Good and Fond Memories - Dedicated to all those born in 1940's, 1950's & 1960's

Without any maids, our mothers cooked, cleaned and took care of the whole family. They still had time to chat with neighbors.

Everyone had candy floss, fizzy drinks and shaved ice with syrups. Diabetes were rare and aspirin/panadol cured all illness.

We rode adult's bicycle to school, the richer ones had their own mini-bikes. Ironically, we all had problems with our brakes, and after running into the bushes a few times, we learned how to solve the problem.

Prefects were a fearful lot - more fearful than the teachers. Detention class was like going to prison for a day. We had "public canning" in schools.

NO ONE ever won the big prices on "Tikam". It was a scam but it did not stop us coming back for more.

(Original photo from Florence Enau - reproduced by Sarawakiana@2
Photo of Florence and a young Malay Boy in 1967 in Kuching)

Motorbikes were rode without helmets. It was rare to ride a private taxi. Taking a bus was luxury - we either cycled or walked everywhere.

We drank water from the tap and NOT from bottles.

We spend hours in fields under the sun, playing football or flying kites, without worrying about UV ray. It did not affect us anyway.

We roamed free catching spiders and did not worry of Aedes mosquitoes. We kept our spiders in match boxes and ready for a fight anytime.

With mere 5 pebbles, girls played endless games and with a tennis ball, boys ran like crazy for hours.

When it rained, we swam the drains and canals to catch "ikan keli", none of us were dissolved in rain.

We shared one bottle of soft drink with friends, NO ONE actually worried about catching anything.

We ate salty, sweet & oily foods, bread had real butter and sometimes condense milk. We enjoyed very sweet coffee, tea, and "ice kacang" but we were not obese because WE WERE OUT PLAYING ALL THE TIME!!

We left home in the morning and played all day till hunger drove us back home. When needed, our parents knew how to find us. NO ONE actually watched over us and WE ALWAYS WERE SAFE.

WE DID NOT HAVE HANDPHONES BUGGING US. We rode bikes or walked over to a friend's house and just yelled for them!

We did not have Playstations, X-boxes, Nintendo's, multiple channels on cable TV, DVD movies, no surround sound, no phones, no personal computers, no Internet. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!  Our TV was black and white.

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and we still continued the stunts.

We did not have birthday parties till we were 21, i.e. when we started to take noticed of girls.

We have not heard of the word "Bumiputra". We only knew our friends by names. Their parents were Pak Cik and Mak Cik or Uncle and Aunty.

In badminton, we did not change the shuttle as long as it was in flight. Regardless of how many feathers were left in the shuttle, our game continued but still Wong Peng Soon and Punch Gunalan made us proud in Badminton.

Match-boxes were always "chilly" or "king kong" brand - to own a box of matches from a hotel was something great.

Regardless of whether we could afford one, we always knew Maths tuition was Ringgit Malaysia TEN (10) a month.

All parties were held in the Town hall.

We felt please to see a policeman and we were always edger to tell police everything we saw.

Morris Minor and Volkswagen beetle were on our roads - driven alongside Kingswood, Vauxhall, Opel and Chyrsler. Executives of companies drove Peugeot 504. Japanese cars were considered "inferior". There were no traffic lights only roundabouts.

The whole Kampung came together during kenduri and all took turns to "kacau dodol". Chinese, Indians and Malays were all part of kenduri and all of us spoke Malay.

 

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Comment by 用心涼Coooool on February 5, 2013 at 10:48pm

Our favorite series of black and white television in the middle of 1970s is Six Million Dollar Man, and its female version, Bionic Woman.

On Sunday morning listen to "Kee Huat" radio facts and fancies and Saturday night "top of the pops" DJ was Patrick Teoh.

We never had birthdays parties till we were 21

Learned the waltz, cha-cha, rhumba, foxtrot and offbeat cha cha from a classmate sister.

First time dancing with a girl nearly freezed; heart went "botobom, botobom"...

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on January 30, 2013 at 11:57pm

Very true, what else, it used to be .........

We went to the jungle to catch spiders without worries of Aedes mosquitoes.

The worst disease you could get as a child is 'lock jaw' which every child knows is caused by rusty nails.

We caught guppies in drains / canals and when it rained, we swam there.

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and we still continued the stunts.

We fly kites with string coated with pounded glass powder and horse glue and we cut our hands on the string.

Happiness is winning a kite fight with a local samsing (gangsters).

I forgot, we also have to make our own kites to suit our 'fighting style'.

