A fool n his RM are welcome everywhere!

This is the biggest gold bar in this universe. One piece of this is "Kau team" (enough) to solve all the plights of poverty in any corner of the world, or to do all the evils in this world.


This is a USD with a true value big denomination and not one of those from the African continent or our neighbour, Indonesia. Ten pieces of this will make you a US millionaire. Btw they are only printed for the use of the US treasury and not for the public. Such big denomination would have made a certain individual in Malaysia ecstatic to carry them into Australia.

This a lady everyone loves to strip. She is pound covered.

So, yours sincerely ( y s) is musing about money, Ruppiahs, Ringgits, Reminbis, USDs, Pounds whatever.........

They say that money does not grow on trees, but when y s was a young boy, many, many years ago, money came out of my dear Nyonya mum's bra. Really ! That was where she safely kept her dollars and cents which were carefully wrapped in her handkerchief. No wonder there were no snatch thieves those good, old days. Btw she was wearing a size L not that she needed one but rather bras did not come with reinforced cups those days so the oversized were more practical, airy and comfortable, I suppose. ( So unbecoming of y s to talk about bras, eh?.)

Of course, y s does not expect modern females to keep their valuables in their bras these days. Anyway, no cup size can contain their cash, cards, IC, car keys, house keys, handphone, lipstick(s) , powder compacts, blusher brush, eyebrow pencils/touchups, (emergency) female towels, tissue papers, address book, trinkets, pepper spray, just to list a few. With so much paraphernalia to lug around, Gucci, Louis Vitton, Sach, Hilly, Giossad, Bonia ( the few I can recall from his better half's collection) have lots of handbags to market that certainly keep the "Mat Rempits" snatchers gleefully busy.

So, when y s started his career, harsh reality set in. The RM210 salary as a college trained teacher needed a lot of stretching to cover all his expenses. This is where one has to make "sen" (sense) of every ringgit earned. This is where good monetary management comes in. This is also where frugality, thrift and prudence are deeply inculcated and instilled, and steer one out of financial crises.

So, save, save and save as much as you can and deny yourself the simple and legitimate pleasures of life. God forbids. According to Martin Luther, God divided the hands into fingers so that money could slip through, somehow. Many work their butts out and save for several life times. I like to say it in Hokkien : "Pia mia chooi lui" (work your butts out for money disregarding your health and leisure) in your youth then in your middle age or old age " pia looi chooi mia" (pouring out your money to seek life, treatment for sicknesses because of health neglect and abuse) Finally, all that one needs is a 6 ' X 6" X 4" pit !

Many save and save because they are worried that they may not have the RM to get treatment when they are sick in old age. They say: " What if I need a bypass, two bypasses, three bypasses etc. What if a need a kidney, a liver, a this and a that?" They spend three quarters of their lives slogging, labouring, slaving and saving hard, eagerly waiting to pay the doctors! Pathetic? (No wonder Malaysians are clamoring for Medic courses. Some go as far as Russia to somehow snatch one in the name of wanting to save mankind, true to the "Hypocrite Oath"....oops sorry..... "Hippocratic oath." )

Many more well-meaning parents scrounge the surface to save for their children and grandchildren as if they do not expect them to work for a living! Every child of theirs should inherit a house from them. They survive very spartan, basic, frugal, isolated, friendless, joyless, and self-centered life. The Hokkien say : "Si bo tak." ( To die pathetically for not living well)

Money is like manure. You have to spread it around or it smells. Don't be guilty of paying yourself first with the money you have EARNED after every payday. You deserve it!

Also beware that too many are spending money they haven't earned to buy things they don't need to impress people who cannot even remember our names. Never spend before you have earned it.

