Dead Man's Tales Chapter 21 Things To Accomplished Before I die.

It is wonderful world we dwelt in.The many years gone by with so much already duly accomplished - some well done resulting with magnificent results while the rest ended in drastic failures.Put aside those failures the positive results of things well done can surely bring about a board smile,beaming and cherishing the fruits of success.The pride of achievements to be remembered.Many to be a legacy for the younger generation to admire if possible follow as good examples in the future.

Now that end is right at the corner for me, many things still lingers around not accomplished as yet.It would be a pity if I cannot do all those things as per plan.But leaving them in writing might induce the next generation to achieve,should what I had not done be worthy for them to accept and accomplished.Maybe they have better plans of their own then.In that case they just had to follow their own dreams not mine.Times had changed so were new ideas. Many ideas  I harbored might not be useful to them.It definitely alright should they refused to accept my ideas.

While I am still in existence,to be fair I would try my level best to have them done myself.

Dead Man'sTales Chapter 20 Sadest Encounters

There were many sorrowful moments in my life All these accumulated throughout my life spam.Good and bad experiences were difficult to go by they laid buried within my soul.Yes,moments of happiness and sadness cannot just fade away..

Dead Man's Tales Chapter 19 The Loves Of My Entre Life

Everyone had fond memories of certain old loves and I am no different.As far as I remember I initially began to like girls at a very tender age.

Yeah I remember at twelve I met a lovely tall girl - sort of new girl in town.She was a relative of my uncle in Teluk Anson and had just shifted in from Penang.I met her by chance.Her attractiveness and tall chaming personality at the age that young age caught my attentions.

We got on well just as friends nothing materealized actually Sort of puppy love.There were certainly some misfits here as she was comparatively taller compared to my deminutively small stature and undoubtedly fairer than me .However also due to my shyness I drew away and kept my distant.Well just some simple infatuation noting more in reality.She was around for only a short spell before she and her family shifted away to another part of town.There went every thing and nothing continued from thus.It was out of sight and out of mind.

After that we transferred home  to Immigrant Road for a short period.Thereafter followed  by  another changed of environment .This time for the worst to a plantation quarter where our mother worked as a rubber tapper.It was a one room quarter where by our whole family of five had to squeeze in the small space therein.It was never comfortable but we got by.Beggars were no choosers.I was then in form four.Here the comfort of electricity was limited so were the water supply as well as lacking of wash rooms etc.But whatever it was we faced them without much difficulties.

Despite all odds stacked against us our dear sister persisted well studying under the dim lights of kerosene lamp in that she surprised everyone with  astonishing results in her school certificate examinations.She was in fact the best student in Lower Perak that time with five distinctions,an achievement to be laud those days.With that she was selected to undergo a teachers' training course in Brinsford Lodge,UK.

With her gone to U.K. we remained residing in the rubber estate called Ratanui Estate.I was fourteen plus then and being young and adventurous we (my brother and I) roamed the whole plantation.running about bare footed as well as shirtless.Mosquitoes bites were common occurrence and they attacked us in frightening numbers.Leeches in the fields etc..They never deter us from running wildly.Neither were we bothered with snakes as we destroyed them on sighting with eased.

 Fishing,swimming in small streams and water gates.Teasing girls around the estate and what not you can think of.For the first time we had to learn how to collect firewood for my own cooking of rice.Here actually we became very tougher than before.At week ends we had  to aid our mother in the cleaning of latex cups.Yeah,I remembered those awful smell of day old rubber in those cups and hardly washed off us.That was why sometimes we smelt like shit.

Our dear grandmother passed away when I was in form four.From then on we were always in Kuala Lumpur during the school holidays.Otherwise we were just kids from the Ulus.It was during those days that I came to know of the most beautiful girl in the world plus a first tastes of Christianity.

When I was fifteen plus,one of my school mate school mate introduced her to me  I was  at his house after a Sunday school service.Her enchanting lovely smile stole my heart away that very moment.Apparently that was the happiest day of my young life.Admittedly that truly was love at sight for me.,as we hit off almost immediately as good friends.

I had fond memories of our first encounter as she wore  a very impressive warm board smile.She then very young and had long smooth flowing long hair always binding them like a horse tail..I was taken by her soft and lovely talk and we became friends that instant on.You can say that I was overwhelmed by her immerse beauty.I can tell that it was nothing like puppy love that was instant love.Yes that awesome feeling embedded within was showing on my red face.My friend noticed my transformation went on teasing me too.Much to her delight.

Subsequently I became a frequent visitor to her house.As I was already in form five her mother requested me to assist her and her other siblings in their studies.My goodness gracious me!!! Why me? I myself ain't good at my studies too,how could I guide them.So I made a fool of myself there.That caused my impression to slip to a low app.,but I struggle on.All because I wished to see her every day.We would attend church cervices together.Escorting to and back from school was another common sight.But alas!!all nice things would soon end.