We always carried in our pocket a packet of fire crackers during the Chinese New Year。

We ate salty, very sweet & oily food, candies, bread and real butter and drank condensed milk coffee/ tea, ice kacang, but we weren't overweight because we ran and cycled all day.

(Feature Photo: Come Out And Play II by Romie Stanley. D.Guns, https://www.facebook.com/manahu28)

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on January 19, 2013 at 11:48pm

Yes, those were the days.

As children, we would ride with our parents on bicycles / motorcycles for 2 or 3.

Richer ones in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a taxi was a special treat.  

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and just yelled for them!

Driving license renewal was by pasting an additional slip at the back of a small red booklet.

(Photo Affection: Girls Can Ride by Romie Stanley D Guns, https://www.facebook.com/manahu28)

The first time I used a modern toilet I squatted on it for I only know the bucket toilet.

Our children will not know the danger of visiting the outdoor toilet at night nor jumping in fright when the man collect the bucket when you are doing your business.

Toilet paper is torn up newspaper on a hook which you have to crumble first.  White toilet paper is an unknown luxury until I left home.

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on January 10, 2013 at 12:17am

Those were our by-gone days, susu lembu (cow milk) was house-delivered by our big friendly and strong Bahiii, on his bicycle in a stainless steel container. The container cap served as a funnel.

Kacang puteh (peanut) man walking and balancing on his head 6 compartments of different type of murukus (a kind of Indian flour stick).

We barter our old exercise books for a paper cone of kacang putih.

We bought bangkali bread from the Indian roti man who paddled his bicycle around the neighbourhood with the familiar ringing sound.
 

Sometimes we bought cold storage bread wrapped in wax paper. Spread the bread with butter and kaya wrap with the wax paper and take to school.

 F&N orange was served in wooden crates and displayed on table during Chinese New Year. M&M 's was called Treets ..

Eating chicken was a treat that happened only once on Chinese New Year and once on "Chap Goh Meh", Deepavali or Christmas and Hari Raya

One noodle 'chow kway teow' cost 30 sen and we bring our own egg.

One 'roti canai' cost 15 sen and one banana for 5 sen.

Crop crew cut by the travelling Indian and Hockchew barber; 30 sen a haircut; all the way to the top. Reason easy to dry when curi swimming.

We took aspirin, candy floss, fizzy drinks, shaved ice with syrups and diabetes were rare. Salt added to Pepsi or Coke was remedy for fever.  Tonic water was taken at the first hint of malaria.

We always carry a one ringgit note at night in case we are stopped by mata mata (Policeman) for not having tail lights on our bicycles.

(Photo Affection: Cheers When Rain Arrives by I Gede Lila Kantiana, http://www.lilaartphotograph.com/)

Comment by 抱抱,看新聞 on December 12, 2012 at 11:08pm

用心良Coooool上載的前幾段文字,實在太感人了;我衝動得要在這裡將它改寫成中文,讓懂得中文的墾友也能體會,我們父母成長的歲月是怎麼一回事:

曾經有那麼一段時光:

要是爸媽發現我們在學校給老師鞭了,我們在家中肯定會面對另一輪的鞭打。爸媽和老師永遠是一夥的。

週末,我們去河裡游泳,沒泳褲,把衣服剝光了就跳水去。沒人會笑你的“小鳥”太小或歪了。

週末的另一個大節目是去看廉價早場電影,早上十點半開場,通常都是有關大力士之類的羅馬神話(或西部牛仔片)。

老爸會給我七角錢,五角錢買戲票,兩角錢搭巴士。我會從儲蓄罐挖五分錢出來買花生,另外一角錢買紅豆冰。紅豆藏在一團銼冰中,外頭是紅糖漿黑糖漿加上煉奶。

在中五以前,從不曾和女生搭訕,更別說和她們約會。

(Photo Affection: Main Air by Ramadhan Bagaskara, http://www.facebook.com/ramadhan.bagaskaraaryapramuka)

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on December 12, 2012 at 9:13pm

Oh......those were the days.

When parents found out we were caned in school, it's certain we would get another round. Parents always sided with the teachers.

We went swimming in the river during weekend, no swimming trucks, only birthday suit. No one laugh at you whether your "kuku bird" is small, crooked, etc.

Another big program on weekend is going to Cheap Matinee. Start screening at 10.30am, usually cowboy shows or Greek mythology like Hercules. Father gave us 70 sen; 50 sen for ticket, 20 sen for return bus fare.

We usually take another 5 sen from our piggy bank for kacang putih (peanut), and 10 sen for "angtau" (red bean) ice ball. The red beans were tugged inside the ice ball, with red sugar, black sugar and some milks outside.

