More Antiques, Moving Stuff

After a meeting with a bunch of friends in Devi's corner, I took an early off to go back to Ipoh to help do more of moving the stuff out of the house before we handed it over to the new owner. I only got back there 5 a.m in the morning, something which my mother told me to sleep early last night. This round, there's still plenty of stuff to move in and out, notably some items from my room, my own stack of clothes, and a few other things as well as throwing the thrash - many bags to a dump in Canning.

But the most interesting part is of course of while digging around the stuff, I noticed some interesting classical items, items that are over 30 years and above. For instance, there is a sewing machine in the middle room which is about 42 years old. None of my relatives are interested so I decided to keep it away rather than throwing it off due to its sentimental value.

There are tons of photos which my grandparents kept in which I saved it to be either given back to relatives or converting one corner of the new house as a photo gallery.


The best part is - this set of tools - used to make Kueh Kapit. I remembered granny did it once when I was little boy. But the last thing she made six months before she died was the chang - dumplings - done because my brother wanted to eat.

The date of moving in was tentative (10th) subject to various circumstances like ownership payment dues, so we could have extra time to make sure things are cleared off.



Sigh..there's the last time of sleeping there.

Kevin's Birthday

Yesterday is officially Kevin's birthday but since Monday was a public holiday, I called him out for some lunch at KLCC.

Well, he just turned 18 and told me that he reached Level 80 in playing WOW. I was shell-shocked when he said that he took one day to reached the level whereas when we had a holiday one week ago, he was at level 78.

He was in town on Saturday but did not call me because he thought I was too busy. Well I was indeed too busy in office, spending Saturday from 11.30 to 8.30 there to finish something important.

I took one photo but in black and white because dad thinks there's some IT in shooting B&W.

Must have been from watching Schindler's List black and white footage.

"My Ass Is On The Line"!

That's what my manager admittedly said to one of my seniors today. I was still in nervous mood, because I was constantly reminded that if the reviews of tomorrow is negative, that's the end of everything, the sack and the project goes down the drain. Even the manager is not sparred from this as well. I was trying to get over this episode and hope that things would go well in the coming week, whereby the product is released, get good reviews and then keep working more towards the end. So far, only one main module is completed and out of the 21 people today, all except one to three were roped in to finish the most difficult module ever in the software.

I started to think as what my bud said as 'over-committing' - committing from the very beginning, very sure of the product delivered in time. I felt that it's like overkill because either the buffer time is insufficient or those guys on top keep pushing or so. Perhaps the new term 'when it's done will have to come though'. Throughout the whole day I was very nervous that I took a lot of water, going to the toilet for the leak.

In the evening it was raining heavily but not at this time of writing. I saw two possible outcomes, either if God or Heaven is in sympathy over our troubles or it's not going to end well tomorrow. I rather being proved wrong tomorrow but I see the signs show that it's the bad and the latter. Around 8.30, just before I left, everyone was asked of remaining leave (medical and annual) and number of days worked for this month of November excluding tomorrow. APAC HQ was asking for it, not Bombay (since it's closed due to the terrorist attack) and I was suspecting of leave freeze, leave deduction or maybe worse.

I overheard my manager berating me through a conversation with Ponvel that I felt very offended. He thought that I should be given a try in one segment instead of sticking my time in one segment. He did remark at one point, "Where's the fun?" I only went to another segment briefly before going back here. I was a scared. Vasem was never constantly in that angry mood but in the recent days given that he has more pressure and possibly faces the worst wrath ever, he may have to do this at screaming at the workers like myself.

I asked my local guy Hock Kee at lunch whether if whether he's ready to be fired. He said no problem. Go back up north for his holiday, sort of. When I started work today, I felt time was very slow today and since yesterday, measurement report was like having a bad feeling Vasem is going to berate me anytime for missing out things. It was a little unfair for an accidental mistake or maybe because the assignment is quite complex.

A big shot from APAC HQ came over for three days there. From Wednesday, adminstrative staff started going around and asking people why on being either a few minutes late or not wearing a tie. Imagine if the July 14 episode (where roads were blocked up by the police) happens again..then what? Yunus came a minute late and was asked for an explaination.

Somehow I observed that the work could have finished faster and earlier if BK, orByresh could have stayed longer here instead of going back to India. Maybe that could save a lot of time and covered Alfred and Arunbabu's ass. But the poor girl from India was around here less than three months but left abruptly because of allegedly she complained about sexual harrassment by Yunus or Ayyappa.

