SABSAR CAMP

Camp Cameron is situated at Batu 5 Jalan Cameron Highland from Tapah Town. Tapah is situated at the Southern part of the state of Perak. From Ipoh, you can enjoy a two hours drive in the old green bas to Tapah. I’ve tried both types, with and without air-condition. If you are a traveler who loves greeneries, you should take the non-aircond bus but if you need a good rest for a few hour journey, go on and take a more expensive air-conditioned bus. The roads are tarred anyway! What can you find at Camp Cameron back in 15 years compare to now?
Ya, I was 1stly introduce to Camp Cameron or it was known as SabSar Camp (Sabah Sarawak Students Camp) by my ex STARIAN school mate Mr John Chukit. It is a place where the Sabahans and the Sarawakians who don’t have any plan to go back to their home town during school holidays and that’s the place to gather and meet new friends. I was quite reluctant at the1st place because every school break, I always go back home to Kuching. But during my final year at STAR Ipoh, John was able to convince me that I would not regret to follow him just that one final year end camp. I agreed though it is held for a week! I know how hard life is to be isolated deep in the jungle without electricity and a proper waste water system. I can easily get sick! HOME SICK! “Trust me, you’ll like it.” That was John final promise and I just cross my finger tight.
When the Friday bells ring, end of the class, it’s packing time… I just can’t wait to get out from the boarding school. It’s too hectic and full of rules and regulations. We had lunch at the cafeteria first since they are free. After that John and I quickly go to Taman Chempaka to wait for the bus to go to Ipoh Bus Station. There, we will get another ticket to Tapah and at Tapah, we have to buy another ticket to Batu 5 where the camp is situated. The whole journey including the waiting time was about 6 long hours. When we arrive at SabSar camp, it was already nearly dark.
I was quite excited to see the camp. It is divided into 2 sections. At the 1st section, there are wash rooms at the south, kitchen at the far north, far left is the 4 rooms for the boys which face the jungles while the 4 rooms are for the girls and it is facing the 2nd section which is the field and the main kitchen and the river. Between the boys and the girls room, there is a big assembly hall which can accommodate around 300 -.350 people at one time. Since the room can accommodate 4 people, I chose to sleep at the big assembly hall with more other friends because it’s spacious. There is no proper gate system and all that I can see is a big open space which may invites wild animals and also intruders. So most of the time, we are on guard and watch each other’s back.
So that evening, I met friends from different schools and different matriculations college. But surprisingly, most of us were from USM. John and I from STAR Ipoh, Aidan From SERATAS, Alan, Zamery and Melcome from Mohamad Jiwa, Kedah, Yuhanna and Jusmijo from MRSM Kulim Kedah, David Andrew from Perlis (forgot the school name already). So the evening ended with everyone went down to the river and took their bath.
The session “Getting to know you” started at night where everyone gather around the dinner table and introduce themselves one by one. Many questions asked but some only just to make fun out of it. I came to know that the camp was head by the Scripture union and the PIC was Brother Thomas Rabang (now a Pastor) and his team. That night went so fast and everyone was looking forward to bad after a long and tiring journey. We know that the camp was not just a co-incident one but God had prepared something special for each one of us. My roommate that night was Aidan, Melcome and John while Jusmijo, David and Zamery slept in the next room while Yuhanna, Edna and Alan in one girl’s room. Pastor and his team slept at the main kitchen’s house, about 100 meters from where we were.
