Saturday, July 4, 2009

OBW Travelogue

It was time for the much awaited school dinner. As we got ready for the occassion, I recalled those early years in STAR when we were in the lower forms. Those days, such an event was known as the 'grand dinner'. It had always been held at the school dining hall though. However, at that time you don't really care about it (at least to me), maybe perhaps because I did not realise the significant of such event. Especially so when you were asked to be seated at the back of the dining hall during that occassion. Yeah, what's so great about these old boys coming over and 'makan' with us. When the school prepared for the occassion, it was not really an event that I anxiously waiting for like the 'Sure Heboh' or 'Sua Rasa' carnival nowadays. I wonder if the present students experiencing the same feeling. But now is different. I came back as an old boy, trying to reminisce the good ol' memories of my yesteryears in STAR. 'Tempat jatuh lagi dikenang, inikan pula tempat bermain!.

We arrived late, around half past eight for the dinner. As I walked across the the field from the placed where I parked my car, I remembered the time when I frequented the field plying my skills playing football. 'Ahh, the same place where I scored a goal against Kutik!', I recounted. It seemed like yesterday when I last played football on the field. Little did I realised that I had been away for over 34 years!

The dinner was set on the football field, between the Blue and Black house, next to the main football ground. Yunus and Wan Zain were already there. So did Tomo and Che Jan (Norizan Tan Sali) and his family. I looked around and yes, like before, the rest of the boys were seated at the back of the tent, looking rather anxiously and hungrily, waiting for the food to be served. Were they, quitely, cursing us for all the trouble and hardship they had to endure the last few days, weeks perhaps. I hope not. Anyway, we managed to find ourselves a table quite closed to the main one with Che jan and his family occupying the table next to us. All the dignitaries were there - Dato' President (of course), the HM, Pak Lau, Tan Teong Leong, Srajit Singh, Kok Kee Chai and others. We were told that the dinner was sponsored. Alhamdullilah! Syukur nikmat! Food was okay, plentiful. We were busy helping ourselves when we had the shocked of our life. Che Jan abandoned and reversed the role he was so accustomed with over the years -he shoved us the extra food from his table! Che Jan became the 'exporter' and not the 'kulekter' for that nite!.

I dont really follow what the President spoke that nite during his welcoming speech apart from him wanting the school to focus on rugby and to emulate the game sportsmanship in creating a better STAR. Then came the show of the nite - STAR Got Talent, a talent show copycat from the famous Britain's Got Talent.

The students showed some great talent but I think we (Class of 73) did much better those days. Of course we were not into dancing and there was no Spongebox those days, but on the whole I think we had the better talent. My only regret for the nite was that the organiser should have done their homework. Had they done so, we could have had Yuzer Yusof performing that nite. Yuzer was the singing prowess in the 70's, at least among the schools in Ipoh if not Perak. With due respect to the invited singer (can't recalled her name, was she anak Andy LaLa ke), she could have done better. I think she panicked - seeing those lusting and wandering eyes, stripping her from head to toe!!.

We went for a teh tarik session at Greentown after the dinner. It has always been our 'anthem' to go for this kind of session whenever we had such a gathering.

End of Episode Three.

Friday, July 3, 2009

OBW Travelogue


There was no wonggey.. wonggey cry that afternoon. Yes, that was how they used to howl right in front of their restaurant. It simply means 'come on, come on', inviting customers to try out their infamous curry dishes – Ipoh nasi ganja.

When we (Omar, Mohamad and myself) arrived at Yong Suan Coffee Shop, at Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh, the time was almost 2.15 pm and people were already queueing, waiting for their turn to pick their favourites dishes. The restaurant was already packed and jammed with people. No empty and lonely table just for one! We had no choice but to joint the que and wait for our turn. The queue was rather long despite the fact that the day was Saturday! Such was the ‘pukulan and penangan' nasi ganja!. However , I observed one thing though, it was a rather interesting sight to see that all sorts people were there - Chinese, Malays and Indians - ordering and eating the same food under one roof!.

I was told by my in-laws that this place was the first nasi kandar eatery to be opened in Ipoh (about 50 years ago). Back to the time when the Tanjung Rambutan bus station was still operating, the business here was at its peak. The business of this restaurant still remained eventhough the bus station is no longer there. It was really hard to believe that Rostam never knew or heard of this place before. What the hell was he been up to then? Even our Ustaz Yusuf knew the place! It was a must-eat dish that made people wanting to come back for more. People just became addicted to this nasi ganja! I wonder what was the trade secrets! Since the place was packed, we decided just to tapau the food, including one specially packed for Rostam.

Rostam was still sleeping when we arived back at the apartment. After lunch, Mohamad, Omar and myself just lazed around, chitchatting while watching the television. I could not help but wondering how the situation would be like, if the likes of Awe Adek or Rashid Gong or even Che Wan and Mail Gebang, best still Wak Khairudin or Ansor or even Linggam Sibi or Halim Daud, were to be here right then. Better still if we have Tomo, Lookeman as well as Bidi Kominih, Che Jan, Rahim Cakpuk, Azman Ngokngek, Mat Dollah and Ajoi or even Saiful with us. I was sure we would turned the apartment into an Uptown Market!! We could even have life music provided by Ansor and Zainudin! Maybe with the support of Lan Chik and Omar Suhaimi and Kamarshah. Ahh! Wishfull thinking indeed!! But alas, in reality only 5 of us were here at the apartment now - one was already in a faraway land and deep asleep, two (who were busy teeing-off) will try to get some sleep (later on perhaps) and three other guys wondering whether to sleep or not to sleep. Those are amongt the items in my 'kempunan' list. I wonder what the other guys 'kempunan' lists would be? Especially Rostams?


