Games People Play - RuBBerBands

Back in the good old days, rubber bands came in multiple colors. With no telephone, TV nor computer, our childhood free time was spent playing with the neighborhood kids. We were innovative and full of zest, team spirit and enthusiasm. As long as there were games to play, everyone is a friend. We may argue and push or shove around and sometimes even throw a few punches but come tomorrow, we are friends again. Unfortunately, as we age, we become more competitive, sensitive and personal. Why couldn't we continue the carefree attitude as we become 'wiser'???

Back to the bands. We would collect as many as possible and play several types of games :

• Blowing game - we would place the rubber bands on the table. Each with their own choice of color. Then, each takes turn to blow the rubber band towards their competitor. To win over competition, your rubber band has to lie on top of your competitor(s). It could be single or multiple but the winning technique is the same. Winner takes loser's rubber band. At times, there are side bets of 5 extra rubber bands with a person they deem weak in the game. Many times when there are many players, to differentiate the colors (some have same colors), we would draw stripes on the bands or polka dots just so it look different from the other, clever isn't it   :)
• Shooting game - each player contributes same amount of rubber bands as pre-determined. Then, these rubber bands are collected, placed & balanced on top of 2 stretched rubber bands which is wrapped around two small poles about 6 inches apart. A line is drawn some 10-15 feet away. Players stand in turn behind the line. We take turns to shoot the entire block of rubber bands off the two stretched bands. Winner takes the lot or whatever that has fallen from the block. 
• Puzzle game - using the bands to create puzzles from easy to difficult. Loser has to pay winner certain amount of bands pre agreed before games begin. This is only a two player game.
• skipping rope - we would tie ends of rubber bands together to make a long rope so that we can use it for skipping. Skipping is always played in a group. The team with the highest number of skips wins. No prizes for this game.
• Number game - we will have a pool of rubber bands in center-pool. On the count of 3, all players will take their share from the pool with a single hand. The player that has the highest number of bands will take the lot off the person with the least number of rubber band. The loser is out of the game and the game continues until there is a single winner.
• Hair tying - The team that has the highest number of rubber bands tied to the partner's hair wins from the group.

Ohhh...those were good days, loads of screaming, shouting, challenging and laughter. Sometimes we play in the field and at other times in someone's home. Kampong  (or village) homes are huge and spacious, so playground is never an issue. Anyone care to challenge me on any of the games above???

Games People Play - Tin Can Hide & Seek

Reminiscing my childhood buddies set me thinking of games we used to play. One of those games was the tin can game. Basically, it is a hide and seek game but with a twist. In order to save the entire "clan", one needs to run and kick the tin can out of the middle of a huge circle from where it originally sits. And then, shake the tin can as hard as possible. So, how would the rest of 'clan' know they are saved? Well, prior to the game, we've inserted small pebbles and stones into the tin can and then crush the lid so that the stones & pebbles will make noise once shaken. And that's how the clan knows they have been saved.

To save one's 'life', one has to run from one's hiding place and quickly squat within the huge circle before the seeker can touch you. Once you are touched by the seeker, you have lost a 'life'.That way, one's 'life' is saved. Once a seeker finds someone, both will run towards the circle. The person hiding will try his/her best to squat within the circle while the seeker will rush to shake the tin can and shout out the name of the person(s) the seeker has found. When all players have been accounted for, then the first to be found would be the next seeker.

However, if someone manages to save the clan, then all player' 'lives' are saved! There's a catch for the seeker! Each time a seeker finds someone, the seeker will have to name out all the players he/she has found again. If the seeker misses a name, the player has a chance to kick the tin can out of the circle, squat within the circle and is considered saved!!! Therefore, remembering all players name is a must!

We usually set ourselves a radius of where we can hide. Most times, it would be the around the basketball & badminton court. This included few trees, bushes and a house within the vicinity (the cinema gatekeeper & his family stays there). The house is accessible as it's never locked, hence we get to hide in the open air bathroom & kitchen as well as the storage room. As the courts are built on a slight slope, many times we hide along the slope amongst the bushes. Of course, we get rashes & scratches and sometimes it can scar us but we were 'blinded' by the intensity of the game.

We communicated in various dialects - Hokkien, Cantonese, Malay & Mandarin. Sign language was also common as we had malay and indian friends playing alongside. We needn't be reminded of 1 Malaysia or unity...we just wanted to play and play we did. The game can last for hours and we had so much fun! Aww...I missed those happy carefree days.

PHASES OF LIFE - Childhood friendS

I've been thinking about my childhood friends recently. I had a wonderful time growing up in my mother's kampong (village) in Pedas about 15km away from Seremban. I spent most of my vacations and a lot of weekends there as my parents had to work during school vacations to make ends meet. I practically grew up there under the care and watchful eyes of my maternal grandmother. I know almost everyone in the kampong and they, me. My maternal grandfather was a well to do man and was highly respected in Pedas, I was always known as "cucu Lam Pong" i.e. Lam Pong's grandchild.

