Warong chronicles....

The other morning, I stopped by my favourite roti canai stall to have my regular "craving" roti canai delight plus a nice cuppa of tea. The stall was unusually crowded that morning and there were certainly some very interesting people sitting around the tables. I guess, I was rather intrigued by a very young couple who sat on the right hand side of my table. The guy with his very pregnant girl were easily in their late teens. I just couldn't help but wonder where has our culture and lifestyle gone so very wrong. Believe me ,  I am not judging the young couple by any means but I have nothing but sheer concern for them. I could see that the guy was barely 20 while the girl was easily between 18 to 19 years of age. They ordered a roti canai kosong and two cups of tea. The guy was eating away while the girl was pouting away as she sipped her tea. Then she ordered for roti canai telur and she was told that it was going to be a long wait as there are a lot of customers and I haven't got my roti canai yet. Quietly, I told the kakak that the pregnant girl should have her meal or else the kid in her may not like it that much. That made the kakak laughed and Pak Din ( roti canai maker ) smiled; agreeing to my suggestion. As the roti was being pulled, tossed and shaped, I managed to strike a small conversation with the couple. It was light conversation and nothing threatening. I got to know that the girl is 19 years old ( 7 months heavy laden with a child ) while the guy is 20 years old. ( Hmmmnnnn.....so my guess was right afterall ! ). Like I said, I did not ask any further "threatening" question lest risking a broken down conversation. I also got to know that the guy is doing odd jobs while the girl is working as a seamstress. I just got quiet after that and got my mind flooding with all the things I have gone through as a parent to my two children. Wow! There was just such a rush of things that went through my head and I  most certainly see these two young people going through the "hard times" ahead.        

As the food arrived, I could see that the poor girl ate half of the roti telur while the guy hungrily finished up the other half. That's tough,man. Really tough for me to see such a scenario, I tell you. I guess, we all have to face the consequences of our irrational or foolish actions sometimes, right? Deep in my heart, I know that this young couple is indeed "struggling" and "lost" in a certain sense. I have nothing but sheer concern for them, I really do. It is already tough enough as it is right now but to have to go through that in a very young age is simply doing a herculean task. I wish I could tell them to get back to their family members and let their families help them or get proper counselling for the sakes of their unborn child. I am not condoning nor advocating unwed mothers nor pregnant unwed mothers, I am just saying that sometimes the only love that is real are the ones from your home and a lot of harsh facts. The young people are not ready for this flamboyant, pretentious, promiscuous and loose lifestyle that we are being bombarded each day. There is a real need for the young people of our days to know the hard facts of life that awaits them together with the raptors & wolves waiting to lure them into their hunt.  They need to be aware and have that common sense to know the right from the wrong. Definitely , we cannot undo what had been done but we most certainly can shape our lives for the better if we listen intently and work diligently. As parents, I just wish that sometimes we just take some time to really know who are with our children, what they are doing , where they are and whom they are mixing with. It is NOT GOOD AT ALL to let the world be the teacher/parents to our children. We need to know where our children are. We need to know where our brothers are. We need to know where our sisters are. It may sound intrusive at times but it saves lives. It is a family thing and no more an individual thing.  That is far more important than some work in the office or some social gathering or even a business party. Forget the idea that " I'm working hard for their future" or even " I'm saving and doing all I can all for their well-being in the future" when all the children ever want from you is NOW and your precious time with them. Yeah! I am not being a hypocrite to say that this also includes me too, yunno. I learn plenty along the way of my life and I do horrendous mistakes day after day in my life as a parent but believe me, I learn and I try to be as good a parent to my children.  Yeah! I too could be caught up with this suave thinking and I have, believe me. So , I know, how much lost time I have to make up with my own children. In everything, I tell you this - GOD has played a very central & pivotal role in my life and my family. I thank GOD each day that He leads me through my life with my children. Like I always say to you, what is enough and how much is enough? The answer is simply there is always NOT enough! So, might as well be contented with what you have and do the best you can. Do not pamper your children with over-indulgence but teach them good values in life that they will remember for life. Respect, humbleness, integrity and accountability are some values I learned from my late father. I am ever so thankful to Dad for that. Never mind if the world sees us as fools for such values but what is important is always the eyes of GOD and our family. That matters a lot.