End of episode two.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

One For The Road

Saturday morning, Allan got up early., quietly dressed, made his lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage.

He hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
The wind was blowing 50 mph, so he pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.
Allan went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.

He cuddled up to his wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
His loving wife of 10 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”


And then the fight started…

Monday, June 29, 2009

OBW Travelogue

I misjudged the distance thus missed the place. I shouldn't have. My in-laws are from Batu Gajah and yet I struggled to find Batch 73 'base camp'! - the one that Wan Hussin had booked for our stay during STAR OBW 09. I was told to exit at Simpang Pulai that will lead me to our base camp. But behold! After making several calls - thanks to Mohamad, my talian hayat, I managed to find it. Serve me right for boasting and taking things for granted! Ipoh mari., konon!!

I left Putrajaya around 10 am. Took the elite highway and heading straight to Ipoh. Since I was travelling alone, I had no choice but to relly on Hitz FM to keep me awake. Through out the journey, songs from MJ - from Ben to Billy Jean to Black and White - kept my spirit high and my concentration on the road. . I was terribly excited about the trip since it was my maiden trip - for the OBW outing - after leaving STAR for so many years..! (36 years to be exact!). Traffic was not bad but gradually increased in volume after Rawang R&R. As I was driving, a few BMW's and Mercedes's and Camrys overtook yours truly. I could not helped but wondering whether those 'machines' were being driven by STARIANS!!! and all of them were like me - heading for Ipoh - for the OBW!

According to the original plan, I was supposed to travel with Rostam late Friday afternoon. Mohamad and Omar Suhaimi and Omar Dollah were supposed to leave earlier on Friday afternoon, just before us. But had to change plan due to work commitment. Wan Husin was not around when I arrived at the apartment for he had to rush home for KL. Rostam was already groggy by lunch time. He had been awake the whole night playing gymrummy with Omar Suhaimi, Lan Chik and Wan Husin. Despite their handicap and predicament - of not sleeping at all - Omar Suhaimi and Lan Chik were 'crazy' enough to play in the STAROBA Golf tournement in Batu Gajah.

The 'base camp' was not bad at all. It has 3 rooms -a masterbedroom with a double bed, 2nd room with 2 single beds and the smallest with one single bed, a kitchenette, 2 bathrooms and of course a TV set (the one that was played non-stopped!).

When it was time for lunch, it was unanimously agreed that we'll go for 'nasi ganja'! We had a shocked and the laughed of our life when Rostam confessed that he hasn't got a clue as to where about this 'nasi ganja' place was! He told us that his favourites outlets or 'hideouts' then were Tanjung Rambutan's bus station, where he listened to the music from juke box machine and having his lusty meal of roti chanai at Freedom Cafe!. Little did he knew then that the nasi ganja place was just across the road!!.

End of episode 1

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A TRUE STARIAN!

When I made up my mind to travel up north for the weekend, it was a rather difficult decission to make, for a number of reasons. Most pertinent and obvious was the fact that, that trip was my number one, my first time ever, participating in the STAROBA Old Boy's Weekend (OBW). Secondly because I was not sure of what to expect in Ipoh after leaving the school almost 34 years ago!. But what I came across and experienced was something that beyond my expectation!.

Nobody took noticed of this guy. He stood a forlorn figure underneath the tree. I was watching the rugby game between STAR Present team against the STAROBA when Mohamad approached me and asked me whether I would mind taking another passenger to KL. Mohamad had met this guy, who happened to be going the same way as he was i.e. to JB, after which he would continue his journey home to Pontian Dalam. Of course I would not mind!. I had driven alone to Ipoh for the OBW, having failed to convince Che Wan or Rahim or getting Rashid Gong to accompany me. Mohamad was supposed to accompany me back to KL, a pre-arrangement that was agreed amongst us (Rostam, Omar Dollah, Omar Suhaimi Lan Chik). So, having another passenger travelling with me and Mohamad was not a problem at all.

We left Tiger Lane after the rugby game and stopped at Uu Bernam R&R for refreshment and the deserved break. That break turned up to be the one that haunted me and kept me thinking all the way, while driving to KL. During the coffee break, I took the opportunity to chitchat with him and he told me something that made me ashamed of myself. Here stood right in front of me, a TRUE STARIAN!. One that had been attending the OBW every year! (apart from last year because nobody informed and invited him over!). What really astonished me was the fact that he had journeyed and travelled by bus!!. That journey would take him from Pontian Dalam to JB, got himself into the bus for the trip to his beloved alma mater! And he has been doing this for almost every year! (except last year of course).

He took all the trouble for his journey home because STAR made him what he is today. He wanted to show his appreciation and would pay homage to the school that has made and shaped him. Of course attending the OBW would meant that he would able him to see his old friends again, if at all they were present. I felt so humbled and ashamed of myself upon hearing this. And I remembered the nite before, during the grand dinner, when prizes were given to those deservedly so, but we may have forgetten old boy/s like this guy who was a champion on his own way. When we reached KL, after saying goodbye, from the corner of my eyes, I could see him clutching dearly that little bag, the one the organiser for OBW gave away when you check in for registration - contained in it was that 'little mug' with the school logo, that car sticker and momentos from MIMOS. That was all there was for him to remember for his trip down the Tiger Lane in 2009.

To have helped him accomplished his mission so that he could pay homage to his alma mater and to enable him to recall and mesmerise the memory of his life in Tiger Lane, was something that I would treasured for a long long long time. He is 66 years old now, retired from the navy since 1985. God's willing, next year, in that little town of Pontian Dalam, one would see a small guy with a forlorn face,by the road side awaiting for the bus that would take him back the journey to the place he remembered and loved most...., Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh. InsyaAllah. We salute you, Khalid Siran (Batch '57).