So it's D-Day tomorrow. God help us all.

A Letter For Grandma

Dear Grandma,

It's already been two years.

I remembered last week when I was invited for dinner at the Wharf with some colorful guests. It was fish affair - steam fish, roast lamb, vegetables, curry fish and etc.. I thought for one moment I was at home, but the reality is that you were out there to remind me of the home cook food that I have not eaten for two years already.

I remembered the steam fish -it was like back home, where there's steam fish for dinner. I yearned to go back home for more than three weeks but the burden of work on the entire department forced me to postpone the trip to home three times.

Atmosphere in the department and office is pretty grim and sombre in the last few days. I was in a real nervous mood. The department had to work past normal hours, that's fine, but the grim warning is circling around: we had three policy components to deliver in good condition by end of grace period or the whole department gets fired. That even means me, my buddies and even my manager Vasem. I came back from toilet when he scolded my senior. I was freaked out. I had some chest pains probably because of overexerting myself. I was kicking myself hard, frantically trying to finish everything in time, but I look at it is unfair for everyone.

For a few times today I beg to either God or find a guy after work hours to help me through. But I wasn't happy or satisfied really. I don't what will happen in the next week or month or so. Losing a job at this point of time isn't right for all of us. We all felt the heat. I wasted a few hours over one problem whereas I wanted to use it to do something else that I am comfortable to handle with.

I could only turn to Ma for words in the last two days. I wanted to talk to someone close to me physically, not by phone, not by mail. And there was some feeling of anguish inside me for sometime. Apart from cousins or colleagues or friends, there's no one to turn to physically.

In one movie I watched, the protagonist said, "God does not speak to me, even on top where Christ was crucified." I was unsure whether I was put to this mess for my mistakes or there are things I do not want by was forced to do so. Look, I don't want to end as a recession casualty..the company has to reduce headcount because of the recession thing. On second thought I thought the Big Man was trying to tell me keep stocking my money. Forget about buying a desktop computer that I've waited for so long.

How I wish if God or you could speak to me and help me out. And yes, I am not speaking to you physically but instead I am speaking to a headstone in a temple where you are r.i.p. You were gone for two years already - things could be different if that is not the case.

It's pretty restless now. I only wish that tomorrow would be really better than today.

Food Cravings Back In Ipoh

After a month or so, I went back to Ipoh this week for my weekend getaway. At a steady 110-120 at the highway going back at a wrong time, that is after midnight; reached home at 2.30 a.m. An ungodly hour, well since because I had some things to finish in KL before going back.

I just really missed the food there. It costs 10-20 percent less but the same quantity you get in K.L. Kampar fish ball noodles at my favorite shop, my favorite kuey tiau noodles and spring rolls at Old Town Ipoh, etc..A bowl of wanton noodles, medium size is at $3.80 plus double amount of small meat dumplings. In K.L it's within $4.50 to $5.00 but less dumplings!


But since today's the Dumpling Day (rice wrapped in banana leaf for Chinese people) I had the chance to have one, but sadly I will never get to enjoy grandma's dumplings, since she was no longer here, gone. The last time she made those, I think it was back in '05, when I just started working in K.L.


And then there's the Kampung Simee egg tarts and ("baked siew pau") that costs just $1 a piece, and it's something that I wanted to get each time I'm back in Ipoh. I had to rush to the Simee wet market in the mornings no later than 10 a.m, since the vast supply comes from early morning. I heard Lim Kit Siang was there weeks before election meeting the consituents there, and I saw the stall selling those stuff....yum!

Schoolmates Reunion

Being in St. Michaels for the last time in 2002, this was our first reunion in six years.

We actually met a few rounds, one before New Year at a coffee shop of our school friend Kevin. Then on 2nd day of New Year, we went to play DOTA and then to another friend's house to play cards.

This was on Saturday itself. 15 of us gathered at Movenpeak for some steamboat. It is actually good to have more, but some of other people invited stayed away because either they had something else, they could have church service or they refused to join us. Either way, we get to meet each other for more than six years, especially for those whom we did not see for some time.

A Bleak Start To A New Year

I went back to Ipoh last Tuesday to celebrate Chinese New Year of course. But the atmosphere of celebration was kind of sombre and bleak.

My granny's passing at the end of '06 got the ball start rolling. As the mark of respect, there was no New Year celebration for the paternal side of the family for one whole year, with exception for my maternal family. This year was slightly better; everyone was there but I was expecting things better like it happened 15 years ago. Most of my relatives literally stayed at 'Lien 30 Man' and left in the afternoon of the first day. I wondered why? According to them, it's just observing the customaries before leaving back to K.L - since most of them there.

