The sudden need to have one......the distance between my residential college to the faculty was far plus the terrain plus 80% of the walkway was not shaded. Indeed my first option was a bicycle but that too proved to be challenging as i can really feel by thigh and legs muscle have grown bigger and leaner in just over a month. Lectures was from 8am till 6 pm , not complaining but my meals are prepared ( package with the fees i paid per semester) back in the residential college and by the time i cycled back for lunch , i will be sweaty and too tired to eat lunch -henced a motorised transportation is the most logical thing to have.
My dad was fast, even before i registered to my university, he already asked me to look out for one , true enough i was looking around for a used 70 cc bike as long as it can get me from point A and point B was the main goal, unfortunately couldn't get a fair deal. i the mean time ,a friend had a second hand RXZ which he allows me ( with reservation of course) to use it once a while. That actually got me hooked to that model...
i had to get one since coming to our second year, i am doubtful if i can secure a place in the residential college thus i had to rent a house far from campus....
So in 1987, i got one from Serdang Motors for RM 3600.00 brand new. That bike stayed with me till 1993 ...wonder where it is now? So much history with that bike, riding without a valid license ( i wont recommend this to anyone !!!- a silly thing to do but......
Monday, September 23, 2019
Thursday, September 19, 2019
first day at Vet faculty UPM
A week of orientation in UPM and we finally were at the faculty's main assembly hall - Dewan Veterinar A (DVA) . The faculty was made of two buildings, one the animal science and nutrition and the other- veterinary medicine wing which had a full vet clinic attached to it.
We; the freshies were ushered into the hall with seniors already in . It was a get to know session, the dean made his opening welcome speeches where he also introduces the faculty's heads of department.
Then the DVM student's council president elect made his welcome remarks.
After all the pleasantries and speeches we were allowed to mingled with the seniors ( rather they came to us ) to get to know us better.
That year; the intake was 21 students and i knew that there was another Sarawak guy and one from Sabah making a total of three from the Borneo island. We made friends rather easily thanks to a few ex-dip in our class who are well aware of the what and how to adjust to the new life in campus.
we were brought around the faculty to familiarize ourselves for this will be home for the next 5 years of our undergraduate life.
We were also given our semester time table , we had to take a total of 26 credits hours minimum per semester. Lectures from Monday to Friday at 8am to 5pm everyday and weekends will be practical/attachments .
We; the freshies were ushered into the hall with seniors already in . It was a get to know session, the dean made his opening welcome speeches where he also introduces the faculty's heads of department.
Then the DVM student's council president elect made his welcome remarks.
After all the pleasantries and speeches we were allowed to mingled with the seniors ( rather they came to us ) to get to know us better.
That year; the intake was 21 students and i knew that there was another Sarawak guy and one from Sabah making a total of three from the Borneo island. We made friends rather easily thanks to a few ex-dip in our class who are well aware of the what and how to adjust to the new life in campus.
we were brought around the faculty to familiarize ourselves for this will be home for the next 5 years of our undergraduate life.
We were also given our semester time table , we had to take a total of 26 credits hours minimum per semester. Lectures from Monday to Friday at 8am to 5pm everyday and weekends will be practical/attachments .
First car -Proton saga 1.3 Megavalve sedan
I finished my DVM late 1991 and was told to start work in Seremban based at a research center in town but had to travel round to monitor the company's 24,000 heads of sheep and 14,000 heads of goat. I was so comfortable with my mode of transportation in the form of a two wheeler _ Yamaha RXZ since my second year in the university, the bike was so useful that it had carried me all over West Malaysia.
However, my employer advised me against using it further but must get a car ( just to maintain a certain corporate image among executive level staff) I did not immediately part with the bike since it was paid up but was in the hunt for a car. Back then my choices were Proton Saga Megavalve, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic and a Renault 19. Had a hard time choosing among the four but eventually i opted for a grey Proton Saga 1.3 Megavalve (manual transmission- an automatic was a rarity then.)
i enquire, booked and get the hire purchase loan process but was to collect it in Bangsar Kuala Lumpur. I took a bus from Seremban to Puduraya and a taxi to Bangsar. The salesman was waiting and the car was also ready to be driven away.
After inspection and signing a delivery note...i was given the key and WOW....my own car (BDG 1642)
i can recall the new car smell and the smoothness of response. It really took a while for the owning the car feeling to kick in, by that time i was on the highway driving south towards Seremban. It took me about 50 minutes to reach home at Taman Permai and my brother was waiting at home.