         

As I watched the young couple board the m/cycle , I could see the poor girl was struggling to sit the small m/cycle especially with a rather large belly at the front. My heart goes out to the young couple.Yeah, we all make foolish decisions at times, right? Well,  I still remember what my mom used to say to me and warned me many times which I will not forget at all. She used to tell me this - " WHEN and IF ( she stressed this a lot! ) you find a girl who likes you  someday, make sure you don't do any stupid things and messed up, you hear? 5 minutes pleasure is 9 months torture,ok? ". I NEVER forget this and I thank mom for her confidence in me! Wouldn't you do the same if you get such advice?~ 

Fun weekend...

Being able to spend time with my nephew and niece is simply sheer pleasure these days as they started to grow up. Hilarious and abundantly crazy are the other words I can describe about these two young nutty children! You should have seen them do the "Nobody" ( Wonder Girls song ) dance and I rolled on the bed enclosed with uncontrolable laughter and spasms of fun as I wacthed these two young tots strutting their stuff!

So innocent and fun, man. With all the facial expressions, hands, legs, posture and what not, I just burst out in fits of laughter and it was all really fun.

Seriously, how much they have grown up and getting them to nestled themselves in my arms brings a lot of cheer to my heart. They are so angelic and really a good medicine for the ailing heart, man! Both Ryan and Ashley are such delights to me, SLing and SYuen. OK, they fight as usual in their ever competitive brother -sister relationship but less intense these days. I still remember the teeth marks and the long scratchers but these days , those things are gone. It is more to battle of the tears and facial expression. Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......so cute-lar these two tiny tots! Then it's the battle of the iPad thingy these days. Well, the cries would start and the wailing would start but it's all good. They've got to spread the strength of their lungs once in a while or else they won't be able to know how far their cries would reach especially in the house. To me, these tiny tots have really grown up. 

There seemed to be a slight improvement when it comes to meal. Ryan had started to at least put some grains of rice with some food goodies into his dietary habits while Ashley continue to consume food stuff with ease. Definitely, it will be a long long way before the pork leg delight morsels reach the palate of Ryan! Hey, the children have got to have the important staple food for growing up - PORK! Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa......................

We had some interesting dinner food over the weekend. Iced sweet sour pork pieces is one of them. As usual, great food all the way. Dinner was very good and I really enjoyed the meal. Dim sum was stupendously shiok to the max. Really had a good weekend with family and had some entertainment fare from two tiny tots with great characters! What more could I ask for , right?

  

Life.....

Sitting down and having a cup of drink at my mum's place a few mornings ago brought a lot of comfort to my heart today. I guess, there are no words to describe the thankfulness I have for having her but most of all, the casual conversation with her helped to soothe a lot of my sorrows away. Right before me was a plate of Nyonya cake fare ( kuih lapis, kuih bingka, kuih sago, kuih talam ) and a few Massimo bread buns with coffee and blueberry fillings.Yunno, these are some of my favourite kuihs and bun fillings which were prepared for me and SYuen as we approached the dining table. It was easy speaking to mum and there are no barriers to what we want to speak about. I can even express my views in a vocal manner or even in a harsh manner but always with respect. I guess, I am at home when I am with mum though we don't see each other much but I do keep in touch with her daily on the line.

Like all mums, she can be quite firm on her ideas and ideals too but like I said, it is always expressed with respect. She doesn't minced her words too when expressing concerns for my well-being or even the well-being of my children. That's the heart of a mother and a grandmother! We have this understanding that we have the right to agree to disagree. So, that part of the concern was settled long ago and it is never a problem for us whenever we disagree on things. If I get mad, I just expressed it to her and she does likewise to me. Like I said, the difference is that we respect each other very much. Many a times, I do end up on the wrong side of her tails and I do get a backlash but it is all done with love. Yeah! Mothers are great people. Today, she tells me exuberantly what she is going to cook for SYuen and for us to take home for our dinner. I told her that I prefer the simple stuff and she excitedly exclaimed, " Chicken rice, huh? Sorry, son. It can't be done today. My granddaughter comes first. Maybe the next time?". She smiled as my daughter flashed me her smile too and I slumped back at my seat giving a disgusted squinted eye special! So much for grandma and granddaughter bonding. 

I like days like these. The free flowing day of easy conversation and less threatening environment. Nowadays, life is like a pressure cooker litmus test. I guess, we could all have good days like that with our mom or dad. It certainly will drive away a lot of blues of life. Mine certainly did....... 

At the movies...

