI mom, what’s up?
Mom : Yes I did. I have a bad news. Are you ready to hear it?
Me : Ok, what about?

I didn’t know the bad news was REALLY a BAD news to myfamily and I…

Mom :Igat has passed away!
Me : Passed away??! Which Igat?

Still hoping it was someone else’s Igat…

Mom : Our Igat lah… please come over, now..

My hands started to be shacky and at the same time I’m driving home. All the bible words which i memorized since young non is about the preparation of death… I just might to concentrate on the road and arrived home in one piece. I mamaged to call my Snah too. Thank God we both managed the longest journey home of the time!

Arriving home around 6:30pm, I search for mom 1st. Anddy, Dad, Ezra and Beth, were at already there. I immediately hug mom from the back and cried like a little baby. I cried and I cried as I ask her why Igat need to leave us so early! He wants to borrow money from me but why he break our promise? I was willing to lend him the money but why he is not here anymore? I cried again! At that time, I saw other 2 nephews, Nevin and Nigel arrived in another car. One of them, I can’t remember which one, vomited as if he was drunk of beer. Around 7pm, the big sister arrived with a loud cry from the kitchen entrance.

Ivy: I have no brother anymore…

then continue to cry… 6th January 2012 was indeed a memorable day for Toda’s family. We lost our beloved brother Igat but it was for temporary lost for we are meeting again soon together with our creator.