Because as we go by every morning some one else was watching us closely,...no,not me- it was her he was eying.He was the rich coffee merchant son.Apparently he too had interest in her.When her mother knew about this I was abruptly told to stay away from her instantly.That hurt my heart very much.Without delay I walked hastily away with my bicycle . 

Tears flooded my eyes and over flowed, streaming down my cheeks that very instant as I walked away.My face was completely drenched with tears.I was so hurt . I could not control my emotions.Once on  the main road I cycled away  aimlessly as fast as I could, crying my heart out towards Selaba Estate.I was deeply grieved by the fact that poor boy should not for in love anyone.Only the rich has that right so from on I was determined to perform well in life.

Fate had in deed been cruel to me.But then fate can changed should I work hard to achieve it.Nothing can obstruct my path should I worked towards it so. I was decided to win her back somehow.I then decided to study hard,thereafter secure a good job.All these ran through my mind as I rode on in tears.I rode and rode until my tears could flow  no more.

With that I launch my strategy to study hard to secure a good school cert result.By day I pretended to turn bad real bad,roaming the streets looking for troubles.Deep into the nights I would then study hard until the wee wee hours.That was why I was always sleepy in class.But then no one seem to bother me because I was already classified as bad with no future.

Within that time we shifted off from the estate and lived in a rented room along Jalan Pasir Pedamar.It was a simple tiny room,perched at a corner of a second floor.Our mother was then tapping rubber for small holder for slightly better payments.So only the three of us lived in that room actually.Life was tough as we had to walk all the way to our auntie's house for our food.My examination was due and I had to study as per plan.Here I need no kerosene lamp for there was electricity throughout the night.
 
As soon as the examination was over I snatched the first job opportunity that came by.I joined the rubber plantation,like it or not.At least I had a fresh start in life.Turning bad was not the way out of my predicaments I did it intensionally out of scorned.Should I be no good so let it be I turned bad extremely bad.One thing I like to create an  impression that I was really no good at all.

When I first secured that planting position I immediately joined it.In any case jobs were difficult to come by.Yes,I have came to a reality that turning bad was never the best option out of my problems or to win her back.To perform well in whatever I do was. Whatever it was it stuck on to me for life.Yes that was how I became a planter.and was a damn good one,judging from the tough rough road I had ventured through.

Along the way I met many many beautiful women and I actually had quite a romantic life.In Taiping I met with a couple young beauties.I had no linked with anyone until I met met Penny in tat first estate.I dated her and kissed her for the very first time.That was the first kiss for both of us and mine,mine It surely was very sweet.Yes,I can still remember how it tasted.The kiss was by all means full of fury and ferocious.It left distinctive mark in my entire life.

The kiss was undoubtedly the best but thereafter sad to admit it make me come in term with my senses.How awful,because I realized that kiss should had been reserved for the one  I left behind not her -definitely not her.In actual fact I felt that I had betrayed her and was guilty all over.Oh good Lord I should not have made those advances when my heart was actually a distance away.

So I made a rash decision to leave her alone.That hurt the damn Penny a lot.I could not bear to hurt her further in that I was transferred away to Selama.To another estate far in the interior up north of Perak.To me to suffer a little pain once and for all instead of continue bluffing her and lived on with it.Accordingly she was so hurt felt  that she was sick for sometime but recovered in time to realized that truth.There was no way she could have forgiven me but I cannot help it.I regretted that very much.That ought to be in the interest of both of us.May God blessed her wherever she maybe.

In Selama,initially I led a lonely life with not many friends if any they were miles away.Selama was a cowboy town then,filled with many former members of the Communist Party,where they survived as restricted residences. They actually had surrendered to the Government and given a place to live on under constant Police supervision.Much of such people were drunkards that was why these people gathered at coffee shops for their drinks,just like cowboys drinking and yearning away time.I sometimes wonder where they had so much cash to drink?Not only drink like a fish but got drunk as well. on a daily basis.

Even that I was miles from this town.Venturing out to town through a long length of winding and slippery road was torturous sufficiently enough to bear.On a rainy day it could definitely be worst.And travelling in old bone shakers type of vehicles make those trips terrifying and memorable.Worst of all I was told those road were haunted.Those areas were once the favarite hunting grounds of the bandits and heavily infested by them.Of which many of them incluiding the security forces met their ends.

I was lucky as I was there after the Emergency.Within those `short three months I was there nothing much happened except gaining some useful experiences in replanting of rubber.To be honest I had a  short encounter with a women some  years my senior.It was a short live encounter of which we were intimate for a short spell.She was lovely although older.  Being lonely and in desperation I met up with her.Nothing more romantic developed any further before I was transferred off to Bentong,Pahang under the same Company.