Today, I went on a "date" with my wife and daughter at the movies. It was our way to unwind after a whirling week of moderate turbulence and a lot of decision making crunch. It was a crunch week for us as a family and though we've been worst times, we are just glad that we don't get gutted inside out with the circumstances we are in. I guess, in many way, it was the unwinding period for us as a family. 

Honestly , I am not a fan at the movies in cineplex but when you know the title of the movie is "Avengers", you just wouldn't miss the opportunity to see Marvel comic characters, which were an integral part of your childhood & growing up years come to life, on the silver screen. I remember those younger years where I would just get myself to the Riverside book store as much as possible to read the stacks of old Marvel and DC comic characters that were on sale. Fortunately, the Indian uncle was a pleasant person who would allow me and my friends to browse through the comic magazines after securing our undying and undivided affirmation in not tearing or messing up the comic magazines. He would always tell us that if we tore or made a mess out of the magazines, we would have to buy them. I guess, that was a fair deal as far as I was concerned. We did not mess up while we got opportunity to read football "SHOOT" magazine and "Movie News" magazines and "National Geographic" magazines as the years go by. I was certainly enriched with all the information I could gather from the magazines which I read regularly.  Being a mechanic's son, I read as much as I could though I wasn't really a genius in school, though!  As I recollected my memories, I guess, in many ways, reading at side stalls, riverside book stands and even shops had made my life richer than most would have. Ah! I guess, life was simpler then, right? Occasionally, as I passed the riverside area, I do have a tingled of the flooding of these memories and it really warms the heart a lot. 

Anyway, coming back to the show, it was quite a movie, actually. There were action pack sessions and there were spectacular stunts. Just love the high flying & stunning moves by Scarlett Johannson who was the character of Black Widow while Hawkeye's archery skills are stupendously cool, man. I guess, my favourite  superhero of the day was indeed the Hulk! He was so funny and his smashing and pulverising of the aliens were absolutely hilarious! Iron Man was cynically cocky and arrogant while Captain America was like platonically electronic goody-two shoes! It was all good and I really had a good time. Highly entertaining, action-packed loaded and a fun movie to watch. I must admit that I have my reservation earlier when my wife bought the tickets. You see, she has no clue of where the seats were and so, I guess, it's a lottery. When we got into the movie hall and went to our seats, there was a surround speaker on the wall facing our seat. I told SLing that it was going to be a long night of deafening ears and ear splitting  sounds trauma after the movie. We had a good laugh over it but I guess, it wasn't that loud and so, we actually enjoyed the surround effects of the movie. However , like all Malaysian cineplexes, there would bound to have some fellas who would be talking loudly over their handphones as though we don't know they have a handphone! If that wasn't bad enough, we had a young boy who was practically practising his lungs capacity and also, his running ability as he races from the back to the front of the movie hall. He would then seat himself on the steps of the walkway and the parents seemed oblivious of this happenings. That boy needed a good spanking, I say! 

Anyway, there was once during his shadow competition with Usin Bolt, he tripped and fell but he seemed to have the energy of wildebeest; picked himself up, dust off the compilation of food scraps, dust and whatever material that was on him and continue his "work" of measuring the length of the hall with his miniature measuring steps. The best part was when the movie was over,  this boy's dad asked him if he had enjoyed the movie!!!! Well, macam macam ada, right?

Did I enjoy myself at the movies? You bet , I did. It was a great time spending time with family. Would I do it again....well, RM 5.00 DVD sounds awfully better but that's how it goes when with the family. So, yeah, it was a great night out to unwind.~ Now, where did I put my cape and suit? Honey.......................

Simple heart....

I am often reminded of a story I read not too long ago about a boy named Darren ( not the real name) in one of the books I've read. That story of Darren struck my mind and gave a lasting impression a long time ago. You see, Darren was a colossal wreck in terms of behavior, attitude and worst of all, he was a notorious car jacker with a notorious reputation. Mind you , this was a young man who had a nasty reputation of not only being a car thief but one who would knock your socks off if you cross his path. Being a young man, he was a handful for the authorities and every possible counselling, verbal advice and advice avenue option was given to him. These programs were like child's play for a young man like him and soon, he was in and out of such programs. Soon, the police and the authorities gave up on him and was about to let him taste the life in prison for his continuous menace in car thieving when Mr. Jenkins, Home Director of a Christian based home for boys called the police and asked if the Home could to take up the challenge to straighten Darren. Willingly and happily to get rid of this one wreak, they let Mr. Jenkins take the boy home. 