Many people have finally realised that money can't buy happiness. Now they are trying credit cards. Never believe the Credit Card companies. You cannot spend to save. How could you save more when you spend more? Use the credit facility and convenience promised by the cards BUT NEVER OWE THEM. These "Visa Long" or "Master Long" can be legally worse than the "Ah Longs" from Buklit Beruntung. They do not splash red paint on your walls, hang dead chicken on your door post , cut off your little finger or kidnap your loved ones but they can legally cause you nightmares, night after night until you go crazy! Remember that compound interest is the eight wonder of the world! Don't be subject to it.

Of course, money is important. Which fool says that it isn't? A Chinese proverb says that with money you are a dragon; with no money, a worm. But those who think money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. Francis Bacon puts it correctly that money like fire is a good servant but bad master. Money is the most egalitarian force in society. It confers power on whoever holds it. The chief value of money lies in the fact that we are living in a world in which money is overestimated. I like what Henry Ford once said : "The highest capital is not to make more money, but to make money do more for the betterment of life."
Of course, you cannot take your money to heaven but you can send it on ahead. Ya?

" It is said that for money you can have everything, but you cannot. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; knowledge but not wisdom; glitter, but not beauty; fun but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants; but not faithfulness; leisure, but not peace. You can have the husk of everything for money; but not the kerrnel." - Ame Garborg.

As for y s and his better half, WE ARE SPENDING OUR CHILDREN'S INHERITANCE.

Work, save n spend on. Life is for the living.

Part Two from the "Bucket List"

Wang Kelian has always aroused yours sincerely's curiosity. It is a new border crossing to Thailand in the middle of nowhere. So, on the way down Kaki Bukit, we took a left turn, accelerated the car up several very steep slopes, rounded a few hair pin corners and passing through numerous police and UPP (Anti-smuggling unit) check points, to finally reach the place.
It loomed in front of you very suddenly.

It was a Saturday, so parking was brisk and free. Being a stone's throw from the all Thai notorious border crossing, the aged car was triple locked and securely alarmed. Trust in God, lock your vehicles.

Wang Kelian is a shoppers' haven. There are rows and rows of makeshift tents and stalls peddling almost the same "brandy" things and at roughly the same price, all under the hot sun and behind the backdrop of a lush green pristine equatorial jungle. You sweat while you shop under your umbrella if you carry one. It was just "window shopping" for us, but, as usual, the better half was attracted to a few bargains and tit-bits which come in neat packets, three for RM10.00. So, a husband is also a porter, sometimes. Well, what is the use of having a 5 ft 9 inches tall and 85 kilos hubby! To carry things looor! A small advice. Work out your logistic. Don't buy on your way down. Buy only when you make your way back. You carry only one way. Less transportation cost. DHL concept. Don't worry the vendors will still be there.

Yours sincerely and the better half also crossed over to the Thai side without any passport stamping formality. Just smile and walk across, and smile again when you come back. Sometime, when the immigration officers are in their foul mood, I was told, they may demand to see and record your Identity Cards' particulars, or else it is plain walking across and back. Cool,
eh?

The Thai side is equalling a sprawling of tents, canvas and taupaulins. Also more or less offering the same goods. BUT THE VENDORS ARE FRIENDLIER. They greet you sweetly and offer you their service. NOT WITH THE MALAYSIAN SIDE. It is "Mau beli beli. Tak Mau Beli, Berambus!" (Want to buy, buylah. If not, get lost!)

More and more stalls that extend right to the foothill. Strangely, we saw a good num,ber of Causasians milling with the crowd. Some were with their young children whom we, Asians, would rather leave them safely at home with their baby sitters or grannies. They start to see the world at such a very young age. I admire their parents' sojourner spirit.

I have been to Wang Kelian!

One more from my "Bucket List"

Graffitis on the rock etched by half or three quarter evolved visitors

One item in Yours sincerely's "Bucket List" is to visit or to revisit historic, geographic or touristic nooks and corners in Malaysia. It is paradoxical that his better half and him have gone jetting to other continents when he misses out places so close to home. As for the revisiting, it brings sweet memory of the days the children were younger and how they enjoyed the trips.