That morning everyone woke up early. The wind from Cameron was so cold and one can feel it deep to the bone. I guess everyone was hungry and long for foods so we all went to the main kitchen after shower. Wow, looks like the ladies already cooked nasi goring and air kopi panas, perfect for the lovely cold morning. We were told that that day, more students would be coming from all parts of Semenanjung Malaysia and the Thomas needed our help to organized them. There were 10 of us and everyone seemed to know what they are supposed to do. Out of 9, 4 can lead praise and worship, out of 9, 2 can play guitar. The group was perfect! We started to get close day by day but I realized that from then 1995 – 2010, we never give our group any name. Never in our mind to think about that…Well it really signified something. Let me continue the story and maybe if I have the guts to share it here, let it be then...
Students started to come after lunch time, more and more and there were form orang asli tribe too joining us. They came from kampong near by and their skins were dark compare to us and their hair mainly curly but we welcome them too. That night, I guess there were nearly 50 of us gathering under one roof. Frankly it was a tough job to manage children, but thank God, one and or two of them acted naughtily but majority of us are ladies and gents! Everything was arranged and it ended up that all girls will get the rooms while the boys will sleep outside. Agreed! So a timetable was made and the 4 of us became the leader of the group and the other 4 became assistant while John became the camp commandant with a whistle. The daily task involved schedule for washing the plates, cooking, washing the toilets and all the cleanliness of the camp. Never in those 1 week camp have I heard anyone complaining about the chores. I guess Bro Thomas was so happy about that. I could remember one day we were given a present by the villagers, ya a wild boar meat! Everyone enjoy their meal especially me 
From Tuesday to Saturday it was full with activities. Bible study in the morning continue with praise and worship, minister time by Bro Thomas and his gang, lunch time, games, afternoon naps, then another group games such as captain ball where every teams will fight for the trophy and then bath time in the RIVErrr… by that time another group was preparing for that night meal and everything was done in order and without hesitation. After dinner, another session of praise and worship and talk by Bro Thomas before he ended the final activity but before that, another group had already prepared supper for us before we go to bed. So one thing good about this camp, we were always being fed regardless you want it or not.. It’s a choice to make!!! Another thing that I found out, not everyone there are Christian, there were non Christian too but we welcome them with open heart. I was involved in the counseling ministry where students with issues and this and that. Actually I was a bit shy during the one to one session but of course, men to men and Vice versa but when you read the bible, the answer is always in there. Trust me!
When Saturday came, some of them are leaving back for their school and some of them are leaving using the night bus from Tapah and most of us are leaving on Sunday morning to our own destinations. This is the worse part! IT was so difficult to say the GOOD BYE word when you just made a friendship with someone. There were a lot of tears and a lot of promises that we will meet again one day, same place and same time. I did feel sad leaving my juniors and the other 7 friends that I met, but John was a great company whom never fail to encourage me when I’m down. Actually now I want to dedicate this post to the 9 of us, the heroes and the heroin of SABSAR camp batch 1994-1998. Forget the misspelling, the grammar error. To Aidan Gorino, Alan Sirang, David Andrew Balai, Jusmijo Taising, John Chukit, Melcome Ferdinand, Yuhanna Ubong Wan, Zamery Atting and Davidson Toda, no matter what happen to us, the quarrel that we had, the grudge that adhere, the fun that we experienced, the joy that we gathered and where ever you are, we had colored everyones life with different type of colors and I’d like to thank you for being there as my friends. Nothing can replace each one of you. We have no group name and I thank God for that because groups may disperse and it may break our hearts but we disperse without feel any guilt because it shows that we are so mature in life and we need to continue to bless other’s people’s life. Since Christmas is coming, let us celebrate it with love, joy and peace by not compromising what we belief. May God Bless you abundantly!