However, my employer advised me against using it further but must get a car ( just to maintain a certain corporate image among executive level staff) I did not immediately part with the bike since it was paid up but was in the hunt for a car. Back then my choices were Proton Saga Megavalve, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic and a Renault 19. Had a hard time choosing among the four but eventually i opted for a grey Proton Saga 1.3 Megavalve (manual transmission- an automatic was a rarity then.)
i enquire, booked and get the hire purchase loan process but was to collect it in Bangsar Kuala Lumpur. I took a bus from Seremban to Puduraya and a taxi to Bangsar. The salesman was waiting and the car was also ready to be driven away.
After inspection and signing a delivery note...i was given the key and WOW....my own car (BDG 1642)
i can recall the new car smell and the smoothness of response. It really took a while for the owning the car feeling to kick in, by that time i was on the highway driving south towards Seremban. It took me about 50 minutes to reach home at Taman Permai and my brother was waiting at home.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
First haze..1997
Of late here in and around Selangor- all schools are declared closed till Friday because the API is 200 and more....i too can actually inhale the smoke. Every year for the past 22 years since 1997( this was the year that it got pretty bad) the haze is accepted as a normal thing that happens annually.
When the haze arrives the blaming game just starts and as the haze goes off the blame goes off too. Top to be blame is always oil palm plantations, then the dry spell causing underground peat fires in mangrove area, bush fires and rubbish fires, the list goes on... No preventive actions will go in place despite many expert views were considered during the haze. The solutions like the haze clears with no preventive actions ....just like that and we wait for next year !!!
1997......it was also when the economic downturn was equally bad when currency traders devalued the ringgit making Malaysia's economy very bad until the government decided then to peg the ringgit to the USD at 3.8, much to the dislike of world bank ( many was super sceptical of the move then) BUT it did help stop the ringgit from falling further .
the stock market was hit pretty bad too.
The haze was no better then and business of face mask suddenly a boom where it normally cost just 20 sens goes up to retail at RM 2.50 ...at one time my hometown Kuching ( in the island of Borneo) recorded the API reading of over 1,000 which was higher than the stock market. I was feeling really scared for my family there then.
it took time for the haze to clear and to this days , solutions and options were aplenty during the haze but it clears as fast as the haze clears and next year will be another 'new' haze year...no sure preventive action in place to minimised or rid of the haze. it is like a norm now....how crazy can that be !!!
When the haze arrives the blaming game just starts and as the haze goes off the blame goes off too. Top to be blame is always oil palm plantations, then the dry spell causing underground peat fires in mangrove area, bush fires and rubbish fires, the list goes on... No preventive actions will go in place despite many expert views were considered during the haze. The solutions like the haze clears with no preventive actions ....just like that and we wait for next year !!!
1997......it was also when the economic downturn was equally bad when currency traders devalued the ringgit making Malaysia's economy very bad until the government decided then to peg the ringgit to the USD at 3.8, much to the dislike of world bank ( many was super sceptical of the move then) BUT it did help stop the ringgit from falling further .
the stock market was hit pretty bad too.
The haze was no better then and business of face mask suddenly a boom where it normally cost just 20 sens goes up to retail at RM 2.50 ...at one time my hometown Kuching ( in the island of Borneo) recorded the API reading of over 1,000 which was higher than the stock market. I was feeling really scared for my family there then.
it took time for the haze to clear and to this days , solutions and options were aplenty during the haze but it clears as fast as the haze clears and next year will be another 'new' haze year...no sure preventive action in place to minimised or rid of the haze. it is like a norm now....how crazy can that be !!!
Sunday, September 15, 2019
First mobile phone
the closest thing before the use of mobile phone was a pager for me, it was the only way that i can be in touch with my staff who was spread all over three states . We had 5 farms having close to 24,000 heads of crossbred dorset malin sheep.
Then, the mobile phone was super bulky ( mainly due to its battery and aerial ) , the most technological advance then still weigh in about 1 kg.
due to my ever increasing need to be in touch with base despite being all over the place ( public phones were an option then but many are vandalised) i decided to get a mobile phone. Not really spoil for choice then since NOT too many brands and fancy designs to choose from.
The motorola flip was the one that caught my attention since it fits snugly into my pocket and/or knapsack. The only challenge then was the coverage which was mainly major town only.
nowadays.....wow
Smartphones were unheard of then, the few telcos were Celcom, mobikom. maxis , adam and TM.