It is likely that those born in the year of the rat will require to do the 'tai sui' thing since it is meant to protect those like me from potential misfortunes and facing hardships at the later half of the year.

My brother is likely to leave Ipoh on the 16th. Of course there will be a lot of packing but there was something I did not like how it turns now. It seems that given the fact that there is no one to take care of my grandfather apart from having getting a maid under dad's supervision, the house in Ipoh is likely to be sold off at least after Easter. Up keeping will be quite hard, and it will cumbersome for my 85-year old man to be on his own.

As for me, I'm still struggling to get a job with a target by end of this month. I had no less than 6 applications turned down by companies including the major company Accenture. I really wanted to scold the HR department for 'making a fatal mistake of overlooking me', I was cursing my luck.

Of course, I put those sorrows away in form of either going out or playing video games while at home. I had nothing really apart from scheduling my interviews, with three slated to come out this weekend.

I just didn't like how it turns out now.

Cameo By Yours Truly

While rummaging through various photos and images from the scenes from the Internet of yesterday's protest at KLCC, I happened to see a picture of myself. The picture was meant to be taken by the writer to indicate the RELA man behind me. Unintentionally, I was appearing right in the middle of the frame. You can see the RELA personnel on the left.

Deja Vu Again

This is the second time in the space of one week that deja vu I had sometime ago happened this morning.

I decided to change my tooth brush to replace the worn one. The new toothbrush is greenish in color and after finished brushing my teeth, I noticed the brush in the exact position I saw in dreams sometime ago.

Sometimes, things you see in dreams can be a reality. Am I a Foreteller?

One of Anwar's Lawyers

Source: The Star (20 January 2008)

My house is located behind the Muslim cemetery in Jalan Titiwangsa. At around 12.30 p.m, when I was about to go out to collect my laundry in Setapak, I saw a big crowd on the small lane between the main road and Jalan Titiwangsa. I don't have to peek in there to see. The compound of my house is a bus depot and there was a stool there. I just stand on the chair and saw a big crowd at the burial grounds.

I guess it must be them or related to the above, but I didn't ask.

It's Time To Go...

Well...back to square one.

After close to two years on the current job, I'll be going back to the job market. Yesterday was my last day at the current company.

I've been on the current job on a contract basis since starting in March 2006. Being on the contract basis means that I'm entitled to most benefits that a permanent employee do except for a few little things or two. So last Monday, I had a contract review with my employers. We talked about many things over the last year. I had an extension last year. After going through the details, I wasn't happy over a few aspects. In my view, it's the potential medium-term prospects, my frustration, the department level atmosphere and most important of all, my relationship with my immediate manager. But on the management side, it's that they are kind of not so happy over my methods of solving problems. So both parties with mutual agreement decided not to extend my contract or convert my position into a permanent one.

According to the contract, I will officially leave the organization on 1st of March. But on that day of discussion, when both sides decided on the decision, I appreciated that they helped me on getting things ready when I leave the company. First of all, I only one small task left on my weekly report, which means that they would let me leave earlier, either today or yesterday to help me complete my handover of duties to whoever takes over me. So yesterday, I had to backup all my personal documents and take some stuff back - but no network connection as security measure. Secondly, I would be paid in full for this month itself an a specified amount for February.

I am somewhat grateful being given to honor to work for that kind of organization. They took care of things quite well and I received bonuses for 06 and 07. The staff were quite good, especially the support department who loved me so much. I was quite sorry to leave. My departure yesterday was low key. I just took all my documents from the drawer and left with soft-documents. Whenever I saw a colleague, I just didn't say that I was leaving. Only two people knew that I was leaving: my manager and my finance manager, William.

The timing of the departure would give me plenty of time to look for a new post. Interestingly, after I decided to leave, I applied for some jobs online and I had 5 interviews lined up next week.

I knew that will come sometime soon. Dad wanted me to move to a better industry, particularly a international level or a banking industry. I looked at the monthly pay and felt that given of things that could happen in the next few months or so, I would need more than the current amount.

So what would I do now? Well, it's time for a break. A well deserved-break. I've got a few things in mind:

1. Try to start back my put-on-hold internet marketing.
2. Improve my soft-skills and those Java-skills. Starting to realize to expand that skill set.
3. Go for job interviews.