Saturdays have been designated for day trips because for the past 28 donkey years, yours sincerely had been fully occupied to the hilt on Saturdays, teaching classes after classes. It is with an unforgiveable vengeance that Saturdays have been picked out to day trip around.

Saturday 21st was for Gua Kelam in Perlis. This time around, with time on our hand, we took a real slow drive, savouring the scenery and detouring into any small towns and villages on the signboards that ever aroused our curiosity. So, we turned into the small fishing village of Kuala Sanglang and gazed at the fishing folks who also gazed back at us. We also detoured into Kuala Perlis which was quite deserted at this time of the year.

The one thing which I try hard to understand is why people like to scribble and leave graffiti of their names or initials on plants and rock surface like this. It is through Yours sincerely's observation of his Pincher ( a small dog) that he has come to this conclusion : these people have not been fully evolved as homo sapiens. Like dogs which urinate on things and at nooks and corners to leave their markings and demarcate their territories, these vandals, having not been fully evolved, have to do the same. Lucky thing, graffitis and not their urine.

This is the most presentable stall which I had meticulously picked to stop for a break along the way to Kaki Bukit. The proprietor was too glad to post for me before his delicatessens. Anyway, his "Cendul n Pulut" in scrapped ice was thirst quenching on hot February days. In the background is Yours sincerely's better half slurping her "Cendul n Pulut." Two bowls for RM 5.00. Inflation has reached the kampongs.

So, along the road leading to the cave and by the side of the man- made pools you get stalls enticing your children with toys, t-shirts and floats of all types. Well, we have no more young children to be enticed. Looking forward eagerly to pamper grandchildren!

This is the entrance to the limestone cave. No change after all these years only that the metal railings have badly corroded. We walked through the cave and observed the limestone stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes. The centre lump of limestone which was better formed used to be glistering wet those days, fifteen years ago, is now dry and dull, perhaps due to the dry weather. I hope so. And not due to environmental degradation.

I like to observe old Chinese new villages. This is one long row of Chinese homes which are shop like, some are half opened , you can see at Kaki Bukit, a stone's throw from Gua kelam. They still have rusty corrugated zinc roof. The houses seem to be forgotten by time but trying to stand proud, testimony to the good old days. Really good? Peering into a doorway, yours sincerely saw an old grey haired "Ah Pek" sitting on an equally old rattan chair with a palm hand fan cooling himself vigouriously and staring into the thin air. He did not even realise that he was being observed.


There are several pools like this, enough for a waist deep dip for both children and non-swimmer adults. The area is shaded by the trees, suitable for children to wade, splash and swim.

Viva life. Live on. Life is for the living.

Musings on LIFE

This is "La Penseur" or "The Thinker" by Auguste Robin, a popular French sculptor who revolutionised the art of sculpture in the modern age. This statue is yours sincerely's favourite as it reflects much of his contemplative thoughts which battle within him in a power struggle.

Yours sincerely finds that the game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. So, keeping the right spirit is vital to keep away idle and negative thoughts. Fulton J. Sheen says that it is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded.
Or that life is an echo, what you send out - comes back!

Sometimes I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard." I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. So, enjoy life. There is plenty of time to be dead. Life is not a dressed rehearsal! It is the real thing. Some people go around saying that the world owes them a living. The world owes no one anything. It was here first! I like what Aung San Suu Kyi says " It is no simple matter to decide who are the more fortunate - those to whom life gives all, or those who have to give all to life." We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it.

In living, it is not doing the things we like, but liking the things we do that makes life happy according to Goethe. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. John Burrough says that he still finds each day too short for all the thoughts he want to think, all the walks he wants to take, all the books he wants to read, and all the friends he wants to see. Strive to do the common things of life uncommonly well. I like what I read on the wall of Hong Leong Bank at Jln Teluk Wanjah, A. Star : "If better is possible, good is not enough." You will get life's rewards.