Then, the mobile phone was super bulky ( mainly due to its battery and aerial ) , the most technological advance then still weigh in about 1 kg.
due to my ever increasing need to be in touch with base despite being all over the place ( public phones were an option then but many are vandalised) i decided to get a mobile phone. Not really spoil for choice then since NOT too many brands and fancy designs to choose from.
The motorola flip was the one that caught my attention since it fits snugly into my pocket and/or knapsack. The only challenge then was the coverage which was mainly major town only.
nowadays.....wow
Smartphones were unheard of then, the few telcos were Celcom, mobikom. maxis , adam and TM.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
First day in TLC
After my Lower Certificate Examination (LCE) results was announced ;nowadays known as PT3 in Malaysia , i was selected to continue my studies at a fully residential school only known as Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang ( KTDTHB) in Miri. My dad was clearly excited that his son was selected to be one of the few to continue their studies at one of the two premier school in the state.
Not much time was given for me to prepare for the trip , my only recollection of KTDTHB was that from my uncle who was enrolled earlier. He told me off the life he went through as a freshie then, it was enough to get me excited and scared at the same time. i had less than 3 days to get everything in place and had to get all my stuff packed into just one suitcase......hmmmmmm
the plane ride from Kuching to Miri ( will be about one hour 45 minutes trip one way) and that my other uncle will be in Miri to pick me up and sent me to the school, he too genuinely excited about me getting into the school.
It was after 230pm that i finally made it to the school gate and that i had to actually walk from the gate to the boys dormitories. I had to dragged and carry my stuff for at least 1,000 meters to boys dorm.
Cendrawasih was the name of the dorm i am assigned to, was a wooden single storey dorm behind the 'seniors' concrete dorms. It was the start of the work party then , with seniors cleaning up the surroundings plus a few scared looking freshies doing the best that could. Just as i finish unpacking my stuff into our assigned cupboard in a room that will fit 6 people ( only two others have arrived), we were called to help do the cleaning up by the few seniors. I was asked to crawled under the building to collect the rubbish and soiled my new shoes and pants doing it.
After 4pm, work party was over and the seniors came into our room and started to 'interrogate' us freshies one by one...( i was pre warned by my uncle as this was the tradition of orientation for freshies by seniors) My roomies were clearly almost to tears by the activities that follows, we were not only shouted at but was made fun at by the seniors.
I was made to sing , had to crawled under the bed , stayed in the cupboard and tried blowing out a switched on bulb. Pretty much nasty stuff but non physical in nature. It went on till about 530pm where the seniors would go off to prepare for dinner. Only then did we; freshies' get a chance to have some quality time among ourselves.
Dinner was no better but that's another story...........hahahahaha
Not much time was given for me to prepare for the trip , my only recollection of KTDTHB was that from my uncle who was enrolled earlier. He told me off the life he went through as a freshie then, it was enough to get me excited and scared at the same time. i had less than 3 days to get everything in place and had to get all my stuff packed into just one suitcase......hmmmmmm
the plane ride from Kuching to Miri ( will be about one hour 45 minutes trip one way) and that my other uncle will be in Miri to pick me up and sent me to the school, he too genuinely excited about me getting into the school.
It was after 230pm that i finally made it to the school gate and that i had to actually walk from the gate to the boys dormitories. I had to dragged and carry my stuff for at least 1,000 meters to boys dorm.
Cendrawasih was the name of the dorm i am assigned to, was a wooden single storey dorm behind the 'seniors' concrete dorms. It was the start of the work party then , with seniors cleaning up the surroundings plus a few scared looking freshies doing the best that could. Just as i finish unpacking my stuff into our assigned cupboard in a room that will fit 6 people ( only two others have arrived), we were called to help do the cleaning up by the few seniors. I was asked to crawled under the building to collect the rubbish and soiled my new shoes and pants doing it.
After 4pm, work party was over and the seniors came into our room and started to 'interrogate' us freshies one by one...( i was pre warned by my uncle as this was the tradition of orientation for freshies by seniors) My roomies were clearly almost to tears by the activities that follows, we were not only shouted at but was made fun at by the seniors.
I was made to sing , had to crawled under the bed , stayed in the cupboard and tried blowing out a switched on bulb. Pretty much nasty stuff but non physical in nature. It went on till about 530pm where the seniors would go off to prepare for dinner. Only then did we; freshies' get a chance to have some quality time among ourselves.