It's only like yesterday...

I’ve been working for 10 years with my current company and to total up, I have a 11 years and 5 months working experience. I wonder what my market value is and what the pay I should get Vs current salary is. I’m now 34 years old and so fragile; means i can’t do heavy duty work to prevent myself from injury, especially at the back bone. I have a dream which is to retire when I am around 45 - 50 years old so that I can concentrate on my own business which is the Toda’s farm. By then I only need to pay for the house loan plus electricity and fuels. I’d like to have my own organization which consists of few workers under me. That means I have about 10 more years to go or maybe less, depends on the situations. If there’s a VSS maybe I’ll consider grabbing it provided the value that they offer is above my expectation.

I think everyone wants to have some job security in their life, unless they are working with the government and treated this as a second income! As for me, I’m in the 1st group where working under a company will not guarantee what my future would be. It could be neither better nor worse, only God knows! I am in the stage of developing my business and I planned it to be solid but flexible! Solid in term of where our standing is and wise in decision making but flexible where we can go for options not to depend only in one source. So a group of members must come together to do some brainstorming on the dos and don’ts, rules and regulations, share holders or maybe a silent partner and etcetera.

Being hospitalized for a month and now at work place makes I feel like an alien. I admire myself for being able to memorize all the passwords (5 different username and passwords) which are needed to log on and start your work here. I realized something which is most of my old colleagues is no more working here instead I see many new faces in the office and all around. These people are 10 years younger and more energetic than me. I once was at their shoes. I know how it feels when you got a job here and only chosen people got to work at this high tech plant. Well, deep I my heart, there’s nothing special about working here but things which made it special are those who are working with you… yes your friends!!! Sadly, I’ve missing majority of them due to several reasons like VSS, got a better job, government job. Mathew, Angela, Ida, Betty, Douglas, Angelina, Lucas to name a few.

It seems like yesterday they left because the memory is so strong in my mind. People say don’t live in the past or forget the pass, look at the future. Most of the time I admit that It’s easy to say than to be done. Buang yang keruh ambil yang jernih, those in my mind are milky water. All are keruh with its own story with different endings. I could not be selective because my friends are with many attitudes and behaviors. Good nor bad, they are my friends.

Sick Leaves

I think 2 weeks ago my ligament was torn during playing badminton and I had it stitched on the 2nd day at the same hospital when I had it first torn 2 years ago. Ya, it was torn at the same place, same ankle but the doctor add another screw because the 1st screw was already malfunction or it did not hold my left ligament anymore.

1st time ligament injury- Sept 2008

So here I am, resting at home and I have another 1 week plus to rest before I resume working. Kind of bored too but I frankly do need this rest so that my ankle would be recover soonest.

2nd time same ankle- Nov 2010

I have my ASTRO HD installed few months back and I’m quite satisfied with the quality. Hey, they have zombie weekly drama you know. The title is Dead Walking aired every Friday midnight. Go and goggle it and I’m sure if you are zombie freak, you’ll like it!
I’m currently wathing the ASEAN games Ghuangzhou China 2010. So sad that there are so many games but Malaysia did not send players to all the games but only concentrate on a few only where we can bring home medals such as badminton, squash, hockey, takraw and some more common games. But what happen to the games like dragon boat, tennis, track and field? Don’t tell me we don’t have any rowers or the boats are very heavy to be sent to China? Don’t tell me we do not have anymore runners which can break records like the previous flying Dayak? Don’t tell me that there are no eligible players or apprentices who will replace the soon to be retired sportsmen? Dear Datuk Saberi Chek, please go to Sabah and Sarawak to select our new runners, new players and new apprentice if you fond out that the S’jung Msia is out of athletes!

Having myself so comfortable lying on the sofa while watching tv, I found out that even the media also could make me confuse. There’s one short documentary by ASTRO about a father and his son., His son complain that the father always comes back late from work and I think this is an Indian Family. The documentary is in BM but they use Famili ku, instead of Keluarga ku. Now, are we trying to MemBMkan all those English word though it is available in BM already? I think this is so misleading especially to students who ware weak in languages subject. Someone must do something! Another advertisement which bothers me is about a milk product where the mom taught the baby about shapes and at the end of the adv, the baby draw the final star which end up like this;instead of in a shape of the Star of David on the Israel’s flag like below.
I really want to suggest the producers of the adverts to look thru again and modify what is not right there! ME NOT STUPID!

I I think I’m done with typing… Need to take my medicine and it makes me sleepy…. I think I put some updates in point:

1. I saw boeing 747 landing at KCH airport on 19th November 2010
2. Now my goats can have their salt in a comfortable way because I hung the salt.
3. Ezra got 1st place in his class.
4. My wife won’t 1st place for the Org Ulu Section for DAMA.
5. My keyboard class will continue only next year. I have 12 students!
6. My brother’s flat is being re rent to new renters.
7. Christmas in just around the corner.
8. I broke my ligament on the 8th Nov and had it operated only on the 10th Nov.
9. I lost track on my Idol Hafiz AF7!
10. It has been a while I did not eat Laksa Sarawak.