Yet, we see many people are so busy day in and day out. It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is : what are they busy about? William James says that the great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. And make sure that the thing you are living for is worth dying for. And also a man who has nothing that he would die for has little to live for. Martin Luther hits the nail on its head when he says that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

In life people ask and ask, why do bad things happen to good people. Our clergies cook up all sort of theologically sound answers only to be doubted. Well, expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. Life is a blend of laughters and tears, a combination of rain and sunshine. And do not complain about life's unfairness. It is never - at best, it is impartial. We learn the rope of life by untying the knots. William Shakespeare puts it right that life is a tale told by an idiot - full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Slow down and enjoy life. Pull to the left lane of "Ikut Kiri Jika Tidak Memotong." It is not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
Abraham Lincon says it very accurately that in the end it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. It is not its length but its depth. The earth belongs to the living, not to the dead.

The Cherokee Indians once say that when you are born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. I always wonder how so many Christians sing so many beautiful hymns of heaven and lament how they long to go there , and yet so many Christians are afriad of death, even the mere mention of it is a taboo. It is also paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old does not appeal to anyone. You only live once; but if you live it right, once is enough according to Adam Marshall. Quite true, eh?

Anyway, don't take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive but also remember that every man dies; not every man lives.

I climbed Pokok Sena "Everest "

Inspired by a fellow blogger "Random Shots" and yours sincerely's very own curiosity, I went to check out the Hash House Harriet's trek at Pokok Sena labelled as "888." You know la, when it comes to Chinaman's enterprise's number, it has to be 888. That includes his vehicle and possibly his handset or even his house. Blessedly I checked it out fast, as you can see a part of the picturesque hill is "oleli" shaven bald, waiting for a housing project. So, this part on the way down looks like another lost planet.
The occasion was never better timed with the visit of my son, Albertus, who is on a month leave before joining his wife, Adeline, in Kiwi Land, New Zealand. BTW you are confused, I know. Adeline is my daughter and Albertus is my son. I have done away with the term "in-laws" so that I do not "out-laws." We are all in a family. It is family. Well, sounds a bit like the Italian "Mafia," eh? It is good to climb a hill with your son, you get protection every inch you go. Going up, he was behind you, just in case you fall down. Going down, he was in front, just in case you fall down.
This shot is not well taken. But it is part of the vegetation.

This is a good friend and a member of the HHH who led us that day. He has a mighty good stamina. No puffing and panting. He easily slid up and down.
This is your sincerely, changing gear and stressing his gear box to climb up. His heart banged hard against his rib cage. His asthmatic lungs wheezed like a whistle. But it was a good challenge, sort of like the golfers' handcaps. A doctor friend says that if you can make the climb successfully, then your heart is ok, better than doing the stress mill. I made my way up and down, at my own time, of course. The t-shirt, track suits, stockings and also .......... underwear were soaking wet with sweat. You get a sense of achievement. You made it. Well, I am going again next week. This time to the hill in Jitra, Bukit Malau.

Viva life. Get out of your couch. Sweat it out. Too much rest is rust.

They say that once bitten, twice shy, and twice bitten never to try. As for yours sincerely's case in deep sea fishing, it is once bitten never, never to try. Yours sincerely's brother-in-law from UK expressed his desire to try fishing in Malaysia and the Good Lord favoured his wish since I have a friend dealing in fishing equipment and also arranges for fishing trip.


The trip started at the ungodly hours before dawn when dreams are being formed and the drive to the seafront at Yen took about half an hour. On the way, we stocked ourselves with instant noodles, "nasi lemak" and lots of ice for the anticipated good catch. The rickety jetty was already full with very keen multi-racial anglers who came from far and wide , and yours sincerely joined the gang talking like a veteran angler. (It was my very first trip) The local fishermen were gleefully happy to take us out since a boat cost RM450.00 nett whether you land any fish or not. So, minus the cost of subsidized fuel, they can still make about RM 400.00 for 10 to 12 hours trip. So, make your work your hobby. Not bad, eh?