Dinner was no better but that's another story...........hahahahaha
Thursday, September 12, 2019
First plane ride and Malaysian Singapore Airlines (MSA)
My dad's job requires him to move all over the state of Sarawak. There was this one assignment that needed us to actually fly with an aeroplane to get to the town of Limbang from Kuching. We had to prepare early in the morning , luggage was all packed up ready to go and my mom and brother was ready too.
Kuching airport ( 1970s) ; was just a 'small airport ' compared to the ones we have now, even the Bukit Berendam Malacca Airport was much bigger by comparison (2019). The airport was being shared by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Malaysian Singapore Airlines (MSA). We took a taxi from where we were staying to the airport. It was super crowded but dad managed to get everything settle before boarding the plane.
I noticed two groups of people there...one going on and the other leaving the airport. A heave of activities going on then.
I was at awe to see planes flying in and out of the airport ( not that busy but still managed to catch a glimpse of at least three planes ( two departing and one landing)
When it was time for us to board ...we were 'ushered; into a waiting area to prepare the boarding activity ( did not understand much about the going ons and procedures then compared to now)
We were allowed and guided onto the tarmac before climbing a flight of stairs up towards the aircraft.
Next thing i remembered i was seated in the plane and was seatbelted to a seat next to the round window ( window seat for me...hahahahaha lucky me) The taking off made my insides pressed really hard downwards , not really discomforting for an excited kid on his very first flight.....
The free meal was great with lots of sweets given to me by the flight attendant. Was not a very long flight perhaps less than two hours when the plane started its decent towards Miri airport.
In Miri, we had to wait again to board a slightly smaller plane ( twin otter aircraft) to Limbang. We were weighed in together with the luggage to make sure we done weight down the plane.
The flight time was not long and no meals was serve just a lunch box given to each passenger before flight.
Limbang airport was small, almost like nobody around but we had my dad's colleague with transport to pick us up and drive us to our quarters 40 km away from the airport.
That was my recollections of my first ( two flights actually in one day) in an aeroplane . Fun ? Yes very much so....
Kuching airport ( 1970s) ; was just a 'small airport ' compared to the ones we have now, even the Bukit Berendam Malacca Airport was much bigger by comparison (2019). The airport was being shared by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Malaysian Singapore Airlines (MSA). We took a taxi from where we were staying to the airport. It was super crowded but dad managed to get everything settle before boarding the plane.
I noticed two groups of people there...one going on and the other leaving the airport. A heave of activities going on then.
I was at awe to see planes flying in and out of the airport ( not that busy but still managed to catch a glimpse of at least three planes ( two departing and one landing)
When it was time for us to board ...we were 'ushered; into a waiting area to prepare the boarding activity ( did not understand much about the going ons and procedures then compared to now)
We were allowed and guided onto the tarmac before climbing a flight of stairs up towards the aircraft.
Next thing i remembered i was seated in the plane and was seatbelted to a seat next to the round window ( window seat for me...hahahahaha lucky me) The taking off made my insides pressed really hard downwards , not really discomforting for an excited kid on his very first flight.....
The free meal was great with lots of sweets given to me by the flight attendant. Was not a very long flight perhaps less than two hours when the plane started its decent towards Miri airport.
In Miri, we had to wait again to board a slightly smaller plane ( twin otter aircraft) to Limbang. We were weighed in together with the luggage to make sure we done weight down the plane.
The flight time was not long and no meals was serve just a lunch box given to each passenger before flight.
Limbang airport was small, almost like nobody around but we had my dad's colleague with transport to pick us up and drive us to our quarters 40 km away from the airport.
That was my recollections of my first ( two flights actually in one day) in an aeroplane . Fun ? Yes very much so....
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
First wristwatch ( 1981)
I was 15 years old when my dad bought me my first wristwatch. Strange that we really remember anything but the first of anything...hahhahahaha
I was at the back of the house just playing with our chicken, rather feeding them at the same time when dad called me. I knew that day was my birthday and my dad will always greet me -happy birthday.
that day was special , a wristwatch ...wow. I was told that i may need it since i am facing my second government school exams, it was called Lower School Certificate(LCE) but have been rebrand to PT3. Most 15 year old in Malaysia will be facing this exam.
Dad told me that i can just glance at the wristwatch instead of looking at the wall clock inside the examination hall....
The watch was all metallic and was a Seiko brand. Must have cost dad a fortune then, with his take home salary of just enough to get by.