I had a group of friends I used to play with until mid secondary. There was Randy and Alex, both my uncles but of the same age with me. Back then, I despise & refuse calling them uncles as we were born practically a week apart. I was ever challenging my grandaunts and aunts why I should call them uncles!! Simply because my grandaunts gave birth the same time as my mom! No way! Ah...I was obstinate then, guess I still am; on certain issues.

Then, there was Jimmy whose parents ran a grocery shop across the road, very good looking guy & a great badminton player. And Donny whose parents ran the wet market shop. And there was Paul (a guy of few words), Richard and Hor Chim whose dad is the proprietor of a sundry shop . And a few others the names I've forgotten.

Rina, my aunt who was a year my senior, again I refuse to call her auntie! Ah Luan, whose dad runs half an apparel shop and half a rubber trading shop as is my grandfather. And then, there's Doris who's my other aunt who is same age as Rina. Also a few others I've forgotten their names.

We used to play from dawn to dusk until their parents or siblings have to search for us with canes in order for us really want to go home for dinner!! We could be anywhere, in the padi fields, some one's garden stealing their fruits, cycling/riding motorbikes around the neighborhood, swimming in the river or dam or playing games in the field or badminton court.

Later on, I will share more of the games we used to play back then. It was fun, interactive and very communicative. Ahem, that's how and where I picked up my smattering Mandarin. Thank you uncles, aunts and friends for teaching me Mandarin! Back then, I was the only one who was English educated. The older folks used to nickname me "an moh teat" or direct translation from Hokkien to English "English Straight", literally meaning " caucasians are forthright and direct! Admittedly, I am!

For now, I only know that Randy's married with two girls but living away from home to earn a living overseas. Alex's married but living a low profile life in Pedas still after his stint in the USA. Both of whom I've not meet in over 2 decades! Doris and Rina are both married but no idea number of kids and haven't seen them since Rina's mom passed on about 2 decades ago!

I sit here pondering what has become of all my childhood friends....... I have no way of getting in touch with them after all these years...hope to chance upon them in Facebook...if not, I wish all my childhood buddies all the best in their lives and hope that someday I can reconnect with them to laugh and reminiscence of our childhood days gone by.

CAMERONS/ IPOH

After a "chilling" trip to Cameron Highlands, it was time to bid goodbye and continue our journey to Ipoh. We've decided to use a separate route as the journey up to Cameron was a painful experience...to my buttocks that is! What with the endless corners and curves to maneuver, my cute butts had to adjust frequently to the change, I think I lost a few millimeters off my butts with the exercise...hmmm, think it is now tighter too ;)
The journey to Ipoh via Blue Valley was scenic and breath-taking. The journey was pleasant and my butts well rested all the way down. The air was fresh, the breeze was cool. There were lots of vegetation farms and villages as were rode downhill, the road was much wider and better to ride on.

In Ipoh, nothing eventful except for the fact that I stayed in the hotel waiting for rocker57 to finish his day's work. When he called it a day at work, we wanted to go for a ride around Ipoh but was "cheated" by the dark & cloudy skies. After 3 failed attempts and given up totally, the sky brightened up and was "inviting" us to take a ride. BAH!! The mood was gone, so we stayed in and watch TV while waiting to be picked up for dinner.
Dinner at Overseas restaurant was average but I specifically want to highlight the restaurant signature dish - veal served with fried "mantau" (buns) was an experience. The veal was tougher than plastic! But the special gravy was delightful and tastes well when eaten with the "mantau". We lodged a complaint with the captain, she gladly took the balance (1 piece) to inform the chef and told us that it would be replaced. We were in laughters when she returned many minutes later with a single piece as replacement!!! Awww, com'on would an extra piece or two make any difference??? It does to the patrons but not the restaurant...so be more generous-lah!!!
The following day, we had to rush back to Subang, so we couldn't allocate time to savour the famous dim sum at Ming Kok or Foh San....perhaps next time....

Still at Cameron Highlands

We took a ride around Tanah Rata( literally flat land translated from Bahasa Malaysia) & Brinchang. We stopped along the roadside stalls, bought some steamed "jagung" ( corn maize) bits bathed in a slap of margarine and lightly salted  served in a cup plus a box of locally harvested strawberries. The jagung bits were sweet and juicy but the strawberries was bearable, not sweet, more towards sourish and small in size. Wish I had the ones I ate in New Zealand....those were juicy, big and sweet. Ah...but to get local strawberry is a treat indeed.

With nothing else much to do, we went for tea at this place :  Great Taste. It is situated  between Equatorial Hotel and Brinchang. Along the right hand side if you are coming from Brinchang. For exact directions, please call number published. They serve the best tart pastries rocker57 and I have ever tasted. We didn't expect it to taste sooooo good.

Though we were both quite full, we went ahead to order 3 types of tarts, namely strawberry, pineapple and cheese tarts. All three flavours were simply mouth watering and delicious right to the last bite. Had we traveled by car, I would have certainly pack a few boxes.

The caffe latte and cappucino went well with the tarts. Wished I could tucked in more but I was afraid that the tyres would puncture what with my "extra" load. Rocker57 ever mentioned that I'm about the only woman he has encountered that can match him in food intake!!! Incidentally, the outlet opens from 9am-9pm daily.

