Two nights in Malaya

5 SEPTEMBER. I went to a university to register myself as a student. I departed from Kuching I.A. at 4pm and arrived at LCCT Sepang at around 5.40pm. Off we went by taxi to the university. Our first very strange experience, I think this was abnormal to all of us who used to travel a lot. The taxi driver was quiet. We had to start the conversation. He said that he had driven taxi for about 10 years. That's strange, a quiet taxi driver. To our surprise, he didn't really know where the university is. Oh my God...we were a bit panicked. I've never been to the university before. My first u was in Penang, second in Shah Alam and this is my third, which is still very new to me (purposely choose three different uni). Luckily my friend who is with me has an adopted sister working in that u. She waited for us at Bangi Toll. We abandoned the taxi there. Of course the driver was happy because he didn't have to "deliver" his "cargo".

We reached the guest house at around 7pm. Another problem arrived. All the cafes in campus were still closed. Luckily we found a shop in one of the student colleges. We bought a few packets of fast noodle, biscuits and drinking water. So, we got it through the night.

6 SEPTEMBER. Our registration and briefings. This day was my day. My friend is from a different faculty but he was willing to tag along and listen to all my briefings. The first was the faculty briefing, at around 9am. It lasted till nearly 11am. Than we had to rush to the other end of the world to attend the centre's briefing. It was quite a distance. The briefing started at 11.30am and lasted till 1.30pm. Luckily refreshment was provided, so it saved us from hunger. I managed to get to meet and get to know my second supervisor. I failed to meet my first and main supervisor. We were assigned two supervisors. She looked friendly, I wish she's my main supervisor.

In the afternoon, we went to the graduate management centre to register ourselves. We reached the centre at around 3.30pm, after going around the campus without really knowing where the centre was. Relieved, the whole process only took 10 minutes. The assistants were very friendly and efficient. Thank you.

Well, after going through a tiring and hectic schedule, we decided to celebrate. So, off we went to Kajang, SATE KAJANG!!! We reached Kajang at around 4.30pm. it's still very early to fill ourselves up. So we went "shopping" buying lots of windows. I bought T shirts for my kids. At exactly 6pm we had our sate. 20 sticks. Wow! Tasted good, not enough. So another 20. 20+20=40 cucuk!. (exactly 20 each). We ordered packed nasi goreng. We decided to call it a day. We waited for the specific bus (going through the campus) but never arrived. At 7.30pm we decided to take a taxi. It was an old taxi driven by a young Indian guy. This was a typical "Lembah Klang" taxi driver; talkative, from politics to gangsterism. Gangsterism? Yes! Just a day before (5/9) a robbery had taken place in Kajang (it was on tv). A goldsmith was robbed. No wonder there were many policemen around. The shop was the spot where we were standing waiting for our bus. We reached the guest house at around 8pm. Tired, mandi and watched tv and ate the packed nasi goreng as our midnight supper. I was relaxed because my registration process was over but not for my friend. His faculty briefing was on 7/9. At 12, lights out.

7 SEPTEMBER. We went to my friend's faculty. He attended the briefing but I went to my centre to settle a few minor business at the same time trying to contact my main supervisor. I registered for my resource room and graduate room membership. I walked around the campus looking for book store but failed to find it. I failed to get in touch with my supervisor too. More and more undergraduate students arrived. Very interesting acts, deserved to be "recorded". There goes my camera. I sat at the entrance of one of the colleges and snap snap snap. With my zoom I was able to capture shots without my "subjects" knowledge. I snap here and there for nearly two hours. The security thought that I was from the press (they couldn't stop me; freedom of the press) or mass comm students. I went to our room at around 12 noon. Watched tv and fell asleep. When I woke up, my friend was still not around, so, I went to the souvenir shop. I bought a few tie clips for my colleagues and a cap for my son. My friend only came back at around 4pm. Our taxi arrived at 4.30 and off we went to LCCT Sepang.