I just couldn't remember how long i had it with me, not that i don't appreciate it just that it serves the purpose only during that exams. My activities then was pretty rough and outdoor plus a fair amount of time inside the river playing with our outboard engine zooming up and down the mighty Rejang river.
I was at the back of the house just playing with our chicken, rather feeding them at the same time when dad called me. I knew that day was my birthday and my dad will always greet me -happy birthday.
that day was special , a wristwatch ...wow. I was told that i may need it since i am facing my second government school exams, it was called Lower School Certificate(LCE) but have been rebrand to PT3. Most 15 year old in Malaysia will be facing this exam.
Dad told me that i can just glance at the wristwatch instead of looking at the wall clock inside the examination hall....
The watch was all metallic and was a Seiko brand. Must have cost dad a fortune then, with his take home salary of just enough to get by.
I just couldn't remember how long i had it with me, not that i don't appreciate it just that it serves the purpose only during that exams. My activities then was pretty rough and outdoor plus a fair amount of time inside the river playing with our outboard engine zooming up and down the mighty Rejang river.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Early days- day 1
I remembered feeling excited a week before school, all because i was able to choose my own stationery and school bag despite not having too much choice in what to wear to school. hahahahahaha.....still was fun. The stationary shopping was great where i had to ride seating behind my dad's bicycle. My dad had to ride the bicycle for a good one hour before reaching town. My mom and younger brother had to stay home.
My dad was an officer with the Department of Education and was recently assigned to a place that we need planes as a mode of transportation from our hometown.
We spent a good two hours to get almost everything that i need for school...shoes, socks, underwear, singlet, school uniforms, pencils, ruler, eraser, school bag and some exercise books.
Early in the morning of my school day,my dad took leave from his work just to 'walk' me to school ( it was less than two kilometers away from home). Everything on me was new even my underwear...as the saying goes...a new chapter in life so might as well use everything new except that my physical self was seven years old ( young for homo sapiens)
after dressing up for school, there was breakfast where my mom prepared porridge and fried eggs for us.
it took us about 20 minutes relaxing walk to the school, dad was smiling while i was feeling super excited.
At the school,dad did all the necessary registration and at about 930am- everything was done. Dad told me to just follow the instruction given and he would be waiting for me when school ends at 1230pm on the same day. I followed dad making his way out of the school compound, and we bumped into the school's headmaster and we were introduced and was told that his son (headmaster's) will be in the same class as me.
At 930am, the whole school was summon to the assembly area ( was to be a routine every Monday of school week that we will be assembling on that ground from then on)
The headmaster made his welcoming speech for the new school year then we were made to sing the state and national anthem. Could not recall the content of the speech as i was busy looking around while standing in line among the first year students.
We were made to proceed to our class led by third year student prefect to our assigned class. upon reaching the classroom we had to find our own seats in the classroom styled arrangement. My seat was at the middle of the class. We were told to seat and stay quiet until our class teacher comes in.
( to be continued....)
My dad was an officer with the Department of Education and was recently assigned to a place that we need planes as a mode of transportation from our hometown.
We spent a good two hours to get almost everything that i need for school...shoes, socks, underwear, singlet, school uniforms, pencils, ruler, eraser, school bag and some exercise books.
Early in the morning of my school day,my dad took leave from his work just to 'walk' me to school ( it was less than two kilometers away from home). Everything on me was new even my underwear...as the saying goes...a new chapter in life so might as well use everything new except that my physical self was seven years old ( young for homo sapiens)
after dressing up for school, there was breakfast where my mom prepared porridge and fried eggs for us.
it took us about 20 minutes relaxing walk to the school, dad was smiling while i was feeling super excited.
At the school,dad did all the necessary registration and at about 930am- everything was done. Dad told me to just follow the instruction given and he would be waiting for me when school ends at 1230pm on the same day. I followed dad making his way out of the school compound, and we bumped into the school's headmaster and we were introduced and was told that his son (headmaster's) will be in the same class as me.
At 930am, the whole school was summon to the assembly area ( was to be a routine every Monday of school week that we will be assembling on that ground from then on)
The headmaster made his welcoming speech for the new school year then we were made to sing the state and national anthem. Could not recall the content of the speech as i was busy looking around while standing in line among the first year students.
We were made to proceed to our class led by third year student prefect to our assigned class. upon reaching the classroom we had to find our own seats in the classroom styled arrangement. My seat was at the middle of the class. We were told to seat and stay quiet until our class teacher comes in.
( to be continued....)
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