I'm bit tight this week while waiting for my pay next week. But I get all the time in the world to enjoy on my own. I only told my mum about it. She had me get ready if things didn't go out well.

Know what I did today? I went to cover the Lingamtape inquiry live.

They Could Have Approve It

Saturday afternoon:

I went for a Citizen Think Tank session that discussed about the problem with having public assemblies. The problem right now is you need a *POLICE* permit for a gathering of more than 5 people. Even if you are to hold press conferences, *weddings*. Can you imagine how ridiculous it is to have one for weddings or if you are to perform school plays? Whoever came out with this Police Act Section 27 1967 is either a person who doesn't trust everything or has a low foresight or intelligence of the society.

It was stressed by the people there that the Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 is contradicting with Article 10 of Federal Constitution. So far a guideline to a peaceful demonstration was not outlined at all. And it is a high probability that an assembly of political nature or something that is deemed to voice their frustrations against the government will be rejected in a blink of an eye.

And that's where it contradicts with what a person is entitled to according to the primary articles of the Constitution.

The motive behind an assembly of such nature is basically as "a last resort thing" and you can sum up with the rest. The are flaws right now in having one that includes:

• 1. Unclear definition of rallies, demo and assembly.
• 2. What are the protocols, requirements, and handling procedures as well as assistance in handling those assemblies?
• 3. How is law enforced on those matters? Civil way or the brutal way?
  

The Vigil

I was driving along Jalan Tun Perak, going for my favorite beef noodles. The road at Jalan Raja was closed off because of the vigil gathering for the Hindraf 5 ISA. There are trucks and police cars barricading the road on Merdeka Square I was following the updates on papers as to get some analysis out of it.

At 9.35 p.m. another two trucks arrived. Those FRU ones. I thought they would be facing the side of the DBKL, but instead the faced the site of Market Street or perhaps the road along the Bar Council office there. I think I came too late. Various accounts said that they dispersed at 8.35 p.m with the arrival of water trucks and tear gas. I indeed saw a FRU guy with a gas grenade strapped to his bandoleer walking along Market Street. Somehow, I think it's sensible for the police to give them 20 minutes before dispersing. But it was anti-climatic.

I thought that problem would be solved if the police simply approves it and as to help things running smoothly, they should at least send say 100 of their officers to help it out. After all, it's only at one location. And it's just only 200 people gathering for less than one hour or so. Also, they are just carrying candles, not weapons. It's just like bloggers gather out there when Nat Tan was held under the OSA. Why make the fuss out of it? When they rejected the permit, the excuses that they listed there was kind of unconvincing. The Star's report on the permit reject contrasts differently from Malaysiakini. Based on the comparison of notes, The Star intends to make people believe that GMI didn't file appeals or permit. Malaysiakini's one is different: after an appeal has been submitted, the appeal was deliberately ignored by the police.

Looking at 'Pak Zul' (Asst Comm Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, the man responsible for the permit matter) I can sum three possibilities:

1. Either he can't think that long term and instead rejects request by request for permit.
2. He was itching for action and doing one act like sending FRUs is kind on the way for promotion or
3. He had some conscience on this matter but feared of reprimand and job if he goes against the order that is kind of incorrect from superiors above.

I remembered that Pak Zul was responsible for refusing the BERSIH permit. And there are watchdogs and observers who did warn of the government facing the possibility of high-amount lawsuits and possibly be prepared to fork out damages. And now it just started - Uthayakumar has filed a $100 million lawsuit and Musa Hassan was directly responsible for the accusation that sets off everything. Now that's something that is born out of ignorance!

Visiting St. Michael's

Last Friday I went back to St. Michael's on the pretext of enquiring about my brother's leave certificate. I was told that it was only to be issued when the SPM results are out in February.

Someone next door there saw me and asked me whether if I am Melvin Mah or not. Then I realized that the man I was talking to was Peter Khiew, an afternoon session teacher who is in charge of the school blog here. Couldn't remember the face, but somehow the name was familiar. He started teaching here since 1999, but never in class.


So that started a long chat and he showed me around for a few changes in school. As you can see, there has been a staircase added that allows faster access to the office. The old 4 Science 3 classroom has been replaced with a brand new meeting room. I also managed to get an explanation of him over why the new bathroom was never used at all despite having the thing built. Told me about the water piping that was inadequate and not ready for the thing. They could have done it faster by having everyone told as soon as possible.

The primary school block has been completely demolished and something is up on the way.

