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.

The Rat scurried away n the Cow mooed in.

So, the Rat had scurried away helter- skelter, leaving behind lots of damages, uncertainties, apprehensions and doubts for the Cow, or the Ox or the bull to work on, something like the poor, new U S President Obama.
Many prophets of doom can quote all the crises that the Bull Year had ushered in down the centuries. And there are more "hindsight" (The hindsight is always 20/20 !) soothsayers who fore see nothing but gloom, glum and glen. My self-professed fungshui friend recommends that a bull-nose-ring be placed above your main door so that you can lead the bull by the nose and be in control of your destiny. He vendors a gold-plated one at about 1 k depending on the type of door your house has, or rather the size of your pockets. Well, this is your first gloom when you have to part with 1 k to ward away the glum.

Aiyaa! Lots of talk about the impending dark clouds. I find that those who lament and sigh the most are the biggest hypocrites. These are the ones with fat bank accounts and properties here and there, and who can stand a double or triple financial crises. They slog, sweat and save not for themselves only but for their children and grand children. They themselves live a pathetic existence which beggars you to understand. These are also the ones who will be in front of the queue hours before the banks open for business when the government launches any " amanah saham." And they can be very stingy and "kira" (calculating) in the most menial matters. Have you own mind. Read the signs of the times. Pray for wisdom.

Don't expect a bull not to attack you just because you are a vegetarian. But, take the bull by the horns and watch out for bullshits. Don't step on them! And put your trust in the Almighty. In Him all our abundance and needs rest. There is still gleam, glow and glit in life if one walks the right path. Steer away from the path of unquenchable greed, vicious jealousy, gallish bitterness and hellish unforgiveness.

May the Lunar Bull Year bring us gleam, glow and glit .

Yours sincerely made a "balik kampong" journey to his younger brother's house to celebrate the CNY. It was more a journey down memory lane as the matriarch of the family had passed over. So, he lovingly took it on his family to host the dinner and accommodate us. The younger brother's wife, a commendable woman, tried her best to recreate the atmosphere of the good old days.

So, this is a signature dish of the Chua's CNY which she had labouriously acquired from Mother through all the years of helping her to prepare it. It is in Hokkien "Hong Bak." A sort of sweet and fragrant chicken and pork cooked together with lot of spieces ( Don't know what to call. Out of my range of vocabulary.) She did it perfectly well like Mother's. This is one of a few dishes which like wine, the longer you keep, the better it tastes, especially when the sauce has seeped into the strains of meat. O... la... la !!!

This is another sinfully "santan" rich curry which goes hand in glove with "nasi dagang" and with a dash of "sambal," you will beg for a second helping.

Of course, when in Kelantan, eat like the Kelantanese. The Malay culinary influence has somehow permeated into our cuisines. This is "ayam percik" or b-b-q chicken spread with another sinfully "santan" rich sauce. It is whittish, not the reddish spicy type. The charcoal burnt aroma on the chicken is another o..la...la..... ( Many people idolise KFC which I cannot understand when we have our very own local delicacy.)

BTW, you should try the new Kulim-Butterworth-Kupang Highway to Kota Bahru . I took it from Kupang, near Baling and cut out at Kuala Rui.(You can go to Gerik from here, too.) It is a smooth drive compared to the "N-S Highbusyway". You will be treated to picturesque mountain scenery but not so virgin jungles because they are being logged. (Sad) . This what we call "Twin Peak." They remind me of some UFO encounters films of the 1970s where the alien space crafts used to hover over.

When you see the grand nieces and nephews growing up so fast, you cannot help feeling old. Well, the better half and I are still waiting patiently for our "Datukships" to feel even older.

Of course, the drinks were free flow. All the siblings are decent people. The closest we came to was only Shandy, 1% alcohol. LOL

The tit-bits and goodies were scrumptious since they were not from the supermarket's shelves which were commercially produced and where you could play ping pong with the cookies. These were meticulously bought by Bor Been, my sister (in-law) (I don't like this "in-law" or law-law phrases. They make me recall unscrupulous lawyers !!!) from her friend who home made them. They were exceptionally tasty. So, we spent a good time munching on them.