To-date I had not accomplished  anything near to what I had intended previously.No head way and with low salary of which made me quite  miserable .I ahd been in planting for almost five years yet reaching my goal seem adversely impossible./I had hardly settled down in Bentong then came a sudden news celivered to me by my dear  brother that the one I had loved was already married to another.

That was sufficient to set my heart apart.Now that all my dreams apparently devastated by it.In fact I really did consider ending all of such a wretch life once and for all, and contemplated taking my own life  but I was not brave enough to do it.yeah,I was a damn coward it would had been better should I be brave enough to do it.In self pity I drifted into grief.However it was short lived as I soon got hold of myself saying,"What the heck?It is not the end of the world.There are so many more girls around and I might as well make the best of these opportunities and enjoy myself to the fullest."

Armed with that new thought I went into action and began my wild exploitations.Girls were easy to come by in Bentong,I flirted with many of them without a hinge of shame in me.Whatever I do I still could not forget her.Her shadow followed my every steps,every movement with other girls.I jsut could not find another her,so I played around with most of them and leaving them in a lurched.Not that cruel really I was trying to find another woman that could match her.She need not be as beautiful but charming sufficiently to attract me.

Every evening I would be in town searching.beside meeting many others attractive ladies I also met with my present wife.We went steady for a period though,but unfortunately I too dropped her.
half way through our courtship.Thereafter I drifted on to other females.By then may had term,ed me as a playboy.Play boy or otherwise I still had those beautiful moments with some of them.With so many to select from that one I sorted still eluded me.What a shame?.Pardon me for not reviewing any of the females I had affair with here,no use exploiting those cases any further beside unethical.

Following I joined Kempulan Guthrie as a Probationary Assistant but it was shoft lived before I was retrenched after one and a half years'stinct.It was definitely a very bad setback for me as jlining them had actually brighten my career status.Naturally I was devastated and felt at a lost. and there was no one to console me or ever able to lend her shoulder to me lean on.

There were one or two of whom I for saw as unsuitable candidates.Their effect not would induce me to brave on.I actually require someone who could allow me to rely on for a little support.It is true that every successful man needed a woman;s support.That someone whom he could fully trust and give his life to.I ran through my list of other women whom I had affairs with and concluded with one.She is my present wife.

Having that mind another problem was to locate here and would she be available still?.A worthwhile trip to Bentong solved my problem and with much difficulties I secured her where about.See,I was no really that bad as people still led me to her.Apparently in grief after our breakup she had left town to work in Yong Peng.Without hesitation I rushed to that cowboy town.

True enough she was there and was astonished to see me.It was an easy trip for me as I soon realized she still loved me very much.Without wasting we matched up almost immediately to the dismay of many suitors who were aiming for her.True love still the winner here.I took her home and we married at the Registrar almost immediately.

She was more beautiful than before.Slim pretty and very charming.The first moment I saw her again I rediculously fell in love with her all over again for the second time. And this  time is for reality.I knew for sure I had made the correct choice.In deed in her I had a replacement.We have been happily married since and have three children all presently grown up.All my children are all married and have their own children.And we are now grandparents to presently five grand children.

So they say childhood sweet heart were hard to relinquish.Admittedly till tday memories of her still lingers within my soul.But the love for her  had vanished or gone to another - my wife.Men are men even though  had achievements what you harbored in the heart still went astray sometimes.For there are so many wonderful beauties around to fool around with what was the harm in some unusual trips.Well,as long as you play it safe and keep them away from the family's reach it is practically alright.But wife are forever forgiving creatures so should we play our cards right there are still ways out when in troubles. However a word of precaution,"Please do not over do it"."Play you must,but never,never neglect your family".

After my marriage I do ventured a little too far at times.That were blaaaaaaaatant truths.Sometimes tis called the seven years itch.A fling or two are okay to a happy marriage.




To be continued.

Dead Man's Tales Chapter 18 Should I Be Given A Second Chance.....

Heaven forbibes,should I be given a second chance in life what would I do?.Good Lord should there be one would I be smarter than before?.Well,no one ever gave me that opportunity but indulged in deep dreaming would be excellent.Yeah, some wishful thinking.No truth what so ever does not matter,just wild imaginations.It should make me smile a little and with a giggle say,"what the heck?".It surely made my day.

In reality,giving others a second chance  might ultimately led to your own downfall.Most people are revengeful as proven in history.Great leaders never gave anyone that second chance.In  Chinese history there were many such story.The most being one where a warring general Liu Pei was defeated the great geberal Chang.Liu Pei through his cunningness pleaded for mercy.

Being generous and soft hearted General Chang took mercy on him to forgive and set him free.In return when Lui had re-established himself again,he took on Chang and defeated him.With that victory he gave orders to his men to pursue and beheaded Chang,showing no mercy..So the treacherous Lui Pei did not give him even an opportunity to plead for his life.