For the next few days, Mr. Jenkins had sleepless nights and often question his sanity over bringing Darren back to his Home for Darren created havoc after havoc immediately he was placed in the Home. It was one nightmare after another when Darren came into the Home. There was never a day there wasn't a complaint about Darren. He was the talk of the Home , the town and there were days where the police would show up at the Home to inform Mr.Jenkins of Darren's misdeeds after being given a few hours off over the weekends. You see, Darren would go out during those privilege hours of the week to be with his car jacking group of young boys and they would break into big car and steal whatever they could just to get a few extra bucks. Mr.Jenkins was up to his neck in regards to Darren's behaviour. There was one time while he was passing by Darren's room, Darren was having a saw in his hands and looked like decapitating another boy's head whom he was holding down with his other hands. It was a horrific sight and Mr. Jenkins was out of his wits in handling Darren. Darren became the subject of the conversation in his family time daily. Mr.Jenkins was a devout Christian and with all his patience, he soon realized that even his patience and sanity bordered and dangled on a very thin line. Mr. Jenkins decided that he would invite Darren to his home for dinner with the family and have a chat with him.  His 4 year old son, Mark was excited that the family was going to have a guest at their family table.

The next day, the boy followed his father to the Home and as they passed Darren's room, the 4 year old, Mark dashed into the room and gave a hug to Darren who was sitting at the edge of his bed. Stunned and surprised, Darren did not know what to do. Mark, the  4 year old hugged Darren tight at the waist and said this : " Darren, I have heard so much about you. I am so happy to have you  for dinner at our home." He then let go of his hug and told Darren, "Here I have a gift for you." He took out something from his pockets and gave a roughly wrapped present to Darren. Darren was stunned by this boy and he soon muttered, " I too have something for you." He reached out in his pockets and pulled out about 15 keys, put them in a small cloth bag and gave it to Mark, the 4 year old. 

The following day during one of the privilege hours, a few of Darren's friends came over to the Home and asked Darren to join them for the regular spree of looting cars. Darren told his friends that he can't go with them anymore because all the master keys to the big and expensive cars that he possessed, he had given them to a 4 year old kid. This is a story of a young man whose life was trumped by the love shown by a 4 year old kid!

In our blistering, congealed, difficult, imbalanced and cruel world we live, that is what is wrong with our society and world today. The world and her people needs to be trumped with genuine love, sincerity and the goodness of the heart not condemnation nor legalistic laws of morality. It is no wonder that the Lord gives us just two laws to obey : Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul. The other being,  Love your neighbour.~

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!

To all beloved teachers and educators; wherever you may be:

HAPPY TEACHER"S DAY! SELAMAT HARI GURU!

Have a great day out there with the students
and
continue to be an inspiration to the children in whatever capacity you can , always and all ways!

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!

Hmmmmmnnnnnn......

I am sad, disillusioned and really puzzled by what I see happening in our sacred religious establishment today. I am appalled at the insinuating bad remarks and unbecoming behavioral patterns of so-called upcoming leaders who can use derogatory words, rude/arrogant remarks and still be made leaders or people of power in our establishment? Has human being common sense ceased to be of existence or are we merely following the actual true colours of our own being amidst the weekly Sunday thick make-up?  I am sad that these aspiring power brokers are just peddlers of words with no real intention to see a fruition of a good basic discussion. I must say that they have lost their plot and in blind allegiance to cultic figureheads with no real intention of seeing a brighter and better advancement in  our religious set-up today. Stop the play acting that God is watching or being accountable to God because that fear tactic is so known for such a long time ago and if God is so judgemental towards us, we would have ALL died in some horrific manner in one way or another or pierced by the lightning bolts. Maybe the pelting and blitz of lightning strikes happening over the last few weeks and ongoing ones over our skies are some good indication for repentance outlook! I wonder......hmmmmnnnnnn....... Look, the undisputed fact we all know by hard and by faith is that we are ALL accountable to God. No one is excepted - from the cleaner of our toilets to the sweeper of our streets to the highest of the food chain including buffoons at the top of our religious food chain. So, don't be word peddlers! We perverted our own actions and called it good. We slammed others and turned a blind eye to truth and transparency and yet we uphold blind allegiance, shrouding mystery of our decisions and hide behind the curtains of the modern Pharisees and call it good? What a perverse generation we are! Dumb arrogance and displaced "high and mighty" feeling had overtaken the senses and we make others think that we are far better than anyone else just because we spend a large amount of contribution to one cause? So, by contributing a large amount of our "loan" money ( let the truth be known! ) qualifies us to dictate what we want to do, do as we like  or even  twist arms, legs and the third leg also to get decisions to our favour? Or better still, make people to see our decision is a wise and good one or "I have the power to decide" kinda stand? So, this becomes the unscripted Word and it become a decree? To me, in reality this is SIN. ( Sick In Numbers! ). I really thought the very foundation of our house of the Lord is integrity, truth and transparency. I did not know that a person with huge amount of money, together with people who shout the loudest or people of insecurity tendencies rules the religious foundation these days. Darn! We've given so much credit to the devil and now he is reaping the works he did not do and yet we give him that credit! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! No wonder he is smiling all the way and patting the backs of these arrogant people who are deemed best of the bestest of the lot plus the holey-est!   

