Labuan Trip - The Labuan Backpacker Inn, and the hardworking mummy (post 12 of 12)

After riding for the whole day, I’m tired as a hell. Went back to the bed and breakfast inn to rest, I rented a bed for RM25 per night. Its a big room with 7 double deck bed. That B&B inn has one lady in her 40s, she and 4 of her children stay in a room. She’s the cleaning cum admin, so from 8am - 4pm, she works here at the Labuan backpacker Inn and after that, she work in the oil and gas office from 4pm - 12 midnight. So hardworking right...

After 12 midnight, she comes back to the inn, and start to work from 12 midnight to next day 4pm. That night she was cleaning the room where I stay, and we had a little chat. At first she apologizes to me, cause one of her daughter keep on staring at me, and also make a lot of noise.

I said its ok, cause I always attract attention from the opposite sex due to my charm, and good photography skills (alright i made that one up... tisk tisk) I reply her that its ok, and base on my observation, that little girl maybe have this hyperactive symptom.

The lady said yes, and she’s starts to story to me how her child behave from baby until now (14 years old). And the reason she wants to work so hard, is to hope one day there will be a place to teach/cure/look after this child when she’s not around, and she manage to pay the fees for her daughter to stay there.

She hopes that her daughter will be just like any other girls, go to school, learn to take care of herself, growup, get married, raise kids. But now due to the little girl sickness, the lady might need to take care of her for the rest of her life.

For me I can’t do much, so I just told her some of the stories I meet back in Kuching. Like the story of Ah Hua. I wanted her to have hope that everything will be ok, because there are people which are few time unfortunate than her. After she listen to my stories, she starts to cry, and told me that she felt she is fortunate than them, and felt better now.

She’s a Malay, so I told her to pray more to Allah, and then believe in Allah will bless her and all her children, and they will have a bright future. Now she needs to accept that she have, and think positive.

From the conversation, again I can felt the love of a mother to her children. That love is unconditional, she willing to sacrifice even her life to exchange her children to be healthy and a good future. 

My dear reader, if you haven’t spoke to your mum this lately, pick up that phone now, and call her, talk to her, and tell her that you miss her.

Till then, thank you for reading my post. My Labuan trip report ends here, hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Apologies for the poor english, I will read more and improve :)

Full Trip Reports:

Labuan Trip - From Limbang to Labuan by Boat (Post 1 of 12)

Labuan Trip - Chinese Temple, Buddhist Temple in the Labuan Island (Post 2 of 12)

Labuan Trip - Fishing at Sungai Kinta Benua, Kampung Beluloh (Post 3 of 12)

Labuan Trip - Beach that I visited (Post 4 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The University Malaysia Sabah, Labuan Campus (Post 5 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The Labuan Peace Park (Post 6 of 12)

Labuan Trip - Creppy Abandoned Building (Post 7 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The Labuan Bird Park (Post 8 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The Chimney Labuan (Post 9 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The Labuan Botanical Garden (Post 10 of 12)

Labuan Trip - Dataran Labuan and Labuan Museum (Post 11 of 12)

Labuan Trip - The Labuan Backpacker Inn, and the hardworking mummy (Post 12 of 12)

History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 2 of 2

This is the class room that I studied when I'm in primary 1. The Primary 1 C class, on my first day at school at the year 1987. That time I’m 6 years old. I still remember on the first day, my Malay teacher taught me on how to spell Malay words, recognize vocals and vowel. I don’t know why, my teacher only teaches me once, and I can remember all of it. And from then, I can read most of the Malay words.



This is the “dungeon” next to my primary 1 classroom. I have a gifted drawing talent when I was a kid, and one day, I invited a few of my buddies to come and paint on the wall with me. Yep…and then the teacher caught me and my gang.
Then my teacher hit us with rattan, and said that we MUST clean the wall with our painting on it. One of my friends got so scare that while we are doing our cleaning with wet clothes, he cried the whole process.

I was thinking that time what the hell he wanted to cry like that, the teacher are just hit us with rattan, and clean the wall. There is no big deal about it.



