Chapter 9 Bentong Estate,Bentong,Pahang.

In Feb.1963,the Boss came to the Gunng Inas Estate and took me away from them,transferring me to Bentong Estate,Bentong,Pahang.

My immediate reaction was to return home first while on my way towards Bentong.So from Taiping,I took a cap homeward bound to visit and to keep my family informed of my transfer. This time I returned home with much joy as I had already passed my examination.I was also home to have a glimse of the one I had let behind.

Our family by now had shifted to a rented house along Jalan Changkat Jong.That house was directly opposite of the girl's house.Yes so near yet so far.Our sister had just returned home from her course and was attached to her old school.At least we now leaved in better environment.My younger brother was now a temporary teacher with the afternoon school..

With that little time I had in hand I went round town to look up old friends.A it was already week end I did attended church service.My friend James pulled me towards that little girl I left behind and made us talked to each other once again.I was actually very happy that day although I had seen earlier after her school was over.That moment only our eyes met.

The following afternoon I left for Bentong and as it was already late when I reached Kuala Lumpur I put up a night at a hotel before taking the transit bus to Bentong.It was my first trip traveling alone.That was why I was extremely cautious all the way there.

Those days the bus services wee very slow not as efficient as today.There were a vast difference.Even the roads were not even with pot holes and narrow.The road to Bentong was winding and buses moving slowly around those dangerous curves.A trip from Kuala Lumpur to Bentong took more than one and half hours.

Those days I had travel sickness while on those slow buses which made me nauseating as it swayed about as it maneuvre those bends and curves.On arrival at the Bentong bus station I rested for sometime before calling the Manager.

I need not wait long before the Manager came along to pick me up.We had lunch in town before traveling to the plantation.There were much catching up to do as we talked during lunch.As we lunch few of his friends came along and there went a few rounds of drinking.He was entertaining them for some of these people were  a couple of Police officers and others.I just relaxed and stayed around but not drinking.

We arrived at the plantation late in the afternoon and what a pleasant surprised.I was given the 1st. floor of the wooden office as my residence.A n extremely spacious place  with two rooms and a huge sitting room.Part of it served as the kitchen.However food was to be provided from the Manager's bungalow.

Little did I know what were installed for me.First I was caught off guard with the lodging having no electrical lighting.I was given a kerosene "harricane" lamp for a start that evening.Fortunately I had not to start it as it was ignited by a worker.It was bright though and served its purpose.

Topping up with fuel would be my own problem thereafter or allowed to go off as soon as all fuel used up.That that bad really.Getting used to that house with so many windows all round even should there be no lighting still very visible.

I had another pleasant sssssssurprised as I went down stairs for my bath.The water pumped and piped to my house was extremely cold.Come a rainy day the water turned yellow.So when making tea or coffee no requirement of milk.No lah,just joking we had filtered water so really no big deal.

I was lucky to have my meals sent to me from the Manager's bungalow.For breakfast I had to either prepare my own or go and have them at the nearby Chinese village shops.Quite reasonable breakfast were available such as "wan ton mee"or toasted bread with butter/kaya.

As I had to report at the second division to work I was thus given a motor cycle to travel there as well as for field.That division was more than two thousand acres of mature areas and some immature areas.There was a Senior and a junior conductors there.

The whole labor force were resided within the division's line sites..95% of them Indians and the rest Chinese.The terrain of all the fields were hilly.Workers had to be taken there by tractors.Come rainy days the plantation roads were slippery and dangerous.Next to the plantation was a virgin jungle with plenty of wild animals.

Bears were common along the boundary.At times the roaring of tigers from within could be heard.The few old durian trees at these fields along the boundary attracted the bears and tigers to them. In the early morning during durian season,they would be there for the durians.

Seeking durians in the wee wee hours of the morning were always dangerous,lest you meet with any of them.But say hat you like many still made the effort to be there,tigers or bears,they be there.The old durian bore extremely good fruits,very creamy and sweet.

Surprising really for those wild animals loved them as well.Curious as to how they eat those fruits?. Apparently they smashed the fruit with their powerful paws.They swallowed up the fresh with seeds thereafter.So should they catch a human being there that ought to be their desert. 

Here I gained some experience on how to tackle an by cockchafers.It was near to the jungle areas which we an attacked by the grubs.The land was sandy and quite flat and the cockchafer grubs were destroying both the covers of the inter-rows as well as those young rubber buddings.