That was part of Chinese history. So history does repeat itself.It was the same with other history.I too learned the hard way that should you put some one out of action you ought to see to it that he cannot return to turn the table on you.Kindness ought to consider but never to an enemy,

Enemies are always enemies.They can never be your friends.Yeah,the bible says otherwise like "Forgive your enemies".Yes,good  but be careful, beware of them.Or never turn your back to them.

Bestowing a  second chance of myself would similarly just as futile.True for me I could correct  all the wrongs and mistakes I made but having all those things like served on a plate belated no favor.How would that be when you become all of aa sudden so smart and achieved the inevitable without any tolling hard for them.

Throughout history had taught us that it were by mistakes of trial and errors that made the beautiful world the way it is presently.So as  they say."Rome was no built in a day".Just imagine what a world would be  should everyone behaved and performed as normal.Then there be no insanity.Or the crazy would  called us insane,

The only place where people lived in harmony is a place we called Heaven.That should be the second chance for each and everyone of us.So that all the righteous and God fearing shall ultimately dwelt.A saintly place.Hell is for evil doers or bad,bad men and women.That the place where crooks,thieves,prostitutes and all other evil doers.Should you like to enjoy life after death that should also be the place you should envy.

All the above are here say only,no one had been to Heaven or Hell although there were many who claimed they have been there.It is a universal believe.You have to really die first to realize it.In the meantime just dream on.

Coming back to that should be given a second chance to relive my life.This somehow was a wishful thinking no reality.Being a good dreamer is something at least you keep your brain fully occupied and reflected in you some
wishful smile.Putting a beautiful smile is quite difficult but doing it yourself can be self satisfying.Should there be no reality  so what it was only a day dreaming.

Dreaming is an art which can bring joy and happiness to one self.Day dreaming can led one astray but as long as you do not over do it go over board with that dream and it do not hurt anyone or  yourself- it is practically alright.Once one crossed that border line in dreaming that could eventually drive one self crazy.Then you can be insane.  

Say what you may but I think insane people were the happiest people in the world,They carefree  of the world passing by them no matter what,For they have no worries at all.They do not worry about their next meal or where it came from they could devour any rubbish from any dump.They waved and danced around the streets as though the whole world belonged to them.Only the unscrupulous took advantage of such beautiful cheerful people.We have such cruel animals within our midst - sad to say.

In my day dreaming I always imagined that how nice it would be should I be given a second chance in my life.Life should not be the same or could that be possible.No,I perceived not.Because I cannot possibly changed things which were already there.For I had no magic wane to transform my family's fortune.It was going down in a bad bad state.

We were all then too young to understand all those.So how do I relive and changed things then and there.Perhaps  I could in stead of being lazy over my studies and excelled with plenty of hard work.But then without any guidance hard work alone would not bear fruits.So what changes could I have made.So the second chance would not come in handy it remained at square one.

In school I was considered an average  student if given a second chance to possibility of mine being able to transform into a better student does not hold water.Jobs were scared then,even our father had failed in securing any better jobs.With his education not exceeding that of junior middle three, he stood no chance in getting any reasonable employment.

Further he was by far a spoilt brat that made matters even worst.The family's fortune had dwindled to almost zero and so to improve himself through never existed if any there was insufficient capital to work on.Neither was he complitative enough to complete in this world of business.Being a spoilt child his little capital under him  never lasted long.So to me any second chance dimmed hopeless.

Our poor mother remained as it was helpless.What little help she could she did.Being a woman  there not much she could had done.The only thing she was used  was to tap rubber for small holders.The merger income she brought back help us to tie over our food bills nothing more.That was how we survived.There was a time when we were forced to live in a rubber estate's quarter.

All of us were then too young to work is any the wages alloted were even smaller.Life was hard but one thing we never lining on starvation despite our wrecked conditions.Our sister passed the School Certificate Exam.with flying colours studying under adverse conditions of just the dim lighting of a kerosene lamp.

There  after two years later I began working in the rubber plantation in Taiping,Perak.Should be given a chance  to relive that what changes could could i possibly made to transform things.No much I supposed.Because jobs were scared in that era.Considering the various options I think I could achieved nothing at all.Working hard was no criteria the as I was slogging the hell out to achieve something but not making any head ways.

So I with due considerations I think what had transpired was good sufficiently for that period of time.I remember an uncle telling me that I could had done better by going all out privately - individually tackling private small holders and taking a few at a time.That idea was good but with my tender age and with not much known achievements and experiences where do I stand?.It was not so easy as said as no one would trust an unknown young "Chiku",let alone allow me to handle their properties.