Nothing much happened after that. We waited for our delayed flight. We departed at nearly 7pm and arrived at KIA just before 9pm.

My two days and two nights (not 3 days) away was tiring but interesting. Looking at the freshies, I recalled my days, my first day at the uni. All those from Sarawak and Sabah went there all alone. I remembered spending a night at Bayan Lepas airport just to wait for the uni's bus early the next morning. Just to cut cost, we decided not stay in hotel. Registration in those days was done manually. I had to run up and down the hills and buildings. Filling in the different forms at different places. Well, after more than 10 years things do not change much. Students still have to run here and there during registration day. The difference is, now I have to travel the journey alone. As mentioned by the dean, the journey will be lonely. Everything's in our own hands. Actually, real life is the same, we steer and drive our own life. The shape of our life is in our own hands. "Bidapud lagi..."

37,000 feet above sea level

The guest room

Well, you can guess

"Ye ye my sister is in university"

"You have to study hard to be here"

Coming alone.

Coming in full force

The grand pa and grand ma

The young one...full of hope

The near expired one... hehe

River Cruise

At last, after 11 years missing boat ride I finally had the experience last holiday. Although it was a brief ride, it was a very memorable experience especially for my son, who has never been on a boat before. It was quite a brief ride because the river water was very low due to the dry season. My cousin didn't want to go further upstream because at certain areas we had to drag the boat. As we went along the river, I noticed there were a few changes in the flow of the river. I noticed two areas whereby the direction of current has taken different courses. The rest, still the same; the rocks (of course), the sand bars, the landmarks and the best of all is the CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER. I could see the river bed (shallow areas) clearly.

My son and his cousins were the ones who really enjoyed themselves. They rocked the boat from side to side as they shouted. They played with the sand, the rocks, small stones and even shrimps among the rocks.

The brief ride reminded me of my younger days when the villagers were using "suah" or bamboo to push their boats. Going upriver, against the current was a hard task. Lots of energy was needed. Going downriver was easy. If they were not in a hurry, they would just used the "pengayuh" or paddle to steer the boat. So, the boat would go downstream following the current. But, my last ride was using a small engine, may be about 5 horse power (why horse is used?).

It is proven that deep in me, I am still a kampung boy, could not be seperated from nature. I love nature; rivers and jungles. May that is the reason why I really love outdoor activities; camping, trekking, caving and mountaineering.

Let's enjoy the experience...

The ugly-looking engine but has served its master well.

My boy, his cousins and grand pa.

The deep part (lubuk)

The shallow part.

Common landmark- a place to put the "iju" (bubu)

Shrimps.

Having fun.

Crystal clear water.

My chilhood playground

How long can all these last? "Bidapud lagi..."

Tebedu in Memory...

Remember my post about Tebedu? (25 June: Tebedu yesterday & today). That was the last time I could share whatever history or memory on the sleepy border bazaar. Last week we were shocked by the news that Tebedu has gone forever. It will never be the same again. I realised that I didn't have any picture of the two wooden blocks. Actually I wanted to share the bazaar before and after the tragedy. Alas, I couldn't do that. This shows that we always overlooked, unappreciate and ignore anything that is still well around us. We only realised our ignorance when tragedy strikes. For those who missed the news (including me) might wonder what am I bragging about. On the evening of 26/8/2011, at aorund 5.30 pm, the two wooden blocks were razed to the ground. Well, I don't have anything to describe. I could only recall the fond memory, the very spot I once spent my childhood, the place once taught me about survival of the fittest and the only civilization in the predominantly Bidayuh area. It was once an international trading post; Sarawak and Indonesia.

Now, only sad-looking pictures could tell the truth...

The fire at its height.

The first block that used to greet us upon our arrival.

The second block

View from the other end, coming from the clinic

Used to be a kettle.

The last one standing.

A bicycle.

A fan

A snooker ball.

A signage.

A torchlight.

A ..?

A...?

For those who have fond moment with the sleepy bazaar Tebedu, things will never be the same. "Bidapud lagi..."