Chapter 20 Sri Jaya Oil Palm Estate,Sri Jaya

Chapter 20  My Return To Planting

I arrived at Si Jaya with only my luggage just a bag of clothing.It took nearly two hours for the executive from Kuantan to meet me there at the coffee shop.It maybe nothing to him but hell of a long wait for me.Waiting there alone and not knowing anyone.

The coffee shop had just opened for business when I arrived by taxi. During the long wait I  ordered at least two cups of coffee.I do not know but I think my present waiting there caused some displeasure to them I think.Fortunately being a cow boy town not many customers that time.

So I was not asked to  leave.Anyway I had a little chat with the proprietor informing him of my being there.So I think they understood me.That shop I found out later was famous for its "Hock Chew" pau or dumplings.It was the shop I had many tea breaks thereafter.
 
Finally the executive arrived half apologetic about his lateness and without hesitation I hopped into his car.He drove me through a number of rubber small holdings  before arriving an an oil palm estate.On arriving there he  opened his mouth."This is the estate.The front of the estate.The office is further in",he said.

Fifteen minutes later we reached a fenced area with a wooden building,he then again said."This is our estate's office".There were a few staffs present and I was introduced to all of them.I was brief about the plantation in that office then he left me with the Assistant Manager. 

The Assistant took me to a semi-D bungalow where I was supposed to stay and it was next to his.The bungalow was clean but with little furnishing.There were beds in the two bedrooms but without any mattresses.The sitting room was bare not a single chair.Very cold atmospheric all round.

There I was left alone to blink away my time.I could sensed that people there had anticipated that I would bolt away that very minute.But I disappointed them.All these never frightened me for I was in dire need of a job and I had no choice because I have a family back home that needed my survival in that new job.So come what may I just had to stick on.

The bathroom was stained with traces of rusts every where.The water as it ran brought fast flowing  yellowish water. I have been  through that in other plantation therefore all these never bothered me.I quietly took my bath etc.NO one served or invited me to any thing.Fortunately there was a green Daihatsu jeep at my disposal.With that I drove into town to have my tea and meals as well.

That night I slept on the cold,cold planks of the bed.Even with it that I would had slept on the floor it was really no big deal.That being my first night there I actually could not close my eyes to sleep well.The generator behind the bungalows was running the whole night through.The noise it created kept me awake and not only that the air around were full polluted with its nasty diesoline smell.What a blatant waste of fuel 

Early the following morning  I made my presence felt by attending the muster.With that I made perfectly cleared to all that I was there to stay.Armed with an estate map the Assistant showed me round the estate.On returning from the fields I immediately called the head office in Kuantan to inform the executive of my requirements.Without hesitation my orders wee fulfilled.

So before that day was up I received what was ordered by me.I even got a new gas cooker,just in case I need to make my own tea.In between the next few days i ev4n received a redish sofa set not new but presentable and can used.THat settled my furniture.

From then on it was work.I took each day by itself as I ssssought things out. 






To be continued.