This is the music room, and shit!! This reminds me of my music class, we need to bring our flute on music class. I do bring my flute, but I just can’t remember all the music notes my music teacher taught. I have no interest at all, so that why every time when playing the flute I will just put the flute in my mouth, and pretend to play along with the rest of the guys.

Damn it, if I study hard that time to nurture my musical interest I might be the next Jay Chow today.



This is how my class looks like, and the table and chair it didn’t change a bit after more than 20 years. We have to sit in pairs, and the teacher knows that I’m a talkative in class, so she purposely asked me to sit with a girl.

When we’re a kid, for guys we usually don’t like to sit or talk to a girl, and now is like sitting with a girl. That’s the only way to keep my mouth shut during the class.



For our table, we will usually draw funny cartoon back in those days. Or we will carve a boy name and a girl name, and draw a love shape on their name. and god damn it again, my friend (who I draw his name with a girl) go and report to the teacher, and I got bitten up again.

Now when come to think of it, why I don’t like drawing but like photography. The teacher have some impact as well, she always hit me with rattan when I draw my masterpiece. So this hidden my drawing talent :(



So this is the chair that we use to sit on, I will draw an invisible line in between telling my next door neighbor not to pass the line that I draw, else she will wish that she’s never been born.



When we need to go to the music room, or science room, or multimedia room our class prefect will go to the teacher office to get the key. And they still practice that in present days, this really brings back a lot of memories.



One of the tasks that I hate most is to clean the blackboard, and I’m not sure why the teacher likes to assign me on that duty. I would rather go pickup litter or clean the toilet but not clean the blackboard.

I also remember my Mathematics teacher has one habits, and that is she likes to throw the chalk on the students who talk in class. I’m very fortunate this never happen to me, cause remember a girl is sitting right next to me, and we guys don’t like to talk or touch girls.



The single chair is for older students like in primary 4 and above. And when I get older, the naughtier I was. Sometime I even fight with friends on the next class, or students who are older than me.



And I also learn all the fouls language, so in almost every word that come out from me there will be one or two f word added inside.



The announcement, this is one of the devices that I hate most. Whenever this stuff turns on, we will know that is assembly time. And I hate assembly, we have to stand there, sing the Malaysia anthem, the state anthem, and follow by our school. Then the headmaster will start to talk crap, and before we go back to class, the discipline teacher will check on our nails and hair. I hate it, now I know why I hate meetings; this is where I nurture my habits.



Yeah, the sweep is still the same as well. My teacher will never schedule guys to do the sweeping but girls to do it. She knows that girls are better than guy on cleaning.



The good old canteen, now it looks really small. Back in my primary days it was really huge, my class is the nearest to the canteen when I studied primary 3. So almost everyone in the class will asked for our help to buy stuff, and then we eat together.


This mirror is here since my primary 1, and I have took the same photo here few years back.

Check out my previous post here.



My last photo with the SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang. This is the place where I and all of the Chinese students learned all our education foundation, and it was indeed very sad to know that it will be demolish soon.

Thank you Chun Hwa school Limbang. I’ll remember you always :)

Wilson
Memories during my primary school days

My Previous Visit to the school at 2005

Limbang Chung Hwa School Posts:

History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 1 of 2

History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 2 of 2

History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 1 of 2

Establish in 1917, and the first classroom is at the 1st floor of the old Limbang market. That time there were only a few students available, and this is how the school start.

The committee members of the school emphasize that the growth of Chinese Education is a virtue. So they start to form a formal committee group with proper organization chart. And also started to raise money from the public to build a bigger and better school for the children, for them to have a secure future ahead.

The “Fu Tek Chi” hall was build on the year 1937 with the kind donation from the school committee and public. And it was officially launch by the year 1938. The hall was marked with four words 礼义廉耻(li3 yi4 lian2 chi3) which are, “Manners”, “Morality”, “honest”, and “disgrace”. And to put all of this four words together is means “Honesty and Honor” This four words is the essence teaching of the Great Confucius, and it is the school motto of SRB Chung Hwa school. And this motto had been followed by thousands of students, and then make them the successful person they are today.


1938, after the school hall was form, the school was bombarded by the united army.