Wait! What is this that I have heard that we abandoned and forsake the cause to speak for the truth because of the fear of having our child being victimised in one way or another? Seriously, that can happen in a religious setting? Blimey! I am truly shocked and appalled. If we have that fear in the first place then there is something very wrong with the establishment in the first place, isn't it? Simple logic, 1 + 1 is 2!  Hmmmmnnnnnn.......I am amazed. Now we are running a triad society in our religious establishment! No wonder the extortion fees comes in so many ways - pay for food, pay for triad manuals, pay for books, pay for everything under the sun in the name of the triad!  Interesting, isn't it? Simple logic , sometimes, we don't need to be a genius or with a magical wand to know that the very core of this is wrong. In my most warped and crooked opinion, this is an act of cowardice and a real shame to one that calls himself a leader - saving one's own skin. Aiyah....still need to safe face-lor because SKI II lotions or men's younger looking lotion concoction can be quite expensive-lor. The most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard is that we need to move on and start anew. What is new? This to me is the most cowardly statement ever because it is like sweeping every damning excuse available in the face of the earth under the carpet. By the way, according to some medical doctor friends I have or I know, sweeping dirt under carpet can be a physical and health hazard too. It may develop and bring to decaying health and ultimate death in the body we are so proud to protect in the first place. If I am not mistaken, the English language calls that filth while the condition is called filthy and the people who does this are called filthy people. Well, don't blame me-lar , I am just interpreting it according to the English language. Ah! Allow me to put it subtly as peddlers of words would say them in a more dignified way - the filth should be replaced with "unwanted materials" while the condition is called "unhealthy and inconducive living environment" while the people are called "hygienically challenged people". There! That should spare the people from feeling disgusted, right? I rest my case! It's just words after words to make it sound and "feel" right but it's the same meaning as far as I am concerned. Well, English can be quite a confusing language, right?

The other thing I want to highlight is that "we move on" when something which is wrong had been made right. Not from the wrong and continue moving from the wrong! That's double jeopardy, isn't it? It like having the two nuts or in certain circumstances, one nut, being wedged between the opening of a broken plastic chair unintentionally - that , my friend can be an awfully painful experience too, yunno. Ok! Ok! I better stop with my "illustration" or else I'll be called "unholy" and tremendously unsporting for hitting below the belt but interestingly, isn't that what had happened? Hmmmnnnn.......Anyway, how can a healing place be a place for people to strut their cultic figure and flex their so-called power and we call it okay and good?  As far as I know,  our religious establishment should be and ought to be the place for the mending of the broken hearted, imperfect people, the lost, the unfortunate, the poor, the trodden, the soiled and even a place where God's radiance is enough to bring cheer to the ailing and hurting heart. It should be and ought to be a place of healing but instead we have turned it into a corporation with almost identical clowns/parrots of leaders we have at our working place. Like it or not and no matter how much we professed it with our mouths, we are churning out "monsters" after "monsters" that we cannot contained and then, we moved to the next place to built more monsters and the madness continues! Now, it is turned into a battlefield of power and obscure/ludicrous decisions. We now make people sign papers of faith just to sing in the singing superstardom/performance group? ( Yeah! It is no more a willing and humble heart thingy! It's superstardom and SS group now.) Yeah! For the matter, we make everyone and anyone sign papers of allegiance to 101 cause! So, we hang our faith, trust and integrity on a piece of paper? Hmmmmmmnnnnn......interesting. How insecure we can get! We have plenty of examples around to look at today. Don't look so innocent or expect sympathy from anyone because none will be given nor spared, honestly. We piled misery after misery unto the people rather than healing, bringing comfort to the unfortunate, feeding the poor or even being "father to the fatherless"! We scorned and we treat truthful and hard fact hitting people like some road side beggars and yet, we praised sky high  people with empty cheque books , dubious titles and questionable integrity in our religious establishment? Yeah! We are guilty as hell for this! Yes, we are! That's the way it goes, right? Don't rock the steady boat or else our child will be mistreated or even our family will be ostracised! Don't say anything - keep quiet, smile a lot and let's rot together while still continue to maintain that everything is "well and good". Never mind if the message doesn't gel together or make any sense at all. Most important, pay for the building and pay it fast. It is okay because only a few important VIPs are answerable to God - no one else is answerable. BTW, we continue to do our witchhunt and ask the questions over and over again - "Who is the instigator?", "Who told you this?", "What proof do you have?" and sidetracked the people from getting the correct answers! Get them distracted from the actual situation. In that way, the anger can be churned and turned against the questioner rather than letting the people see the real actual rot and the real integrity issues! Shush and hush! Not a word!