This was the CNY eve dinner. Two steam boats; Tomyam and Herbal flavoured., all with natural fresh and tasty ingredients. It was full steam ahead to the last morsel. Another o...la...la....
Then, our favourite for steam boat; stuffed chillies. Natural ingredients make sumptuous steam boat. The commercialised ones use lots of precooked ingredients which are bought in frozen packages at the cold storage. So, the commercialised ones taste synonymously flat.

It was a fulfilling and bonding CNG.

Let's brave the days ahead.

Cultivate some hobbies and life is a zest and jest

If you married a practical person, then your life is PRACTICAL all along. This is a practical present yours sincerely was given by his better half on his retirement. It is a China made electric grass trimmer which I had expected to last two or perhaps three usages, that if you were lucky. Jolly good, it is still working. The secret is to wipe it clean after using and to spray its moving parts with a dash of every handyman's magic fluid : "WD 40."

Anyway, the cutter came at right time when our regular gardener demanded a hefty hike overnight all because of "harga minyak naik!!!" No "kam cheng." (relationship) I have always championed the underdog and would have given him a raise appropriately without demand. And when almost 30% of the garden was cemented we did not reduce his payment. The better half had always ensured that he had his icy drink and "goreng pisang," "cakes'" etc. with each service. So, to cut a long story short, yours sincerely takes up a new hobby. It is fulfilling, when your garden looks like this after a few hours of labour of love. You feel good when you come home after a long drive to see the neatness. HOME SWEET HOME.

Not bad, eh! At least, better than a few of the neighbours' as I always believe that the small plot of land around your house reflects its occupants.
See, what a good job has been done? The lawn is almost manicured, or rather crew cut. If you do it in the morning, the grassy aroma is refreshing. I enjoy the smell. Then once in a while you have to put up with a nosey but well-intentioned friend who walks by or jogs by or drives by. He stops and says: " Ai ya... doing everything by yourself ! Let's others make a living also lar........ Get a gardener." It is hard , you know, to live this life.

Yours sincerely has never wasted a minute of his life since April, 20th 2008. The day he was retired because he had reached 56 and should be retired when he still had pimples. If you read, then there is so much to richly fill your time with. How can educated people say that they are bored? Yours sincerely has been buying a book with each pay day since he got his first pay years ago.
And of late, the Israel-Gaza Issue boggles my mind. Pissed off by all the cheap, idiotic and senseless propagandas on TV3, TV I, 2 and what-nots, yours sincerely took on these two publications to go deeply and fairly into the issue.
There are many books waiting, not only to be read, but studied and discussed. How I wish this city of Alor Star has a Reading Club where people can gather to review, discuss and share the latest publications. Fat hope! When my colleagues saw me reading in school, the comment was : " Baca apa lagi sudah jadi cikgu!" In all my life as a teacher, there is only one teacher by the name of Mr Looi Tuck, an ardent reader himself, who on and off, discussed and shared with me the latest publications. How I miss such colleague who made time for you. Others are too selfishly busy until they could not spare you a wee bit of time for a farewell dinner after 30 over years of working together! Pathetic world.

There was another teacher who asked me for the cost of a publication I was holding, a paperback entitled "Sons of the Yellow Emperor." She nealy fainted when she heard it was RM58.00. "Waaaaaaa, so expensive one...!!!" Well, always tell yourself that you are not merely buying papers and ink but years and years of thoughts and thinking and composing and editing. It is a labour of LOVE, writing books. Then, the teachers asked, "Can you lend me after reading?"

Well, I cannot thank the PIBG enough when I was given a RM300 book vouchers for my forced retirement.

" The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but
newspapers." - Thomas Jefferson.