The Rubber Research people were called in to assist us.They set up traps with ultra lighting in that field to trap the rhinoceros beetles.That served to prevent from further laying their eggs in the field.In addition the field was treated with Hactaclor 2 E. to kill off all the cockchafer grubs within.

However the treatment were never satisfactory although much beetles were trapped and the grubs destroyed.At the same time the rubber trees were badly effected by the attacked.Traps were set up before another attack the following year but the damages continued to exist though less.The problem was not impressively solved.

Initially I was given a motor cycle for my field work.It was one opf those huge British motor cycle which were too difficult for me to handle,especially on those hilly terrains roads.On it I flew like a charging bull and slipping with fantastically heavy fall,very often with injuries on my limps..

However that was soon over as the Manager was kind sufficiently to give me another new motor cycle,a BSA 250 cc.That of course was easier to handle.I had great fun with it and was able to go into town every evening with my friend.

In it I many memorable accidents.I remember the day I crashed into a fallen old rubber tree near the Beluh Valley junction.It was a rainy evening just after midnight as I was  returning home alone after seeing my girl friend.The rain was pouring down cats and dogs tho but that did not stopped me wanting to go home.

Apparently that day the rain was going to go on forever.It was  already late,so I made the decision to ride home in the rain.Of course I had to be extra careful and I rode at an average speed.

Noting happened until I was nearing the Beluh Valley junction, when out of no where sprang a leopard running across the road ahead of me.I took fright and accelerated ,little suspecting that a fallen tree was directly on my path.On seeing the existing danger I braked with much urgency but in vain to stop the forging ahead.

I drove straight into the fallen tree which stopped me going further front.Some branch crushed on to my face.I felt a slight stench of pain on my mouth.However I had to presence of  mind by holding on to my clutch which kept the engine running. 

I desperately dragged my motor cycle away from that fallen tree.Once out of that I feel my mouth and noted the injuries I received.I was bleeding profusely from my split lower lips and scratches over my face and arms.As my engine was still running I turned about and rode straight to the General Hospital in town.

I was warded immediately after I was treated superficially by the nurses there.My Manager was informed of my accident and he came in to see me that morning..The Doctor came in thereafter and on examining my he said,"Nothing to worry Cheah.I will stitch that up within minutes but one problem".

I nodded and made gesture what the problem was?."Well,you would not be able to kiss anyone anymore after this",he replied.With everyone laughing I knew at once that he was pulling my legs.So I just simply gave him a  wake smile in return.I was discharged thereafter only to returned  to removed those stitches.

Another serious accident I had on that motor cycle was the flying into a ditch It  happened on one afternoon as I was going into the second division's office at quite a tremendous speed.It was a wet day after a sudden shower.

But young as I was,I was ruthless.I rode like a dare-devil.I was in high speed as I connect the sharp corner ahead.I was undoubtedly not fast enough with my turning movement and the next thing I knew I was flying into a ditch ahead.The experience was fantastic.

I just flew straight up front,like floating in thin air.  Then the motor cycle went straight down with me well seated on it.  My piilion rider was holding on to me tightly.Both of us landed at the bottom of a flowing stream,hitting the rocks within as well.

My forehead bended forward to be cushioned off near the front head lamp.That head ;amp was damaged with forehead crushing on it.I sustained some deep cuts across my forehead.To this date I still bore the scars of that crushed.Again I walked away without more serious  injuries.

I was given a few stitches on my forehead and treated as an out patient.As for the motor cycle its head lamp was replaced and was on the road again.However that motor cycle was replaced later with another BSA 250 cc Sports.The speeding never terminated it continued until I left resigned from that plantation.

I remembered a time where I behaved extremely childish. Actually quite shy in exposing it but that was reality,there were times we do behaved like a small boy.It happened on the morning after some evening heavy rainfall.The following morning and the rest of the staffs went all over the division. 

They reported back that all the tapping panels of tapping fields were dry and fit for tapping.Then now was to send all the tappers to the fields but transportation with tractors were rendered impossible because of slippery hilly roads.

Only alternative was to make the bull-dozer to to toil all the trailers with tappers to the fields but the driver refused to perform that.He flatly refused to bulge. Feeling he was belittling me I help it but cried How childish of me when I made a compliant to the Manager.

The Manager seeing my predicament told the driver off ordering to follow my instruction.He complied and all the tappers were sent into the fields.Later that afternoon the roads were good enough for tractors to run and all things went on well as it was.I felt so bad because that driver tried to be arrogant with me...

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