Tigo Gunung - Padang Jarak Padang Tekukur

(Click on the pic or scroll down for the full pic as it was meant to be. Taken by Wan and edited by Akmal)

Coming soon - watch this space and my fotopages for personal pics and narration of the Padang earthquake, after 40 days.

Lifetime lessons to be learned here, that's for sure.

Alfatihah untuk semua yang meninggal akibat gempa.

Ku Ingin Bahagia and The Universality of Music

Yes, music is universal. This is one (overused) cliche that I will use as the premise of this entry.

During the 60s and the 70s, or perhaps even in the 80s, we have adopted and adapted foreign song as our very own. It is called lagu saduran.

Some are really foreign to our ears and are really painful to listen to, but there are some songs that are perhaps more Malay than many Malay songs, especially songs from this decade. After the popularity of Fantasy by Earth Wind and Fire in the 70s, it was quickly adapted by BDB and so Khalayan was born.

Picking up English songs for adaptation was harder especially these days since many would have known these songs, and many would mock these adapted songs, especially us teens in the 70s. When Bee Gees released the Spirit Having Flown album, a friend Kamal would come to me day and said BDB has came up with a new song Terjadi.

Nice one Madi.

If one were to buy an album in the 70s, you would know immediately if the song is composed locally or somehere else by the notation CC. For some reasons, they would not just revealed the song writer and the composer, instead they just put a note saying that it was copyright controlled.

Obviously the gomen aka RTM didn't like it then (in the late 80s) and banned adapted songs from the airwaves. It was said that adapted songs hinder the creativity of local composers and make it too easy for anyone to come up with an album.

Much like our soccer scene I guess. Just hire any pak hitam to be your striker and hey presto you have a super league team.

Honestly, I do enjoy some of the adapted songs. They were so good that you didn't even know they were adapted. Japan would be one source with it melodious and soft language, that it was ideal to be adopted into Malay song, never mind that culturally we are a constellation apart.

In 1979, Rina Rahman (now Datin) was reasonably popular with this melancholic song Ku Ingin Bahagia. I love this song and have played it to death, to be honest. But only with the advent of You Tube, I would know that it was Japanese song by Momoe Yamaguchi titled Akai Unmei.

Arif, just like me 30 years ago, thought it was a Malay song through and through.

Here is the Japanese version.


Another one was this 70s song by Rafeah Buang - Tangisan di Sisiku. Aaah, again, it was a sad song that I love so much. You can compare the two here.


Here is the original by Mieko Hiruta. I guess the first one was her in the 70s, and the second one when she was older. You can hear it in her voice.

There is another song in the 70s - Hari Ini tak Seindah Semalam by A Rahman Kadir, which I believe, was adapted from a Japanese song, but I could not find even the Malay version anymore. So there is no way for me to find the Japanese version.

Of course not to mention the beautiful songs and voice by Mayumi Itsuwa that we used to listen to in the 80s.

Even if I didn't understand a single word of Japanese then.

This one has no translation but the recording is better. This is Koiibitoyo (My Dear Lover). And a powerful rendition by Mayumi Itsuwa.

No wonder in the 90s, when I was spending months of my time in Japan, I was taken by their songs. I even took the time to spend hours in their CD shop in this small town of Tokuyama and look for the songs that I love so much which I spent time listening to after coming back from my training at the Idemitsu refinery there.

To me, Japanese is such a beautiful language and it shows in their songs.

And people, if I may add.

But then again, we are not the only one guilty of such digression, if you could consider this as a sin. The Americans did it with this Sukiyaki rendition by A Taste of Honey.

It was quite a popular in 1981 in Australia.

Kuala Kangsar Banjir!

Don't worry, it happened nearly 43 years ago.

These pictures were taken in January 1967 in Kuala Kangsar. I believe it was Raya day, as we were all dressed up. And I am sure the occasion was not the flood per se.

(Here we were at the kaki air near the clock tower roundabout. This is the road leading to Bukit Chandan and Lembah where the jetty of Sg Perak is if you want to go to Sayong. Nowadays though one can cross the river via a bridge.)

Nowadays with the Chenderoh and Temenggor dams, I don't believe Kuala - as we affectionately call Kuala Kangsar, will ever be flooded again, unless of course if something catastrophic were to happen. Nauzubillah.

But like Kota Bharu and Kelantan during the monsoon every year, here too we would be enjoy ourselves too in the main street of Kuala Kangsar. I bet you, if you were to go to pekan Kuala nowadays, you would be able to recognize this part of town. Nothing has changed that much; and I love it the way it was.

Kuala Kangsar is of course our 'kampung' on my paternal side, and beyond it being our kampong, it was also our hometown after we moved to Kuala from Taiping in 1978 (to the protestation of us kids, who were by then so accustomed to the bigger town that is Taiping after moving from Lenggong at the end of 1972). In the family, in the end, we have two groups - those who speak with the Northern slang of Taiping and those who speak the Perak slang.

Of course then us elders would always mock the youngsters for the then perceived less-than-refine slang.

That's the golden triangle for us - Taiping, Kuala Kangsar and Lenggong. Towns I would call home at certain points of my life.

Here are the Hariris with Opah Wan Tak and PC Mat at Jalan Besar Kuala Kangsar during the 1967 flood.

Here we are again at the Sg Perak where it burst its bank that year. I was just four years old then, with my sis and an auntie. This is the road leading to Bukit Chandan I guess.