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"
- Mark Twain

Temple of the Holy Spirit

Yours sincerely as been faithfully taking his blood pressure every day since the day the meter was bought. The readings have been faithfully recorded; the Systolic, the Diastolic and the pulse rate. The readings have been maintained at the average of 130 mmHg / 70 mmHg all these years. They have been labouriously maintained with lots of swimming, cycling and brisk walking, occasional tennis and a tiny bit of golf (Driving range only. No time to walk all over the green and hit a small ball into a small hole!) and above all, a diet free of salt (Besides those I have no control over).

Of late, a friend convinced me that "control or no control, the difference is only two hours" and that how careful you are you cannot get out of life alive!
I still take my blood pressure religiously and also occasionally check my blood sugar. I don't intend to live up to a 100 for life is only 3 scores and 10 (so says the Holy Book) and the rest is bonus. BBut I want to keep the "temple of the Holy Spirit" in the best form and shape as much as I can for I believe that a perfect one is given to each and everyone of us. Whatever sizes and shapes, apple or pear. Take good care of it. There are no spare parts. And only a few parts are recycleable. Anyway, the queue is too long, and you may expire while waiting for one or you may not get a compatible anyway.
This, for goodness sake, is not my waist but an example of an oversized one. Guiding point : If you cannot see your feet properly, then it is too big. Mine? Oh! I maintain it at 36 inches so that I can still dance the "Fox trot" with the better half and not get obstructed by the mid-riff. The height is stilll 1.8 metres and weight is 85Kg. Cigarrettes ? I always told my pupils in school, they are "Satans' fart." (imagine inhaling it, eeeee ) Keep your breath original. Keep it yours. So, that the kiss you give to your beloved is yours, solely yours and not "Camel"s," "Dung hill's " oops...."DunHill" or "Peter Something's ?" Once you have given in to "Camel" or DunHill", it is irreversible. YOU CAN NEVER GIVE HER YOUR KISS.

And as for Liquor? They are "Satan's urine." in bottles or cans.

Life is great when health is good. Maintain it as much as you can till the day you are called home. I wonder whether we present our body in the spirit, soul or physically. Anyway, in whatever form, present a prefect one before Him. Preachy, eh?

Carpe deim...live on. Life is for the living.

I started dating again !!!

Who can afford to date again at 56? Who can afford to date on mid-morning, Monday, the 12 of January, 09 and to watch a movie at 1.20 pm ? Only retirees cannnnn ! (Remind me of one air-conditioner advertisement over radio those days: " Only Carrier man cannnnnnnnnnnnn."

As usual, she took sometime to make up and forced herself into her faded, tight blue jeans and gaudy t-shirt. He, as usual also, in his bright, flowery shirt (the only one he has to relax) and baggy pants, and off they went to a brand new cineplex at Pacific Mall, Tandop. We had laksa "very lemak" and shared a bowl of ice-"kacang" ( Not for romantism but, fancy at our age we just cannot finish the whole bowl.) Then, we went for a show, entitled " Quarantine" at Big Cinemas Alor Star.

For the second time in my life, I flashed my Retirement Card (The first time was at the General Hospital.) The magic card entitled you to be called "Uncle" (Luckily not "Ah Pek," a title I cannot accept yet, except from my grand nephews and nieces, so many of them, who have conferred on me the title " G Pek Kong" (Second Grand Uncle) !!! So, much for Chinaman protocol. )

The magic card also entitled us to buy Senior / Golden (Whatever it is. I don't like the title.) Citizen Ticket, RM 6.00 with a discount. The better half insisted on popcorns to complete the ritual. That was RM4.20 for a regular . There is no senior citizen rate for pop-corns. As for drinks we smuggled in our own, plain water.

Walauuuuuuuuu, the cineplex looks, smells and feels brand new. The air-conditioning was Tundra cold and you could smell the freshness of its hoses and pipes. Above all, WE WERE THE ONLY TWO PATRONS ! We had the whole cineplex to ourselves. All for RM12.00 and RM 4.20 popcorns. This is the city of Alor Star.

Did we kiss like our first date thooose days? I know you want to ask. Right? No, but only held hands BECAUSE WE WERE TOO COLD. LOL