On the year 1942, World War 2 started. Japanese invaded the Southeast Asia. And this also affected the Brunei country (Limbang’s neighbor), and the Limbang town also badly damage by the war. And the Japanese then use the Chung Hwa School as their military base, and also force student to learn Japanese.

On the year 1945, when the united army came to defend the Japanese, many building had been bombarded, and this also includes the Chung Hwa School. The school had been totally destroyed by the nuclear boom, all its left is just a pile of rubble. And this had marked a miserable day in the history of the Chung Hwa School.

At the year 1946, the boards of director of the Chun Hwa School Limbang are very determine, as they know to be a good human being, once must be educated. And to have educated, once must go to school. So they start to pelage assistant from the Government, and use the government servants hostel as a temporary classroom to teach students.


1945, This is the temporary classroom for the students after the World War 2


1946, The Chung Hwa School new building, build at the exact location where the temporary classroom were.


The group photo of the school board of members and all the teachers.

Day by day, as time goes by. The number of students had increase dramatically. And the board of members knew that they now need more building to accommodate these new students.

1954, the school board of members had then bough another land, and at 1956 the school had successfully build its very first concrete building which also knows as Block A, and on 1971, another block was build as an extension to the existing block which knows as Block B. And the school was been certified by the Education Department as Primary School Type A.


Photo of block A at 1959, the very first concrete building in the history of Chung Hwa School


Photo of basketball court

And the numbers of students had then grow again, which the school had then build another block which know as Block C on the year 1996.

On year 2008, the school have 45 teachers, 1055 students, 25 classrooms. And addition to that, the school also has its own dentist clinic, a multimedia room, science lab, library, computer room, and a canteen. The school provide education from Kindergarten, until primary six.


Photo of block C at 1987, when students are getting greater, more new building was build to accommodated them.

As time goes by, the school has now stopped its service on 2010. The new school was build on anther location, and this historical building will be demolish soon.

Kerry and I went back to the school on the 1st of Jan 2011, and saw one of the board in the office. At first he tough that my brother and me are outsider, then we told him that we’re students here before.

Then he told us the reason that they going to sell this school (which I think is total bullshit) is that the location is not safe for the students, cause the land behind the school might cause a landslide. So they decided to sell out the building, and let the contractor develop the place (the school is in the center of the town).

Follow by more bullshit and stuff, which makes me want to get away from there as soon as possible.


Guys, in my next post, I'll post the photos that I took during my visit to my school. And the memories I had during my primary school time.
Before that, check out the video of my school.



Cheers,
Wilson
Visitation to my alma mater

source taken from the Chung Hwa School website

Limbang Chung Hwa School Posts:

History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 1 of 2
History of SRB Chung Hwa School Limbang, post # 2 of 2

Stutong Indah Park

The Stutong Indah Park is the best place to jog, surround with trees which give fresh air to all of the jogger here. Here’s some photos that I took, in the park there’re two tracks. The longer one are 1600KM, while the second one are 1000KM. I usually run the 1600KM for 2 rounds, then stop for rest, and run another round again. It feels refresh each time after my jog. The air are fresh all the time, the park opens at 7am. And the entrance fees is 50cents per-entrance, very cheap.

mvdoulos - Bringing Knowledge, Help and Hope to Kuching

I always wanted to visit Doulos the bookship, and everytime when she's here I've always missed.


But not this time, I finally get to meet her face to face.


I roam at the ship deck, and took a lot of photos


The Moulos, bringing knowledge, help and hope. I like that slogan very much


ha! they have this cute painting of Noah's Ark on the ship, is so cute. The painting cover all the story of Noah from being till the end.


Bye bye Doulos, see you next time.

A Truck Driver’s Life – Part Two of Two

23rd Oct, 8.46am

After 30 minutes of car ride we finally reach Sibu town. My Slow stop by the Shell Gas station to get some petrol, while me go to the wash room to pay my water bill.


23rd Oct, 8.47am

The Petrol cost around RM100 at the moment, this truck is using Diesel and the Malaysia Government had subsidies some for them to lighten their burden. The gov had comeout with a program called Shell Card For Government Subsidized Diesel.