Another thing being environmental. Our small holders prefer tp handle the small holdings all by themselves and worked accordingly.The meager earnings from those small holdings were justifiably sufficient for their own consumption.Should they allow some one else beside them selves to haaandle  their properties where else could they go.Loiter around coffee shops,yearning away?.Anyway that was their normal duties before and after work.So no way that idea suddenly become a very stupid suggestion.That was never the small holders or slightly bigger ones' culture, anyway.

So unless I relive with a "Midas touch" there were no way I could had changed things for the better.We older generation like to day dreamed about about past and lament over all those foolish mistakes we had undertaken.In reality it took all the mistakes to establish what we are today.Should there be no yesterday there would never be a  today,Well it was surely a long long way to come to what we are these days.At least we  could live to brag about in many days to come.So come what may it surely is glad to be alive.

 History does repeat itself but not  us.What were done cannot be undone.Therefore there is no second chance and will never be.The world just had to roll on and on,flattening all all hopefuls of another chance.






To be continued

Dead Man's Tales Chapter 17 When I Speak. You listen,listen listen....................

When I speak,you listen, listen,listen, listen, listen, listen,listen, listen,listen,listen.Those words spoken by an educated woman ,made her a tyrant.No lady in the right frame of mind would have yield them out like that,let alone in a university.It transformed her into a monster nothing less.It showed her immaturity ,badly brought up.

Without the slightest doubt she was a trained brain washer.Armed with some mighty force behind her she took full advantage of every thing trying to  bull doze her way to stress her point ,loud and clear.She simply could not careless whom she offended.Being such she yelled out stupidly and blindly without fear or honor,let alone substance.Being a trained professional she thus was a disgrace to whom she represented.

With such people chairing the forum of a university,it is best not to sent your children to study at such institution of higher learning.Although the University disclaimed any connection with her but they cannot just disown her like that.If she was not theirs then how come she could chaired a forum there?. By now you should know who I was talking about. 

It was plain brain washing and this made much clearer when some other students from Kuala Lumpur  are offering her a place or an opportunity for her to redeem herself.They suggested a debate between her and the under graduate.To me that would be rather unfair.A tiny undergraduate against a professional speaker or a graduate.

Should I be the undergraduate I would not give her that chance to redeem herself.No way,allow her to yell her heart's out at that forum alone.Without the under graduate's presence her talking would be rendered useless.Let her chased her to regain her honor .The under graduate has nothing to gain in any debate,win or lose.While  the other party is fighting for survival. The undergraduate is now a heroine and she,the infamous bully .With that she might soon be written off and stored in a freezer by her Bosses.

Such outrageous behavior were nothing new to us planters in the planting sector.Watching her behaved so badly reminded me as a planter.Oh yes I remembered those days while I yelled at my subordinates they just stared defenseless blankly at me.Not single one of them dared replied my talking to them.With bend heads they nodded acceptance at all my instructions.It was cruelty but what can I do?.

When they were in the wrong and I was there to correct them or make them work accordingly as per instructions from me.I was stressing my point strongly to them.They had no alternative but to accept my instructions and follow as requested.However,my instruction if wrongly prescribed then the responsibility for on me.So listen,listen they must.

My subordinates did not have any choice but to listen and obeyed accordingly.In the University students are there to learn and in doing so they have the choice to voice their opinions/Whether those instructions or opinions be wrong or not true does not matter.They have the right to express themselves there and then.Others would have the right to veto them if wrong or differ.

In the plantation it would be different because only the Manager makes the decisions and all workers had to obey blindly right or wrong.Should he made the mistake he would be held responsible not the workers.His actions could result in his sacking without investigations.The workers would not be held responsible.The Manager could not shift the blame on them.

However  being an estate manger had their finer moments.








to be continued.

Dead Man's Tales Chapter 16 My memories of Teluk Anson

True,very true -  I had actually left Teluk Anson.Perak for more half a century.So much has since then.I am going to write about these years drifted past during my time there.The present things only can represent today's Teluk Intan never Telok Anson.

Allow me to begin with the Perak River.To me it was the most beautiful river around .So very wide during high tide and at low  tide it narrowed down half its full size.It flows inland during high tide and towards its river mouth during low tide.It timing varies from time to time and extremely consistence.

It meanders gracefully like an ox bow around our town Teluk Anson.Providing the town with plenty of activities with high and low tides.Rural folks depended on it as their sole mean of transport to and fro town.It was very important to all the people as it also allowed food stuffs to be conveyed in it.Fishermen relied on it for shrimps and fish.It also was the home of many crocodiles.Many depended on  it for bathing and water supply.

Occasionally a life or two were lost in this river and it was rumoured it swallowed at least a life a year.But it was only a rumour no truth.That I think was to deter kids from playing along those dangerous river banks.We as kids learned to swim in it.Believe me it was pretty dangerous but we survived.It is definitely a wonderful place for retirement where you can do a lot of fishing.

