The Story of My Life Part 1: My Childhood

Back in 1980’s in Alor Star, where I was born, oh man I miss my childhood there so much. Guess that’s triggered me to write the story of my life, part by part. My eldest sister has started to work while I was in primary school, while my 2nd sis was studying high school that time. I still remember how she used to “trick” me to eat rice by playing mouse game. She will prepare a spoonful of rice with dishes, then leave it on the plate and asked me to guard for it. Of course when she is back it’s gone and I will say I didn’t see anyone eat it ! Pretty lame, i know but that’s how cute we all were that time :-)

While my bro was in secondary school that time, he pretty much kept himself in his room all the time. As being the youngest in the family, I always wanted to play with him (I guess I wanted his attention). He is a great brother, just I wish he could spend more time with me that moment.

So, my childhood was mostly spent with my neighbors, Ah Bun and Ah Ping. Haha, we “Hokkien” speaking people like to use “Ah” in front of the last name. I played different stuff with Ah Bun and Ah Ping. Mostly more challenging and adventurous games with Ah Bun while with Ah Ping, it was mostly Chess, Checkers, etc.Here were the games we played, basically. For a Generation Y like me, I believe you guys should remember these. The one of most popular game, “Guli” :-) It can be played like the picture, or as simple as one “Guli” per person, then try to hit each other “Guli”. Whoever hit first wins.

 

The next game that i played in school was this “Tepuk Kad” game. I remember I love to collect the Ninja Turtles version. But I was never good in this game, and I found my hand painful, guess I never know the technique till now :-( Can somebody teach me? Else, I think I die also in vain, lol.

Whenever, there was a renovation on the house next door, Ah Bun and I will jump in and play the sand.
We jumped up and down. It was a great feeling standing on the top of the sand, trust me.

For my friends who know me, I love fishing. While in Penang, I managed to influence my colleagues, Wooi Kip and Mark to buy fishing rod and went till under the Penang Bridge to fish ! Haha, those were the good times. However, while childhood, where got money to buy fishing rod. Not even dare to ask my mom to buy me a “vegetable plastic basket”, like the one you use to wash vegetables, you know.

My favorite fish back then was “Ikan Laga” or in Hokkien “Siu Pak Hu”. There was a long long “longkang” behind my house back then. It’s pretty dangerous actually when thought about it. There are snake and multiple reptiles live in there, believe me. So, this is one of adventurous hobby of us, catching this fish. Want to know how we catch the fish? The scenario is a little like the the picture below.

If I managed to “borrow” the plastic basket from my mom, then it would be easier. Else we will try to find a Milo tin, poke holes at the bottom with hammer and a nail (so that the water can flow out). With the equipment, we will pull the plastic basket/Milo tin by the side of the “longkang”. Every single time we did that, we will run to the center of the land and starts pouring the water out. It was an intense feeling I tell you, it’s like unwrapping a gift or searching for a gold in a mud. Sometimes, instead of getting the fish we wanted, there were leeches, bugs or some “other” things that could make you jump and run straight back home ! Haha, That’s how adventurous this game was, for a kid !

 

Above: This was how the drain looks like, of course my version was dirtier and smellier.

Above: “Ikan Laga” that was our target fish.

Above: We used the Milo Tin with holes at the bottom or the plastic basket to catch the fish.

Of course we don’t always play dirty stuff. If there was enough peoples, we will also play this “jumping” games, I kinda forgot how to play this, but you basically need to jump around and complete the cycle.

 

Below was one of my best skilled game and I was one of the best in school ! Haha, as I remember, by using 5 “penutup botol”, throw them in the air, then your opponent will order you to hit from one “penutup botol” to another (without hitting the one in between). So, you will have to use the best method and even flip it over the air to hit the destination. Anyone dare to challenge me on this? But must give me few weeks to practice back, lol.

My bro and sister were very fond of this game, “Batu Tujuh”. You basically need to take one and throw it in the air, then using same hand, collect 1 stone then quickly grab back the one you threw. Then next round, you need to grab 2 stones, followed by 3. Then you repeat this process till you failed the round, then the next person will continue to play. I guess whoever completed more rounds win.

  

The last game that I usually game with Ah Ping was chess and checkers, pretty boring I know.
But this is what keep me entertained when I was too free :-)

     

Like other kid, I love video games. Few of my favorites like Darkwing Duck, Chip and Dale, Batman, Robocop, and many many more.

 

I hope I have time to write on more of the story of my life, next one would be teenager life or about my first love, perhaps?
Stay tuned if you’re interested to know more.

So, what was your childhood story? Share it here :-) Have a great Sunday tomorrow everyone !