23rd Oct, 9.39am

This time we did stop Sibu for coffee, our next stop will be Bintulu, then Miri. The road condition at Sarawak are poor, I just hope that one day the government will upgrade the road condition. I’ve been thinking, if the gov really upgrade the roads condition, they can save on:

- Save on tires cost
- Less truck maintenance
- Save time, with double lane roads.
- Increase the tourism industry, no more bumpy roads.

But all of this would be just a dream; this is what happens when genius runs the city.


23rd Oct, 10.25am

An ambulance car just pass by, when we driver further ahead we saw this. A truck was at the side of the highway. The truck was badly damage in the driver seats; hope the driver will be ok.


23rd Oct, 11.08am

This is a very famous Rock God, near Sarikei. I heard rumors says that the Rock God will bless the followers with good fortune like making you strike the upcoming lottery, but in return you must came back here and thank him, if not he will come and get what he deserve.

I don’t believe in this money from God, work hard and earn what we get. There is no free lunch in this world.


23rd Oct, 11.24am

OMG, is been more than 12 hours and yet I just reach Sarikei. But this is really a good experience that can feel on how’s the life of a truck driver. So I will be more grateful in my life. Mr Slow put a cigarette in his mouth and start smoke.


Wilson: How long have you been smoking?
Mr Slow: About 10 years my friend, I’ve stoped smoke for one year. But in the end I cannot resist and start smoke again.
Wilson: So I guess your son also smoke right!
Mr Slow: Ya, *sigh* I don’t know how to advice him, he is only 16 years old. I also smoke, so I can’t advice him much.
Wilson: Then you have to take good care of your two daughters, don’t let them influence with bad habits. Friends are important; make sure you care more on your daughters, to get a good relationship with them.
Mr Slow: I didn’t study much when I was young, so sometime I also don’t know how to teach my kids. Just hope they will all be good in the future.
Wilson: …


23rd Oct, 11.38.21am

We driving at 70Km/H, and there’s a truck in front of us. “Overtake” I tell him, and he did…


23rd Oct, 11.38.38am

He check the opposite side, is clear. He then switches from gear 5 to gear 4, and start to increase the speed. He signal right, and off we go.


23rd Oct, 11.38.48am

We use 30 seconds to overtake the truck, average speed for us is 80Km/H. We can’t drive too fast, cause the tank behind is heavy, and if we crash, bye bye my dear readers. DM will close shop


23rd Oct, 12.18pm

Reach Bintulu division, I’m hungry, so as Mr Slow.


23rd Oct, 12.29pm

Both of us had our lunch here, I called back to Kuching to check how’s thing. My business is a bit slow this few months, hope things will turn good in the festive session.


23rd Oct, 12.56pm

After lunch, is time to go. From Bintulu to Miri, is still single lane highway. I close my eyes for rest…


23rd Oct, 2.12pm

When I wake up, we’re near Batu Niah. I recognize this oil palm plantation; this means that we almost reach Miri. Mr Slow’s phone rang, is was my friend (his boss) his boss told him must reach Miri at 3.00pm cause the people are waiting for the Nitrogen. And after he unload the Nitrogen Tank, he must drive back to Kuching again, as there’s another one need to be send to Miri.

After he hang up the phone, I can tell that he’s depress. Who won’t! over 20 of driving to Miri, then another 20 hours back Kuching, THEN another 20 hours to Miri again (without me accompany him). But he’s working for people, and just like he said, he doing this because of making food on the table, and shelter for his kids. I’m very fortunate that I don’t need to work for people, just hope one day he can have a better living.


23rd Oct, 4.22pm

I’ve reach Miri at 4.00pm, a total of 20 hours ride from Kuching to Miri. I need to tighten the nuts and bolts in my body. I asked him to drop me at Bintang plaza, I went to the wash room to pay my water bill. Then have a rest at Starbuck Coffee, my younger brother will pick me after his work at 5.00pm. Will I follow this truck driver again, hm~~is kindda fun actually maybe I would :)
--------------------------- End of Post -----------------------------
The pursuit of happiness is not an easy talks, everyone is looking for a way to find happiness. I’m consider a very lucky person, I have all the things I want this include happiness. My dear reader…Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something go get it.

Quote from the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness”
A Truck Driver’s Life – Part One of Two