We managed to get on friendly terms and I didn't know that Peter started to say that I was there and some other die-hard younger Michaelians making comments on his blog. I wasn't interested in their remarks. Told my piece about some teachers here and asking them to handle that thing.

A lot of top figures come from missionary schools and I felt that the two MPs making remarks over removal of religious imagery shows the lack of respect for other races. Sack'em!

Tis' The Spirit of Christmas

In layman, we say Happy Birthday Jesus!

I got invited by my aunt for Christmas dinner. Boy, this was the first time since 98 where I had dinner with the same group of people and relatives. Except this time, there's no turkey, since the price of the halal ones shot up tremendously than those non-halal. (some of them were held by Customs in ports).

I thought I could not make it there since there was a bad jam on the highway (the first half of the journey) I got delayed by about 15 minutes or so due to the traffic there. I supposed it's either the rain or police roadblock that causes that, but it was due to the former.

It was easy for me to find my aunt's house as I was given the address a week before. Everybody was there. There are Christmas presents lying at one corner of the house.

I remembered that while my aunt was in Ipoh visiting my grandfather, she took one alley cat home and raised that bloke. That bloke is called Patches and he has grown up. Now he weighs a ton!


There's the great sense of camaraderie among the family before dinner kicked off at 8 pm.


Look at that dinner. Rice salad, fruit juices, wine, roast lambs, roast chicken, fruit salad....can't finish it all!


The desert...dark chocolate log cake bought at Coffee Bean.


While we're resting. I just tested shooting it at the compressed size and in sepia tones.


Time for presents. That's what I got. T-shirt, Adidas toiletries, CDs, socks and shirts.

There's chit chat...with all the jokes....!

That's what Christmas is all about. I just loved it. They said that they wanted to have my brother being part of the show next year. They know that he's studying in Cyberjaya coming February...

The Best Damn White Coffee!

White coffee is much different from the conventional coffee that we drink. The method of blending the beans is slightly much different from the way you get the coffee from Java beans or whatever beans you can say.

Another thing of white coffee is that to achieve the smooth taste, two types of milk, (all halved) from the conventional measurement is used. Both condensed and evaporated milk is used to mix the coffee. For evaporated, I would recommend the use of Ideal evaporated milk.

Some of you particularly tourists from elsewhere do not where to find white coffee.

There are two shops that you can look in Ipoh. They are at the Old section of Town. Look for this road called Leech Street (Jalan Bijih Timah). Make sure you look for the one that has Kwong Fatt Textile Shop along the road.

Go to the end and there are two shops selling those.


The best one is at the shop called Sun Yuan Foong. There is a canopy that says, "The Best White Coffee in Town." The other one is called Nam Heong. About 10 years ago, the shop was at the other end near Market Street before it moved to the other end of Leech Street.

If you buy your Old Town coffee packs there, you get it a lower price because it does not involve transportation costs, that is included when you buy those from supermarkets.

How proud to be from Ipoh....!

Punctured Tyre Blues

When I went to work this morning, I noticed that my front left tyre got flat. I thought there must be something wrong, so I had to spend 10 minutes going to the nearest petrol station near my house in slow speed to inflate the tyre back.

After work, I went to the parking lot and noticed that the same tyre got flat. I realized that the tyre is already in a bad shape and decided to replace the tyre. Took me about 90 minutes to change that tyre. I had to do the replacement by myself. Disassembling, assembling and at the same time sweating like a pig.

That thing scuppered my plan. I wanted to treat myself to watching a movie as it's going to the weekend. Since it took me close to 90 minutes to do so, I decided to go back home and make my own dinner. I watched a local TV show and coincidentally, the lead female antagonist had her back right tyre gone flat but by deliberate sabotage!

I guess it's high time for me to change my tyres. Not because it's in bad quality, but the soles aren't good enough for me to drive on the road well. Close to three years already and it's like getting ready to be replaced...

AdilSembang With Nat

Just came back from a personal invitation of Adil Sembang, a mamak stall talk organized by Nathaniel Tan (interestingly, it's his birthday today, so free drinks anyhow.)

It's worth a discussion of many things including a word of mouth that Kerisman received another SMS saying that he and Khairy is planning to start ruckus at Kampung Baru.


It's cupcakes and two mugs of tea for me. For Free.

I also get to meet his girl, Polytikus and Nik Nazmi, Anwar's personal assistant. Told me a few things about Facebook, something which I should be thinking about, now that my friends are inviting me to join the site....

