One sleepy lunch hour

I have a colleague whom just bought a car, A Mitsubishi Sport cost around RM166,00, and it’s a brand new luxury black mica MPV! I was so amaze to see how beautiful it is and at the same time it is huge too. So I was thinking how much is he paying for a month… So I ask my colleague sitting next to me. He is a pure China man with his own China slang. So I have talk slowly to him so that both won’t get confuse and since I have hearing problem, I must be careful of my own speech.

Me: Hi Xiaa. Do you have a car here?
Xiaa: Yes, I do. It’s quite new too.

I need to know quickly, so I ask him for the bank interest..

Me: How much is the bank interest?

Xiaa: What?

Me: How much is the bank interest?

Xiaa: Pardon me?

Me: How much does the bank charge you annualy? 5%? 4.5 % or 6% perhaps?

Xiaa: I don’t have to pay anything anymore.


Me: So how much you per month?

Xiaa: I told you that I don’t have to pay the bank anything anymore because I pay them full!

Me: - quietly turn away with my tounge tied.

*padan muka aku… you thought everyone have the same amount of utang kah??

Congratulations To DR Cindy & hubby

Good Bye 2010, Welcome 2011

Ring the Bells, Ring the Bells,
Let the whole World Know,
Christ was borne In Bethlehem
Many years ago….

That was the Sunday school Christmas song which kept on repeating itself for 24 hours in my ears and my heads a day before Christmas regardless where I was! I took Christmas leave from 24th December 2010 until 3 rd January 2011. My wife and I had a fun Christmas though we were at different places due to work related. I was a bit disappointed actually because the we supposed to spent Christmas together this year in Belaga but due to incompetency added with miss-communications from the arrangement coordinator, I didn’t get my travelling tickets but she got it/ With a mixed feeling, I sent her to the airport that Christmas Friday morning 25 December 2010.

This year Christmas was a wet one. Raining from day to night, on and off but sometimes it was hot out of a sudden. We had a midnight Christmas Eve dinner with the closest family and our color theme for this Christmas is Red! Red? Why Red? Why not green I ask my brother since it’s quite weird, unless you are a Chinese, for us to wear something that hurts peoples eye is a No No. As if we are one troop of a lion dance group and all are ready for some TUM TUM TUM CHE! But as usual, the Big brother has spoken, red is a read, then, it’s not read blue, or red green ore yellow red... It’s is a red red! So my wife and I took a day off just to do some shopping hoping to get that RED shirt. I was thinking of going to India street at the 1st place but the weather again does not allowed. Hopoh and Saberkas car park was full at that time so we ended up back to tHe Spring. It is a tHe with small letter t and e and a big leter H.Heeehe...



CHRISTMAS DAY at SRI IJAH

As usual, the first visitor came around 10am to our house was Uncle’s Sebuang and family in 3 cars and followed by others and the last visitors that we had went off around 12:30 am on the next day. I was so physically tired but feel so happy at the same time to see some old faces which suddenly appear at your porch such as Harsten and her his Penangites wife and their child. Harsten is an old friend of mine whom after graduated got a job in Penang and married there. I’m so happy that he came and can share things with each other again. I hope that when he read this part, I really want him to come back and work in Kuching, buy a house here and continue with life till we age. My brother Igat also didn’t came back for Christmas this year due to his work load. He did called during the Christmas eve and telling us that he was doing good there.

I think we managed to go for visiting on the next day during lunch, after my brother finish talking to some friends and rearranged their ngabang to the next day. On the 2nd day, we managed to ngabang 4 houses starting from 12:00pm until 10:00pm. Gosh, I was so tired tahap dewa! I slept at Sri Ijah when during my wife was away from me.

On Tuesday 28 th December, it was a rainy morning, but still I told my wife that I want to go for a early morning walked after so many intake during the festivals. So I were my long pants and extra clothing to prevent myself from getting bitten by the mosquitoes. Only few meters I was away from home, I heard few foot steps behind me.. Surprisingly it was Dresden and Bruxels. They were both got so excited until they jump up the fence to follow me. Due to that I just cut short of my distance instead going to the main road, I just walked to and fro at our own lane. Eden and Bruxels follow me as if I need their escorts. Hehehe, I felt like Mr President at that time... True!!! The rain was getting heavier which discouraged me to continue my extra hours of walking. I was wet instead of sweating! I tired to bring the dog home but they were so reluctant. Feeling the morning breeze under the cold rain was much more preferable so I just left them playing around the neighborhood while I rushed back home and wet. That morning, I started to cough and my body temperature increased. Oh no, I go myself a fever I guess. One thing about me, I never like to see doctor even though I have free access to them and to the medication. I think I learnt my lesson here. My advice is to go now and see doctor when you feel uneasy or something is not. Even if you are wrong about your own diagnosis, at least you have done some checking.

Happy New Year 2011
I think 2010 was just another year which I have to go thru numerically since it is only a number of days the earth circulating around the sun and to be more calculative, it’s the way once remember his/her own age. I don’t know what to expect from now onwards. I want to be a loving husband to my wife, to my doggies, to my families and to the neighborhood too and I want to be better at work. I want to be more pro-active and competitive even though I don’t know how to start it. I want to achieve high percentage in every tests. I want to know God more and learn to lean to Him alone. I expect more zombies movie to be released in cinema and finally I want to have a healthier live compare to know. Lord Jesus, this is my prayer.

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.