Chapter 4 Taiping Here I Come

I was filled anxiety to join the  Plantation in Taiping.For one I know very well that I could never afford to continue any further studies.

Not that I cannot study it was that I need to prove that I can be somebody fast and quick even without tertiary education..Armed with success I could only come back to court Linda.. no other way out.And I got to do it fast,real fast.

My mind was fully committed to succeed.Another thing was jobs were difficult to come by those days and I have to grab the first opportunity that came along. This job came easily,no need to apply.It was offered to me.

I actually had little time left before I leave for greener pasture. A last fling with my buddies before I leave was the best option.With little money I treated them to some "kopi O' at the "kopi korek".

While there we met with a form teacher.His teacher was Mr Eric Rodi."Hey,Kok Hin,what the hell are you doing here?",he shouted at me."Drinking coffee,sir",I replied."Well,drink your coffee but do not try any thing funny here",he said."Yes sir",I replied.

He was with two other teachers,all old men.For me I was leaving school and would not be returning to continue my studies.Results of my examination would only be known after March or so.Meanwhile I stay with that plantation.

That time the People Progressive Party was canvesing for votes.It was going to be voting time.Those days Seenivasagam were very strong contender in Perak.I and friends were always standing around to listen to those powerful speeches.

Thereafter we left to roam the town until late hours.My days with them were limited  and thereafter should I leave I would not be returning to join them ever again. I got my future to think of. I must perform well in what ever endeavor I had and keep clear from all those rowdy days.

Very soon all those days were over and I left for Taiping by Taxi.I was to report at my uncle's sister's house.Her husband was an Estate Suppliers.My future Boss was informed of my arrival and he was to pick me up the following mornin.

That evening I was introduced to their children The eldest two were in secondary school and bot  accomplish guitar players and can sing too.That night they entertained me with a variety of top hit.I had quite pleasant time with them.

Early the following morning after  breakfast my Boss came to fetch me to his plantation.He came in his Mercedes I stupidly went into the back seat with my big bag. An astonished Boss asked incredibly,"What?You sitting at the back?'.

Sensing my ignorance he further said,"Ah!!! never mind just sit there".I was so raw I think more like a country bumpkin,so simple minded.That time how was I to know instead I thought that was out of respect.How dreadfully wrong I was?.

We traveled eight miles north wards  The rubber plantation seem quite far off. Nearly an hour thereafter we arrived at the entrance of the plantation as he turned left onto some laterite road.

There was a railway gate blocking our continuing our journey.A railway guard opened its gate,saluting the Boss.The Boss told me that he was employed by the estate.I though we had arrived at the rubber plantation but no we had to pass through a stretch of old rubber holding whose inter-rows were extremely over grown with thick "belukar"

.I think that was about two miles  from the main road.Then we finally reached some rubber trees which were better maintained and after a 100 meters  or so we arrived at a huge bungalow.We went into the bungalow to wait as the Manager had gone into the fields.

We need not wait very long and the Manager was back.I was shown my rooms of which I had two choices.A large room by its side and a smaller one direct in front facing the main road.All the rooms were upstairs.

I selected the smaller room as its was very airy with windows all round I ignored the bigger room with bathroom attached because I find it slightly scary.I had an awful feeling,a cold atmosphere not welcoming me as I entered it so I refrained from occupying it.Thereafter the Boss went round the plantation with the Manager while I rested and unpacked.

This was my first stinct at a rubber plantation.Oh,no definitely no.Maybe this was the first time I had to stay at a big bungalow in the wild.It was to be a lonely life I know.That time no TV yet only the radio to keep us company which provided at the bungalow.

That was why I took up playing guitar.Lessons were provided by that distant auntie's sons.I also met up with an old friend from Teluk Anson.He was working for his relative at a spectacle shop along the main road of Taiping.

He was an accomplished guitarist and he too guided me with several lessons.I brought a second hand guitar from one f his friends.While seeing him we went to have tea/coffee and some "Char Koey Teow" at a coffee shop there.It was there we saw that young Rocky Teoh an aspiring Elvis Presley impersonator in the making.

He was still unknown then.He was extremely cocky walking around with unbuttoned shirt like Elvis in films.My friend would would teased him,"Hey,if you are looking for trouble Look straight into my face"..On hearing the challenged he and his friends bolted away.

Our place was too far from town that wa why I went out only once in a fourth night or so. Many a times I tagged along with the Manager when he went out to town to do some shopping.At times we went out for dinner for a changed.

The plantation was not very big about one thousand six hundred acres .It had a clerk and a senior conductor,the Manager then myself.In the early morning I had to attend muster at 5.30 a.m. in the morning. So early even the ghosts h`a not all gone to sleep.

.I was weary of those cold,cold morning.Field work consisted of going round the tapping area,to see tappers performing their tasks.Fortunately  my food were prepared by the Manager's cook.At least I had decent meals while I stayed there.Rounding the field were big deal as I was given a bicycle to ride around.

Later I was allotted the far division to take charged of and what a distance away.I dread not the wprk but the mosquitoes were at no mercy for my presence.They attacked in drove in all directions..A bang with my palm would easily killed off nothing less than five bloody of them.

To ward them off I tried to smoke them away by smoking.It never worked but fortunately I did learned to smoke properly and slowly dropped that habit.It never worked that was why.Cigarrites were cheap then and only few brand to select from.

To stay on were to get accustomed to its presence.I tried walking slightly fast to avoid them but this of course was of little used as these pests continued their attacks following me every where I go.

On top of that I was aware of the snakes in the plantation especially the black copra.I saw them mostly by the rad side or worst under the rubber trees.Fortunately these snake just stood up a little then slipped away.

This where I learned how to kill a snake.To render a snake harmless the best method was to strike its mid section first breaking its center bone.That should stopped it from escaping.Following smashed its head.

It was believe that the eyes of snake can record the images of whoever killed it .When its mate came along would know who killed it and it can seek revenged on who killed it.Maybe that was  a tall tale and no absolute truth of it.

Raw as I was,sleeping alone in the cold cold night in a strange environment initially were scary.With the cold wind breezing through the mosquitoes netting accompanying it a host of insects cries.The hooting of an owl would add up to further t the errie feelings of impending coming of a ghost.

Then many uncanny tales of no truth would creepy  my feeble brain.The first few things this were almost sleepless but fully covered with blanket over head,shivering within.No choice I got to stay back and perform well in my position whatever there be installed for me.It surely was going to be a long long road ahead.

Those were long lonely nights before the sound of mypies singing their morning  calls,signalling the beginning another beautiful day to come.These were slowly followed by other smaller birds.That would be the hour I rise up from my bed and off to the muster ground.

Rubber tappers and  weeders would had gathered there by the time we arrived.All of them ready to go into their respective fields to perform their duties after the roll call.Soon the Conductor in charged would called out their names individually and leaving as soon as their names had been registered. The weeders had to stay until they received instruction what their duties would be.

Actually everything were always orderly.I remembered an incidence when I was away on leave,where on that faithful day a host of workers attacked all the staffs present with their 'kandal" sticks etc.Fortunately non of the staffs were hurt accept the Conductor who was beaten up by a number of strokes of the sticks.

A Police report was made and the main culprits arrested and later sacked.It was a minor protest against the Conductor's was of conducting his duties.I was told the Conductor resigned later to go into business.No more such happened ever again while I was there.