But wait.........OOOOOOooooh! I forgot to mention one thing though...............this doesn't happen to our religious establishment here. Yessiree, baby! It is about "the other" religious establishment at the other end of the street-lar! So, no need to get excited nor get agitated! Phew! It is ALWAYS about the one at the other side of the street-lar............ 

Ponder...

Leadership Lesson 1.0

One :  In every instance , revealed truth was suppressed by unrighteous living and pretending lives.

Two:  The judgement of God is not always interventionary; it can also be an unrestrained deteoration , where the deteoration is taking place steadily as part of God's judgement.

Three :  In all these lives, external imperiousness outran internal integrity; they were more concerned of how they were perceived than who they actually were.

Four :  Evilness thrives when good men does nothing.

Five : A wrong is a wrong even when every one is doing it; A right is a right even if no one is doing it !

Broga Hill - Carpe diem......

Last Saturday, my world was turn upside down .....but with great experience and a cherished time spent with the younger leaders and children of RR Melaka # 1 - Discovery & Adventure boys and girls! I can tell you this that it was one roller coaster ride for me, in particular, while it was a breeze in the park for some of the seasoned, fit and younger people plus the children. ( I tell you, parents, you will be amazed what your children can do in such a climb! ) You see, we went for hiking activity up Broga Hill and Gunung Tok Wan in Semenyih, N.Sembilan. I must confessed that though I really wasn't keen in climbing the hill but the challenge and the urge to push myself to another level of knowledge was simply irresistible. They say confession is good for the soul and I agree 100% . The fact is that I wasn't fit enough and an ageing body seemed to take its toll. This was the day, my stomach, heart, lungs, spleen and the rest of the internal organs swapped places with each other during the hike up the 1st peak of Broga Hill. I tell you, it was one "torturing" journey. Each step was like taking one chunk of my heart away and I could feel my blood vessels choked of oxygen. I grasped for air and I tell you, luckily there were great encouragers ( Errol, Stefanie and SLing ) around to help me in my climb up there. 

To many, Broga Hill is child's play but to me, it is really a great adventure for me and my heart. I am glad I finally made it to the hilltop of  Broga Hill but I did not continue to Gunung Tok Wan because that's probably gonna cost you people to spend some money on flowers and a small column on the Obituary section of the newspaper, I guess! Yup, I wasn't going to make it difficult for you people at these troubling times of high expense living  and difficult economical times! Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........  The 10 of the young people made it ! Congrats to Bryan Lee, Dinesh, Stephen Raj, Lih Gin, Dave, Donovan, Daniel Chia, Ashley Chia, Jocelyn Gan  and Mathew Chiam. They braved the rugged terrain and made it to the top of Gunung Tok Wan. The rest of us, Errol, Josephine, Merrick Chiam, SYuen, SLing and myself , we made it to Broga Hill ( 400m above sea level ) thanks to the constant encouragement from Stefanie Sim ( my hero of the day! ) Yeah! Credit must be given where it is due and I must say that I am greatly indebted to Stef for all the encouragement and support she gave me during the climb. Yunno, she stayed by me and Errol eventhough we were easily struggling to get our feet to the next step. Each step was a grand torture & punishing for me but Stef made it easy for me with her constant barking of encouraging words like " It's another 5 minutes " ( Sigh! It never seemed to end, actually...hahahahahaaaaaaaa!)  or  " Comdr, a bit more and we would have reached the peak!" ( all the while, I said to myself, " What peak???? I only see more steps up! hahahahahaaaaaaaa.....remembering it makes it much sweeter, I guess! )