It took me a while to figure out where Maju Curry House was but it was just at a small lane alongside A&W and Shah's Village Hotel. I arrived there one hour early, so I spent time to walk around the area, or in Thief's term, casing the joint....

Back From Singapore

Whew....what a trip!


I left Singapore from Beach Street at around 10.30 p.m with a bus reaching Kuala Lumpur at around 3.15 a.m. But I didn't feel anything throughout the ride except for stopping by Immigration checkpoints at Tuas (Second Link) and at a rest house before Yong Peng.

Something woke me up at around and I was back at Sungai Besi heading towards the bus stop in Pudu. Back there, numerous taxi drivers are there, waiting to greet passengers coming from the south. But I refused to take a cab because of one reason: they don't use meters round the clock. I must say that those cab guys in Singapore are showing more professionalism than those guys around here.


So I had to take a short nap at a nearby McDonald's shop while waiting for the LRT station to open its terminals at 6 a.m. Boy, I had to waste about 3 hours before being allowed to go back. I am not prepared to pay extra money for a taxi man who is inclined to pick people but wanted extra in the process.


I think I am the first guy on board of a train in the morning....

From the station, I took a long 15 minute walk all the way back home. Needed a good rest, so I slept the whole morning.....and blogging everything that I didn't fill up last week.

Watch the other spaces later on about my period in Singapore...

English Ladies In The Making

On the second day of our trip at Cameron Highlands, we had an afternoon tea session at The Smokehouse. Located somewhere between Tanah Rata and Brinchang, all of us decided to go there for tea. This was one of the oldest spots in Cameron Highlands.

Staying there is roughly at around $150 to $200 USD per night so it would not be a problem for tourists to come here and stay for a night or so.

It was a great time for all of us to have tea time, despite being priced at $22 per person and interestingly, there's infinite refills.



My cousins and my aunts were at one corner and tried hilariously to reenact a tea-time session among themselves as English ladies while the men had theirs at a bigger table.


This is what we had as tea - freshly baked scones with Tea.

More tea, vicar?

It was raining there heavily in the evening. We couldn't move out to get our vehicles, but there was a piano there which my uncle played many songs that most of us would tag along. Unfortunately, the room guests were complaining about the noise we made and we stopped after someone from the staff came and told us about it.

Further Readings:

1. Reminiscing the Past, 55 Years Later
2. Am I Driving As In The Shining?

Reminiscing the Past, 55 Years Later

My paternal grandfather was the resettlement officer of Cameron Highlands during the Templer years (see Tun Sir Gerald Templer) in 1950-1952, before he applied transfer to Ipoh (that's how he met my late grandmother). He was second in command behind the district officer, E.M Sheppard, so it was his duty to assign lands to natives there.

During his time there, he noticed a lot of Aborigines, or the actual Sons of the Earth here wandering on the main towns of Cameron Highlands. He used to tell us stories of how Templer's convoy got ambushed by Communists, how he practiced weaponry at Kea Farm and spending his free time at Tanah Rata.

For him, coming back there after 55 years evokes a lot of memories which awed us, including my parents, my relatives and my cousins. Not all joined in like my brother as he was having examinations and the others unable to commit due to their schedules.

The District office, located at Tanah Rata was refurbished extensively unlike a small house 50 years ago and I could not remember what has changed since my last visit there 12 years ago.


This shop, now called You Hoo in Tanah Rata was once a sundry shop. Above is where my grandfather used to stay during his three year tenure here. He remembered some few guys here notably, the village head in Tanah Rata is a man called Dick Cheong.

On the second day, we took him around the spots he would remember most. After that, I noticed that he remembered three spots: Kea Farm, The Lakehouse and The Smokehouse.


This was taken at Kea Farm. Before the new shop lots were up selling vegetables and flowers are up, there was a roundabout at that place where he used to go in there. Down there, near the Chinese primary school, it was where he practiced shooting with Stern guns, Enfield rifles and grenades used in WW2.

The Lake house in Ringlet was a famous location as it was built opposite a lake that houses a hydroelectric generator that powers Ringlet and Tanah Rata. While we were tinkering of the location for our second day dinner, we decided to have there since it's raining heavily there.


I actually experimented one shot in black and white and my dad, who was with me, came in and was surprised over the photo style of how the picture was taken. From that commendation, I felt that I've captured one of the best photos that I've taken so far. Perhaps, that shot above should be printed out and saved as a photo album.

Further Readings:

1. English Ladies In The Making
2. Am I Driving As In The Shining?