Teluk Anson was once flooded as per history recorded in 1890s.Apparently the whole town was not spared at all.Thereafter  a bund with earth surrounding the town proper was built by its river bank.There were at least a dozen of water gates around town.These served to control the rising water especially during high tide.Most important to control the level of water in our drains during the rainy seasons towards the end of the year.

However,when as kids playing about near those river many of those bunds appeared to have lost its existence mainly due to erosion.Many of them flattened without maintenance. Perhaps those were already irelevent because no huge flood re-occurred again for nearly a century or so.The water gates were  useful only in controlling the high tide.

As kids we used to notice the rising tide because water do filled up our drains during high tide of the river.Presently those water gates were replaced with bigger and more efficient water gates.Of course,those of better designs.The question was the replacement done because those water gates of old were no longer dependable or operational???.

I do not think so.As per record the whole town was once again flooded after nearly a century.That was on 24th.Nov.1995.Almost the whole town were sub-merged in water.To me, should those old,old bunds been maintained possibly that flood would been reverted..History does repeat itself.You cannot take things for granted.It did not happened for so long does not mean it would not re-occurred again.The British were right in puttimg up that bund but we doubted them by not maintaining them.It was damn wrong.

The meandering river around town provided plenty of fertile land for the cultivation of green oranges.Especially those land by the river bank as it meanders around town.During our time Teluk Anson was famous for its sweet and big green oranges.Unfortunately,that good fortune was soon lost forever due mainly to a root disease which wiped out most the trees,It  further rendered the soil useless, no more viable for oranges cultivation.What a cruel fate dwelt on those farmers.

As kids we had the privilege of enjoying some of those oranges.Of course we never brought them neither do we had the money to do so.So all we did were  cycled  out of town into those oranges farm.Oranges were grown every where with only tiny path for peope to move about.So on sighting no one around all we had to do were just to stop our journey and began plucking at will as quickly as we could.But how many could we steal five or six that the most,.just enough to fill our bicycle's bag,Stolen fruits were never sweet but sour,believe me it was sour not sweet.

Teluk Anson was actually a major rubber and coconut producing state.In that there were large acreages of rubber all round Teluk Anson with  coconuts lining much of its river side land.There was also wharf about two miles up which catered for big ships to come to load and unload its goods.Those days tin from the Kinta valley also exported through here.Sad to admit this wharf had lost its importance presently turning it in a ghost ship yard.


All the old relics or old sight seeing scenes of  of Telok Anson.It was constructed in 1885. The leaning of the tower began some years later fortunately it did not collapsed then.It remained as it was till today,what a fantastic achievement by it.Until lately,  no one then were interested in the tower and actually left to rot.Only a small group of sea scouts had their meeting place there at their own risk.

Why?Because the planks of all its flooring were actually rotting away.There were awkward lines of holes in between all those timber.Those planks might give way any time but those handful of scouts still used it.They have to because they had no where to go to.That was why?.No one had attempted to maintain it and I think many a times some people had passed the hat round to collect funds  but somehow it all ended in zero.

The time that clock kept was inaccurate but while it stood there many still depended on it for telling the time.In actual fact that tower was an abandoned water storage tank for the town and had been  neglected because Telok Anson had a new water storage reservoir at the 9th,mile Changkat Jong Road. 

My mother used to run a coffee stall under the tower along Canal Road.in 1954.That was why I have knowledge about that clock tower.Those days coffee stalls with attractive waitresses waiting on customers were popular .In my mother's employment were two lovely women.Most of the evening my brother and I would be there studying under the street lamp and watching the world go by. 

The compound of the tower was fenced up but everyone cold easily gain access through the front gate.It was never locked.Our stall was outside the fenced area. along Canal road.During the Japanese occupation they made that their head quarters.On the vey top floor the roofing was removed and big gins mounted on for their own protections and shoot down enemies' approaching planes if any.It also acted as a watch tower,keeping  eyes for ships coming in from the river mouth. 

It was rumored that the Japanese also tortured and slaughtered many of their enemies and spies there.The Japanese were ruthless and cruel, they simply murdered many without trails whatsoever.Should someone who do not like you, point you out to them as a spy then you could easily end up being beheaded by them.We had an uncle who was beheaded just because he looked better and taller than most of them.Those were the days of the Japanese occupation. 

He clock tower had a long history behind it.Well it is good some one had taken the interest to have it renovated to its present state - a heritage well saved.It is a must visit sight of Teluk Intan .Another sight worth remembering was Batu Tenggek,a 1st World War  memorial put there by the British.On it were inscribed as follows:-

                  At the going down f the sun and in the morning
                                  We would remember you
                                          1914   -   1918

  As kids my brother and I were informed that the stone was actually no bigger than a match box initially  and had since grew up to  that size we now see.Of that was no truth whatsoever in this.Some one 's practical joke on us.When we saw it the first time the place was well maintained but sadly not now.I remembered the Government club house behind that stone.That  was now demolished.