Bet, abet and dibit

Ayoyo… Reading about flood everywhere in the west of Malaysia makes me feel so stressful. I can imagine how they feel because I ever had a dream about it not once but several times where my family needs to evacuate the house and we became homeless. Where should we put pithui? Lassie? Dresden, Bruxels and Oligano? Abandon them and let them die on the cold weather? Just imagine at that time, money is worthless. There’s no buying and selling instead the barter system would be introduce so that we can exchange things, foods and dry clothing easily. At that time, all sorts of transportation are all dead except those belong to the Sarawak Government. Schools are the place where we eat, sleep and wait until further notice. It’s going to be an eye sore especially when everyone try to occupied all the spaces available. As for me, I need to plan properly where I should build my territory so that my family so that we would feel comfortable despite the situations which is unbearable. Mom suggested us to go back to Pelagus to start a new life but after making the phone calls, it was not promising and the future is very blur.

In my dream, there’s a long road where on its left and right are only water. Dark Cold water and it’s never subsiding since then. The situation was so scary actually. Dead bodies floating here and there and there are no other kind of living things could be seen. Thank God there are no zombies!! Oh talking about zombies, this Friday on channel FX HD 12 midnight, Walking dead, 50 minutes only. Don’t forget to watch. Else you will regret at least half of your life. I’m so mean here .. hehehhe.

Last night we played badminton for an hour for 3 sets game. I feel good today and it should be that way. I should regularly exercise 3 times per week and at least 1 hour per day. It’s not a hard thing to do anyway. The trick is to do what you like and within that 1 hour you sweat like hell. Sex is not included. Is it? Go and google for the answer… Besides that, the food and drinks must be a healthy and not fattening. As of now, it’s 3: 42 pm and I already ate 2 sticks of ice cream. Is it worth it after the 1 hour sweat last night? Ayoooo….

I read this in a magazine once but could not remember which one. It says that when a person is so successful in his/her lifes, the success is actually belongs to their parents. If a person fail in their life then the blame should be on the parents too because they fail to teach and provide the needs of their children. So my success is belongs to my parents and not myself. My turn will come soon 
I don’t know what I want to do now, but I do know that I want a dragon year 2012 kids at least. Hey, I’m a dragon year born too and I feel proud of it.. heehhee

Friday Morn....

Since it's nearly to the end of the years, my leaves mounted to 37 days and i must use it before it is auto deduct by the cruel system. I wonder why can't we sell the leaves and convert them into money???? To have many leaves is one thing and to ask for an annual leave from the boss is another thing! But what i did that Thursday afternoon was not that bad. My boss was so busy with customers until i have no chance to talk to him, (am i making an excuse here??), so what i did, i apply leave on line and write an email to him saying that i'm on leave on Friday. Around 5:45pm Thursday afternoon, i quietly walked to the door and disappear like an invincible man.

********************FRIDAY*********************

I was so excited that Friday morning. It has been a while i never been to Kuching City.When i was single, i used to go outing with my back pack, my camera, my sony music player, oh not forgetting the rayban and the tupee and off i go to the old Kuching town taking pictures of flora and fauna regardless any time constrain.

After that i went to the end corner to get Friday's Borneo Post and in was about lunch time and i decided to eat Sarawak Laksa at the open air and then my final destination on that morning was to renew my driving lessons at the post office which cost me RM32. Around 12.30pm, i drove to the cross way to see any latest dvds or good books. Too bad ,they are too expensive.

Finally i drove to Sri Ijah to have lunch with the rest. Lassie was so welcoming while Pithui was like Queen Latifah with all her gimmicks and restless acts until Lessie is perish only then she would be happy.. i bet...

Well, i guess my morning was not that boring and it was full with activities and i do hope and plan to do it again one of these days. Christmas is coming and I can't wait to celebrate it this year. Let us pray so that everything will be at place according to HIS will...