Ring Finger Length Linked To Success
Not only did traders with long ring fingers make on average six times more money, they survived more years in a cut-throat world which weeded out the weak and unprofitable.
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Truth or a Myth?
Nari Ansari
I had a busy day yesterday. And it was only around half past six when I managed to check my daily mails (emails and smses, miss calls etc). But this special message (thru sms) from Che Wan that got me really excited and made my day. I had written an article in my 'Tokonang Den' series, (serie no. 4) when I penned off the article with ' Nari Ansari, dimana kau?!'. And presto!! Che Wan managed to get me and sent me Nari's number (through a cousin of his actually). I rang up Nari immediately and lucky me, he still remembers me and the rest of the gang (Class of 73). Nari is with Pharmaniaga (he has been with the company for about 5 years now). Currently residing in Meru, Klang. According to Nari he has met a few Starians when he was doing his training/practical in PJ (Kem Kesihatan's Pharmacy lab in Section 17 PJ). People like Kamarshah and his two brothers - Kamarudin (Che' Ton) and Shamsuddin as well as Ahmad Abdullah. He has been working ever since he left school in 1971 for according to him he has to support his parent and brothers. Nari is married and blessed with 7 children. For you guys, here's Nari's phone number. Please say hello to him.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
OBW Travelogue
Final Episode.
Everyone had a good rest last night except for Rostam, maybe. Every body was so tired to play the gymrummy that nite and were thinking only of getting a good nite rest. Rostam had to contend with having Lan Chik (he had taken a short nap in the afternoon) for a company. And by the time I woke up, Rostam and Omar Dollah had already taken their baths and ready for the day. Unanimously we agreed to Rostam's suggestion to have our breakfast at Yong Suan Coffee Shop, Jalan Yang Kalsom. Ipoh on Sunday was a pleasant town to drive around. And the drive from C73 base camp to Jalan Yang Kalsom was everything but pleasant.
There was no wonggey wonggey cries that morning. Perhaps because it was still early. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah arrived first, only to inform us that the shop was still closed. They opted having roti chanai for breakfast from a mamak restaurant just around the corner from Yong Suan's. By the time we passed thru the place, we saw that it was already opened. We decided to have our breakfast there. Rostam's probably was thinking of having nasi ganja for breakfast. But lo and behold! were we for a surprised! The place was burglarised last night!.
Anyway, not to be despaired, we opted for kaya toasts on the bread and 2 half boiled eggs each for breakfast. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah joined us after their roti chanai session. But what we were about to witness was something that stunned us all, well at least to me!. We were seated just opposite the site door, from where we could see what was happening on the other side of the building. We saw a few guys skinning and preparing the chicken which was simply placed on the floor. As if God wanted us to witness something more, one guy came out from the place (I presume the kitchen) sweating and wearing a sarong pelikat, chettiar style, unveiling his knees with sweating hairy legs!. What happened next was even shocking. A guy came out through the door wearing the same attire plus wellington boots - obviously drenched and tired and sweating - looking for some fresh air. Then came another guy, similarly dressed, similar situation. 'That's it., Omar Dollah told me, 'I will not come to the place again!' By the time they brought out the day's dishes - the one that the shop was infamous for, we decided to leave, dumbfounded from what we have witnessed today at Yong Suan's.
I guessed it was very typical among the eateries through out the country, except for the likes of McDees, KFCees and Kopitiams. Remember how Wak Junction and his nasi lemak collapsed just because of that bloody Sunday's incidence?. From behind the tree, came Wak's voice., ' Sekejap ya nak!!'.
I tried not to think much of that incident as we headed for the school, to witness a game of rugby between STAROBA and the present STAR team. That was when I noticed a small guy with forlorn faced underneath the tree........
Everyone had a good rest last night except for Rostam, maybe. Every body was so tired to play the gymrummy that nite and were thinking only of getting a good nite rest. Rostam had to contend with having Lan Chik (he had taken a short nap in the afternoon) for a company. And by the time I woke up, Rostam and Omar Dollah had already taken their baths and ready for the day. Unanimously we agreed to Rostam's suggestion to have our breakfast at Yong Suan Coffee Shop, Jalan Yang Kalsom. Ipoh on Sunday was a pleasant town to drive around. And the drive from C73 base camp to Jalan Yang Kalsom was everything but pleasant.
There was no wonggey wonggey cries that morning. Perhaps because it was still early. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah arrived first, only to inform us that the shop was still closed. They opted having roti chanai for breakfast from a mamak restaurant just around the corner from Yong Suan's. By the time we passed thru the place, we saw that it was already opened. We decided to have our breakfast there. Rostam's probably was thinking of having nasi ganja for breakfast. But lo and behold! were we for a surprised! The place was burglarised last night!.
Anyway, not to be despaired, we opted for kaya toasts on the bread and 2 half boiled eggs each for breakfast. Lan Chik and Omar Dollah joined us after their roti chanai session. But what we were about to witness was something that stunned us all, well at least to me!. We were seated just opposite the site door, from where we could see what was happening on the other side of the building. We saw a few guys skinning and preparing the chicken which was simply placed on the floor. As if God wanted us to witness something more, one guy came out from the place (I presume the kitchen) sweating and wearing a sarong pelikat, chettiar style, unveiling his knees with sweating hairy legs!. What happened next was even shocking. A guy came out through the door wearing the same attire plus wellington boots - obviously drenched and tired and sweating - looking for some fresh air. Then came another guy, similarly dressed, similar situation. 'That's it., Omar Dollah told me, 'I will not come to the place again!' By the time they brought out the day's dishes - the one that the shop was infamous for, we decided to leave, dumbfounded from what we have witnessed today at Yong Suan's.
I guessed it was very typical among the eateries through out the country, except for the likes of McDees, KFCees and Kopitiams. Remember how Wak Junction and his nasi lemak collapsed just because of that bloody Sunday's incidence?. From behind the tree, came Wak's voice., ' Sekejap ya nak!!'.
I tried not to think much of that incident as we headed for the school, to witness a game of rugby between STAROBA and the present STAR team. That was when I noticed a small guy with forlorn faced underneath the tree........
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.
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.
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