Not far on is the Protestant Church which was green in colour but now transformed to dark brown I think some body up there liked choacolate.Farther down at the other end laid the Catholic Church,St.Anthony School and the Convent School.

The most famous road those days was Anson Road the road on which we once dwelt when we were kids.A stone's throw from our house was the Anglo Chinese School.It is still there and I think that that our heritage despite its changed in named Anglo Chinese no more existed but the buildings remained as in tact with little renovations under a different  name we never knew.Or at least I do not know. 

 Opposite was the general hospital but the hospital had been transferred to Changkat Jong road and now the whole structures had been demolished for good.This road is nostagic to me for we had very fond memories of it.Farther down that road was the dohbi gnat  where most of the town's dirty linen were washed by Indian washers.

At the end of that road once laid loads and loads of river sand to be sold for constructions.That place was called Durian Sabatang.That was because a sole durian tree there that time,thus its name.Actually I had not seen that durian tree at all neither did most folksDuring the old days huge boats (all man rowed boats)  would take their boats following the low tides flowing down stream.

They would guide those boats towards the river banks of the other side where the clean river sand were in abundance.When the tide had resided sufficiently those men would load the sand to fill up those boats.Then they would wait for the high tide to come in to  lift up their loaded boat once again. With that they rowed their boats with the assistants of the rising water back to that end of Durian Sabatang.

The high tide also gave them the level they needed to unload their sand .On completing they would parked their boats away from those spots.I knew this because I had the privilege of following them once.I think I was about ten then.There was also a small jetty farther down.It catered for ferries ferrying rural folks from the other side of the river 

What ever produce they had were  also send through this jetty to town.Those days lorries were little known.Transportation of their produced were transported by hand pulled carts.As kids we used to watch very strong men pulling those carts to market.There would also be an assistant pushing from behind to ease their burden.Most of their produced were vegetables,melons,sugar  canes and at times durians.Pigs,chickens and ducks were also among their produced.

 That jetty those days was so simple beside dangerous yet it catered for for so many.Compared to today's jetty so magnificiently constructed  but with so few people using it.These days modern transport had taken over so everything eased down.But I still do not understand why spent so much on something that had lost its importance or usage - already?For a new heritage????. My good ness.Or just to allow some retired folks to fish for shrimps??.

Further up the road from the school is the Indian temple called the Sri Subramainam temple.This temple was constructed by the Chettiars (money lenders) in 1926. From there on wards were a row of shop houses mostly occupied by such people.During our time there many of them about but today there are lesser in numbers.

Come April or so there would be a Hindu celebration of the temple whereby hosts of Indians from every where would joined in for the celebration.It used to be a three days affair.Those days we would find Indians every where and they would stayed until the festival was over,sleeping on five foot way and every they can secured a shelter 

We really enjoyed the first morning of their celebrations whereby devotees went into a trance after a bath in the river.In trance most of those devotees were pierced with all sort of needles big and small ,long and short,many a times with weights and ,lemons etc. attached at the ends.Seemingly quite scary.With that on they danced towards the temple with followers chanting prayers as they went.

We as kids simply loved to follow them as they chanted their prayers.Followed by shouts of"Wai,wai..... alogra"in unison by supporters all round.That was really good fun.This would go in until mid day or so.With that ended most would be left paying their homages ti their Hindu gods.

Around the surroundings of the temples would be many sheds plying their trades but mostly Indian stuffs.The celebration would end on the 3rd day evening's with a bullock  driven chariot carrying the Hindu god round town.Praying at the front of houses of devotees as they passed by.At each house they prayed coconuts were smashed into pieces.Finally the chariot  would returned to the temple.

After those Chettiars shop lots is the other end of the market.It faces the side of the  clock tower actually though there were coffee shop in front of it then. In our days at this end there were many sundry stalls and the midst of this were the fruit sellers from the kampongs .Kampongs used to bring in their produces there,Mostly local fruits such as pineapples,coconuts  and others.

Finally further down there was the side of the town police station ,located at the turn of the road and we reached the other end of Anson Road.Thus the road joined the same Perak river as it meanders round town.It was quite convenient to lodge any reports then but today you need to travel a lot further down to road to Changkat Jong Road.There you are we have the two ends of Anson Road fifty years ago.Looking at it today there were vast differences.

The market presently had been renovated with many changes. but its size remained as it was - no bigger.This market had also been  a place the Japanese tortured and chopped off the heads of many.It was therefore believe that it was haunted by many headless ghosts.I wander whether those ghosts still wonder around to frighten people? 