We never, never, never talk or mixed with girls until Form 5. Not to mention dating them.

(Photo Affection: Wow, I Caught Him by I Gede Lila Kantiana, https://www.facebook.com/gedelila)

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on December 9, 2012 at 3:02pm

Once upon a time, with mere 5 pebbles (marbles) would be an endless game for us.

With a ball we would run like crazy for hours.

We caught guppies in drains and when it rained, we swam there.

We ate salty, very sweet & oily food, candies, bread and real butter; drank condensed milk with coffee tea, ice kacang, but we weren't overweight.

Because we ran and cycled all day.

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and we still continued the stunts.

Once upon a time, we don't know what is "Bumiputra"......but we were 1 Malaysia.

(Photo Affection: Marble Shooting by Matthew Ramsaur, http://www.ramsaurfilms.com/)

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on December 8, 2012 at 8:57pm

Once upon a time, we didn't know who is our Prime Minister or national heroes, we adored only the Siamese fighting fish seller in the market. We struggled to save enough money so that we can buy a "champion" or "king" fighting fish. The pleasure of bringing the fish around the village in a glass container for challenges seemed never ends.

(Photo Affection: Blue Betta Fish by Visarute Angkatavanich, http://www.facebook.com/visarute.angkatavanich)

(Photo Affection: Siamese Fighting Fish by Visarute Angkatavanich, http://www.facebook.com/visarute.angkatavanich)

Comment by 用心涼Coooool on December 7, 2012 at 6:16pm

Those Were The Days lyrics

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Songwriters: STROUSE, CHARLES/ADAMS, LEE

 

Comment by 抱抱,看新聞 on July 23, 2012 at 10:10pm

記得不久前,在沙巴丹絨亞路的一家海濱餐廳吃飯。老板原籍奧地利,落腳沙巴已經二十年。

他年輕時走遍歐洲、美國和東南亞,最後決定在沙巴成家立業。問他為何愛上這里,并娶了本地太太?

他說了兩件事情。頭一件,他當年在菲律賓工作時,過來沙巴首府亞庇。某日傍晚,他想從下榻的市區酒店,行走到丹絨亞路海邊,去觀賞那有名的落日美景。

由于對地理距離與方向沒觀念,他兜轉了很久都沒去到那海邊。隨意在路邊截住一部車子問路,那人居然像個老朋友似的,毫不猶豫對他說:我載你一趟吧。

還有一次,他上神山玩,路經昆達山社區,大路邊每隔一段距離就有個小攤子,放着一些新鮮收成的水果蔬菜,旁邊有個小牌子寫着:每包一塊錢。

好玩的是,那攤子是沒人看顧的,只是在牌子旁放了一個小桶。誰拿蔬果誰就把錢自動放進桶里。他看看那桶里還真的有些錢,就是沒人偷拿人家的水果和蔬菜不給錢,也沒人偷拿人家桶里的血汗錢。

這位奧地利中年男子今天想起來還驚嘆的說,世界上那來如此信任人、善待人的地方?

(Photo Appreciation: Clock Repairman by Brendon  Liew.jpg, http://www.facebook.com/liewiulung )

在座的朋友不無感嘆的說,我們原來就是這樣生活的……。今天中年的一代都記得,馬來西亞原來就是這樣一個平安、良善的地方。

種族之間過去沒有猜疑,我們可以同桌用餐,阿狗仔吃他的叉燒飯、肉骨茶,阿里吃他的椰漿飯。

房子不僅不需要裝金屬窗花,而且白天連大門都不關上,左鄰右舍的孩子玩起來,這家前門進那家後門出。

後來,某些政治人物開始強調某些種族的權益應該更受關注,彼此卻好像擁有得越來越少,越來越沒法子相信對方。

政府推動越多所謂的“發展計劃”,失業、犯罪的人也似乎越來越多。房屋窗戶都裝上了最堅固的鐵花;警方也說,“數目顯示”罪案已經下降,不如市面上“大家所傳言的那樣嚴重”。

建國逾半個世紀,大家為何連官方的數目字也不再相信呢?再說,怎樣的治安情況才會讓官方覺得“嚴重”呢?

想想,我們真的“進步”了嗎;換個方式來問就是:我們是否真的明白,現有的“進步”,是不是以各族人民原有的幸福換回來的?

(Photo Appreciation: This is for by Yvonne Ding, )

愛墾網 是文化創意人的窩;自2009年7月以來,一直在挺文化創意人和他們的創作、珍藏。As home to the cultural creative community, iconada.tv supports creators since July, 2009.

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