Taking the ferry to Langkawi is already very torturous for me, let alone spending hours on a small rocking semi-exposed wooden fishing boat. So, with the good advice of the leader, we popped in manufactured in China anti-motion sickness pill and pasted a Japanese plaster right above our navels. (To cut down motion sickness.)

Then it was hell broke loose. The fishing boat rocked like the pirate ship at the fun fairs. You cannot even stand still but have to move with the movement of the boat. The horizon of the land you left seemed to move up and down continually. The "tuttt...tutt...tutt..." of the boat whirled you head.

Stomachs are turned and churned upside down. Your heart feels as if it has dropped into your stomach. Your intestines, both large and small, seem to interwine and knot up tightly. The "nasi lemak" and "Teh tarik" breakfast gush up your gullet and force their way our of your mouth with loud and embarassing "ueek....weeak....... ." All around you, your fishing pals are very caring and concerned: " Are you ok?....... Don't worry you will be fine? ....... One more pill?....... Don't stand, sit....... " Their symphatetic advice make matters worse as you feel that you have frightened the fish away and spoilt their day. Deep inside you, you question yourself : "Why should I come????"

After noon time, at about 1.00 pm, the motion starts to slow down and finally comes to a near halt. The boat just rocks gently and you can start to enjoy the sea breeze and scenery. It is also time to for the boatman to spy out the open sea for shoals of fish. Their silvery reflection gives them away. The boat is then strategically moved to ensure that the shoal passes underneath the boat. We were in luck, a shoal of "Tenggiri" came our way. They are usually accompanied by the smaller " Ikan Merah" and also one or two trespasser "Pak Wan." They are small "Jaws" or sharks which are opportunistic feeders, snacking at some of the "Ikan Merah."

At this point, the sound "creaaak......creaak........ creeeeeeeeek.........." is the sweet music of your tackle. You can see the fishing rod bends lower and lower. Your line is engaged. You have a call. Your fish is at the other end. You release more and more line, then you reel in bit by bit. Release. Reel in. Release. reel in. This is the euphoria of fishing. Many an impatient angler loses a big one at this juncture. ( Btw the one that got away is always bigger than the actual one that got away.)

Yours sincerely reeled in one to the side of the boat, the scoop net was too small to contain the catch. The "Tenggiri" splashed and thrashed vigirously for freedom. I would have let it go if the line snapped, appreciating its strong fighting spirit. Then the grotesque thing happened. The boat man clubbed the fish on the head. This is hitting below the belt. It was instantly quietened no doubt but then the sight of fresh blood oozing from its eyes turned my stomach. It was an unfair match. I wanted to land it with my bare hands and not with a club.

We landed five "Tenggiris." It had been a successful day. Yours sincerely took home the one he landed. At home, the better half and him did a surgery on the catch with the biggest chopper (still too small) we have and hammer. The pieces were given to friends and neighbours. We kept two pieces for ourselves. They were in the fridge for a few days. We had no heart to eat them after the gory dissection. All the more the graphic thoughts of the "blood from its eyes" kept flashing in my mind. The two pieces were also given away to a friend. In thanksgiving. a piece came back to us again in the form of fish curry. It was delicious !

I have cancelled out fishing in my Bucket List of the "10 Things I want to do before I leave planet earth." Anyway, it was a good experience. I have greater respect for fishermen. They really earn their keep to keep our dining tables with fish. If you buy direct from them at Kuala kedah, don't bargain too much. Respect their profession. It is a dog's life ! T.U.R. - Tough. uncertain and risky.

Live your life to the hilt. Carpe diem. Life is too short for not tring this or that. One regret yours sincerely always has is not trying "bungy jumping" in New Zealand. To do it now is, of course, suicide! When you are young, seize the day and make the most out of it. You are young only once.