There is a Chinese temple by the riverside,the Hock Soon Temple built in 1883.Every year in October  there was celebration for the nine Emperor god by the Hokkien .Before there was a road in front of that temple.Today I think that road and part of the temple had been eroded away,despite all efforts to stop it,but failed miserably.The flow of the river  were simply too strong to be with held.

Talking about haunted house there were at least three of them in town those days.The Raja Muda residence along the side Raja Musa road  was a sight to behold in our days.Our secondary school was situated directly behind it.  Apparently it was  left neglected or attended in ruins for some time-turning it into a ghost house.Presently that was already demolished but the vast compound it covered remained glassily intact.

Another known haunted house was the Woo Saik Hong Mansion at the corner of Speedy road.It is still there intact.So ghost busters why not check on it?A stone throw away from this haunted house by the side of Speedy Road playing field was a drone.A circular concrete structure which could served as a resting place for players and others .It was built by a group of Ceylonese for what do not know,maybe in remembrance of their presence,.

The third haunted building was the one bungalow along Batah Rabbit Road facing the river.A colonial bungalow but it was now demolished,The list can go on and on I tell you.Maybe one of these days I should go down to take photographs of all existing ghost houses of Teluk Intan and post it my blog - for the benefit of all or to ghost busters..

Another place to remember of old Teluk Anson was the sight where a huge bull elephant was crushed to death. It was standing aloft on the railway track facing against the on coming train.Apparently it was protecting its herd against the onslaught of the iron horse which rammed into it without mercy,killing it instantly.

The then Authorities erected a sign there in remembrance of its bravery.This sight could be located not far the Sungai Nibong Railway bridge.It was on the left hand side of the railway track.Presently there is a road running there I think. I wonder the sign is still in tact there?.That incident happened on the 17th.Sept.1894,more than a century ago. 

There have been quite a lot of publications about its  food claiming this and that.Those were food representing today. Sad to say none of those depicted matched the food in the fifties or sixties and no where near them.Take "Chee Cheong Fun"for example.The famous 'Chee Cheong Fun" is more there it was never like that.That is the new look and the tastes...blah ....blah.....blah you called those Teluk Anson "Chee Cheong Fun"?  

Far from it,man,sorry that was never it...Sometimes in Kepong market,Kuala Lumpur I had come across a  hawker trying to make the old type which I think were more representative of the old "chee Cheong Fun" than those existing in Teluk Intan toady.However the tastes were still off target,but it was at least a good try.Does bring back a lot Nostalgia.

Cannot blamed present people as most of the "Chee Cheong Fun" were factory made,for quick profits.Those days in the fifties the gluttonese rice sold were very good.Oily and hot - going with very nice roast port.To day we can no more see them around even in Teluk Intan..

The curry mee those days were very good  with red hot curry that came in at fifteen or twenty cents per bowl.To think of them makes my mouth watered but sadly today's standard were no where near them So were the "Assam Laksa". Oh yes,I loved  those days "Char Koay Teoh" too. All yummy yummy.I think the  cooking with wood made the difference in their tastes.Well you all not necessary to believe what I said.But I meant what I said.

I also missed those days soup makers.Those 'makmak" really knew how to boil good tasty  soups.May those be beef shavings,goat's head and legs or chicken soups they were so good and came cheaply.Also at fifteen to twenty cents per bowl.Imagine those soups were bowl with bits and bits shavings of goat or buffalo it still tasted that good .

Unlike today,the "makmak" dumped or lumped all the chicken,mutton and beef together in to boil at one go.Very unethical indeed.As such they served none beef consumers the same soup when they actually ordered for chicken or mutton soup.I mean there was no distinction or difference.To me it was a total betrayal of trust by customers. 

Although they boiled every things together,their soup still did not attained the same results as those of yester years.Besides,quite unhygenic because they would cut the already cooked meat as per order.Chicken for chicken soup,mutton for mutton soup and beef for beef soup.The handling with unclean hands usually.

Those days there was also an old Javanese man selling very good Javanese "mee rebus".He used to ply his trade on a bicycle but he usually could be located at the bus station.His mee was then very famous ,both tasty and cheap..It was from him that the present day "mee rebus" existed.Of course his decendants now sell their "mee rebus" from shops.

Say what you may but all the food today are not what they claimed to be I assure you all.To day's food do not taste as before,beside more expensive.Time had really transformed all these old,old food..It is really very sad indeed for them to have induced such  drastic changes. Much could be attributed to men' s greed for bigger and faster returns.

Beside  most of them had lost their dignities in supplying substandard and adulterated food to the public.As long as they could make the extra  profits they could not careless - that were their attitude.The older generations who produced those good food were all dead and gone but as they left many did not passed on their skills and knowledge on to their children or disciples.Many younger people might  had found it too simple thus never bother to learn those skills properly.