Anyway, I am really happy to have SLing, Errol and Stef walking along side because each time we struggled a bit or out of breath, it is always playfully , " Kong, Kong, have you arrived?" or " Uncle, Uncle, where are you? Have you arrived? " , " Aunty, aunty, can walk ar? " That kinda take the tiredness out of the lungs and replaced with laughter and a will to get to the top of each hill. We made it from Peak No.1 to Peak No.4 where Broga Hill top was situated!  So, to Stefanie, thank you so much for staying with us and helping us through our walk to Broga Hill. I tell you, I sweat buckets  and I could have sworn that I was much lighter after the hike up there. It was quite an experience and I still think it is madness to make a climb up the hill in the wee hours of the morning but somehow, I now understood the need to get up there early so that we can avoid the mid-day sun which could be blistering. However, I must say that the view up there is really breathtaking. Honestly, it was so calm and peaceful. The scenery and the lush greenery filled the horizon and as far as your eyes can see. It is really a pretty sight to behold and I really felt at ease at each of the peak. Sure, there were plenty of bodies around at the peaks but that's the beauty of hiking. Everyone is pleasant and encouraging at the same time - white, yellow, brown, black. No one cares the colors of our skins - it is always a smile, a hello or even an encouraging word to each other. That's what makes this climb so meaningful and pleasantly surprising. I know, this hill is nothing to shout about to many of us. Look not into just conquering the hill itself as a conquest of our personal glory but also enjoy the surroundings - the sight, the smell, the breeze , the people and the just creation of the One Above. 

I tell you, I felt like heaven when I reached the 1st peak! The breeze and cool air simply was invigorating and fill my lungs so easily. That refreshed me inside and I am so amazed with the rock formation and the greenery surrounding the next peak. We moved on and on until we arrived at Broga Hill. We made it but not without some bruised and battered small scars - physically  & mentally. They say the greatest mark of a leader is humility and I know, that certainly rings very true. Everyone of us declared our humility as we drove our battered and forlorn bodies up each peak and we did it because each step we make is made with respect and humility to the Creator of our lives and the Creator of the terrain we had passed through. That day as we climbed down from the 1st peak, I could only muttered to myself, " Gee whiz! How did I climb up this peak?" as I shook my head and took a good look at steepness of the terrain.

I guess, in many ways, I am honored to have climbed Broga Hill amidst the sea of people who had made it up there over the years. I find to be a great place to freak out and have an " AHA" moment! It was wonderfully beautiful up there. In so many ways, I could just lie flat on some of the bedrock & enjoy the moment. Incidentally, as crazy as it may sound, I would like to climb the hill again some day but not too soon or else, like I said, you've gotta spend some money to write up my obituary, man! Yes, I missed the adventure a lot but the soon tiring and aching body doesn't lie either. All those creaks , tweaks and crack sounds plus the difficulties in standing up after sitting down are tell tale sign of ageing or not fit symptons - wherever you chose to be. To me , I am never done with climbing or hiking because it is still my dream to go to Nepal and be at the foot of Mt. Everest before I say adieu to the fulfilling life I have had. It doesn't matter if I have to take longer time to get there but I'll get there....... eventually.

This is my dream when I was a kid and it is still a valid dream for me. Today, I am satisfied that I have conquered Gunung Tahan, Gunung Kinabalu, countless number of hills including Bukit Cina, Bukit Beruang , Bukit Baru, Bukit Rambai, Bukit Sendanan and now Broga Hill in my lifetime. Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa................ I was just joking! Gunung Tahan and Gunung Kinabalu were such beautiful memories and experience but nothing like Broga Hill. Each experience is truly different and in so many ways, so joyful. Yeah! You'll swear XYZ and called out the names of your father and mother countless number of times more than you'll ever do when your parents are around as you climb the hills but at the end of day as you reflect over what you had gone through ; nothing beats the achievement feeling. It's like standing at the mountain top shouting at the top of your lungs " I've made it!" , isn't it? Well, that's an experience nothing in the world could compare to it!~