After the sumptious tea, we took a walk along EQ hotel vicinity. It was cooling and pleasant to walk about. As we were on our way back to the hotel, it started to get misty and colder. We hastily retreated to the comfort of warmth in the hotel lobby. We hung around for a while before returning to our room to shower for our dinner at the hotel.

We were served local malay food, malay kuih-muih (deserts) but oddly it came with mushroom soup! an odd combo, i.e. to me and rocker57. As it was near Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Eid Mubarak to the middle east, for starters, we were served dates with malay kuih and to wash it down, they also served super duper sweet air bandung which most patrons took a sip and stopped consuming it totally!!! This was followed with mushroom soup & 7 types of vegy, meats & malay salad served with white rice. Subsequently, we had fruits and coffee to complete entire course. We were bursting to our seams after the lavish spread, however, the older Chinese couple next to our table happily tucked in every single bit of food served!!! Truly admire their capacity....just like a mini cooper, small yet compact and powerful!! WOWZA!!

As we tucked in our wide array of food, we were kept amused with our neighboring table. A young Caucasian couple who were experimenting with our food. It was amazing how they apportioned their food and segregated the food that isn't to their liking. It was kinda cute the manner they smell each item before trying it.

We called it a night after watching TV till almost midnight so that our food is at least digested somewhat before we sleep...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

CAMERON HIGHLANDS

The ride to Cameron Highlands was memorable. How so? Firstly, it's been over a decade since I last went. Secondly, maiden trip by bike and lastly, for the first time in my life I did not feel nausea nor did I vomit !!! I've always vomited whenever I visit Cameron Highlands, with this achievement, I must now conquer Fraser's Hill by bike!!!Hey, rocker57, are you ready to ride again???

We had a wet start to the day. 40km from Subang, it started to rain. We took shelter under the fly over. Rocker57 was happy enough to snap a pix for my blog..also time to wrap our luggage in water resistance covers. (the pix proves that he ain't no photographer...well at least I still had my head on...those days, we used to get our heads sliced off!!!)

We took a short break at Slim River to refuel as well as to have a brekkie. The food was appalling, obviously we didn't finish our roti canai telor nor coffee. It took us just 3hrs from Subang inclusive of brekkie to reach Brinchang. The weather was just nice approx 23 degrees Celsius. Though it was only 11.30am, we decided to have lunch. I ordered Tom Yam seafood meehoon soup while rocker57 requested for garlic Naan and Tandoori. The Soup was good but the ingredients were negligible, mostly frozen stuff and 4 pieces of prawns. But the Naan and Tandoori was very good. if you want to savour the Naan, check out Restoran Sri Brinchang, located next to Starbucks.

Restoran Sri Brinchang

With nothing else to do, we while away sipping blended juice & double espresso at Starbucks. We watched a few 'kapcai" (Honda cubs) convoy zipping around the main road showing their patriotism with 'jalur gemilang' strapped behind their bikes. It was afterall Hari Merdeka.....Happy Merdeka Malaysia!!!

Later, we checked into Equatorial Hotel and was pleasantly surprised to have our room upgraded to deluxe due to low occupancy rate amidst pre Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. We were given the highest floor and what a sight to behold. The weather was great and the scenery just splendid. What would one ask for.....open the balcony sliding doors and let the fresh air in!

                             

(view from EQ hotel, 13th floor 1600+ ft abv sea level)

Apology for the lack of technicality with uploading of pix....just can't seem to place them side by side. But I simply adore these Tudor apartments surrounding the 13 storey EQ hotel. Stayed there the last time we were there, it comes fully furnished with 2-3 rooms, can't remember much....age showing prominently...hehehe...

Well, catch me next time for more blogs on my trip to Cameron Highlands and Ipoh...coming up next. Cheers and have a pleasant week ahead!

       

Things I love about riding

Here are the things I love about riding:

• THE WIND & FRESH EARLY MORNING BREEZE - Simply AWESOME!!
• BONDING - The bonding I have with rocker57 is stronger and the love for each other has blossomed again and again. Loads of "kopi breaks" and "pee breaks" or rehydration breaks.
• THE SPEED - The power of the machine is fantastic, the pick-up is so great I often get thrown back at traffic lights, stops and start of each journey...apart from fear of whiplash...it's just great hearing the roar of the engine and how fast the mean machine can go.
• OVER TAKING - It never cease to amaze me how fast one can overtake a 4 wheeler on the highway...zoom...and bye bye car....
• WEIGHT LOST - The mobile "sauna" & art of balancing has toned me up. Despite the frequent coffee breaks, I've yet to gain any weight....hmmm...must ride more.
• CHEAP TRAVEL - Low fuel cost and toll free travel is splendid!
• CAMARADERIE - I now know that superbikers somehow do acknowledge people on superbikes or big bikes...I don't see BMW drivers honking BMW drivers...I like that friendly spirit. Even a simple "hi" with the hand gesture makes my day.
• SELF TIME - Time to yourself to think, dwelve or ponder on life....quiet time with the rush of wind....unexplanable.

One disappointment though...

Having to get shelter in the rain...but if the pros and better off than the cons....what the heck! ENJOY THE RIDE.