That's Mak with her sis-in-law aka our auntie and her mother aka our 'grandmother'.

Here we are in Talang at my grandpa's house. I guess these were us after our raya in the flooded town of Kuala. That's my grandpa Bab. The house is still intact in Talang.

Talang of course was not flooded, but then again this house was on stilts, so it does not matter if it flooded or not.

Now I am bored. Where is my PS2? Oh sorry, wrong decade. Hehe... Where is my little red corvette? Or with my cowboy dress, I need my gun!

Now I am really bored! What a big yawn. May be by now I was wondering when this picture taking session was going to end. Hahaha.

I am glad bapak was much into photography and recording those moments then. The problem being the photographer is that he would almost always not be in the pictures.

Le tour de Ipoh

First posted at Yahoo 360 blog Oct 2007

Even though I was 'active' in sport in primary school - active here is of course relative and played rugby for a school team that won the Perak state title, I was never known for my sporting prowess. I guess the only reason I was an 'important' member of the King Edward VII-1 primary school rugby team was my sheer size when I was twelve compared to my other schoolmates and they needed someone my size to be the scrum leader.

Other than that, you are looking at a 'kaki bangku' here!

In secondary school, I didn't make it to any school team. The closest I have been to one was when I was shortlisted for goalkeeping role in 1977 and was asked to attend training. Of course Cikgu Nawi wasn't impressed at all with my display, even after I had stopped a goal-bound ball from a senior at close range. He made it clear, and in no uncertain term what he thought of my performance when he said, "Allah goalie, sedihnya." I knew then I would not be selected.

But I do enjoy a bit of sport every now and then. Then during summer holidays in Kuala Kangsar, with nothing else better to do, I got myself into cycling. I guess after failing four driving tests in Perth a couple of years earlier (yes, you read it right; 4 driving tests!), I have no choice but to turn to cycling as it didn't require a license to operate!

I guess in 1983, that was the only toy I have at our home in KK - no internet, the PS3 or the WII and no girlfriend! And of course with the results for year's exams were known, I was under no pressure at all during my yearly vacation back home.

Ah well, those simple days!

Being a full-blooded young man at the peak of determination and energy - at twenty, I could leap tall building in a single leap! , so I decided to do something which I would now consider as stupid. I mean I would never do this again in 2007, even if I am young again.

I decided to cycle from Kuala Kangsar to Ipoh and back in 24 hours - alone!

In the 80s, the journey from KK to Ipoh is a bit more convoluted than at present. You are practically going through the circumference of a half circle, rather than going to the shorter distant radius.

So armed with my brother's racing bike that bapak bought him as an encouragement for him to do well for SPM, I started from our house in Bukit Kerajaan early one morning in late 1983 or early 1984. At that time, there was no North-South Hiway yet, so I used the old trunk road that will take me through Sungai Siput and Chemor.

So I cycled past KK town heading towards the Iskandar Bridge, crossing Sg Perak, heading towards Sg Siput, it was quite an easy journey. The road was practically flat - that's the very reason I decided against a KK-Taiping-KK trip even when it was closer. I would have to climb the Bukit Berapit, quite a steep terrain to reach Taiping and it would be reasonably tough and taxing for someone without any training.

The majestic Iskandar Bridge in Kuala Kangsar was built by the Brit - majestic, minus the extravaganza. Compare the bridges built by the government (Azlan Shah Bridge at the NS Hiway near KK) - pathetically non-descript and unworthy of the name. On the other hand, the bridges at Putra Jaya are simply a waste of taxpayers' monies.

While the road was reasonably flat, the nearby terrain was not. With rolling hills cultivated with tapioca on both sides of the trunk road, it was quite a sight to enjoy. My understanding was that it has one of the biggest tapioca plantation in the world. At one spot, one would cross underneath a railway bridge that has only one lane for both north and south bound traffic, hence you have traffic light in the middle of nowhere.

As this was the main trunk road for traffic from Penang to KL, the traffic was reasonably heavy even in 1983. I had at least one near-miss when an oncoming bus decided that he has the right of way in my lane. Luckily I saw him coming, so I stopped on the road shoulder and let him pass. I guess "might is right" in this case, though to his credit, the bus driver did acknowledge my stopping for him with a thank-you wave.

I am sure drivers are no longer as courteous as they were back then.

Even tho the bicycle was powered by a young man at the peak of his physical prowess - 'peak' is of course relative, I could only average out a mere 10 km per hour for a journey of about 50 km to my auntie's house in Rapat Setia in Ipoh, of course with the help of multiple stops for some ice tea at roadside stalls in Sg Siput and Chemor.

I reached Rapat Setia at noon. Of course my auntie was surprised to see me, not expecting me of course and my 'bike'. She commented that I looked so dark from being burn in the sun; otherwise I was in one piece, which is the most of important thing.

I stayed a night at her place before embarking on the reverse journey back to KK. I guess the return journey was more uneventful; just the way I like it.

In hindsight, I thought I was stupid as I was unprepared for the journey. No drinks, and no tools were brought along with me during the journey. Should I have a puncture, or should anything happened to me, I have no mean of rectifying it or be able to call anyone for help. Worst was that I didn't actually train for the trip. Of course then there was no cell phone for me to bring along.

As I have said I was only armed with determination and a young man's energy.

In some ways, I would say that I am 'glad' to have done it and still be in one piece. I would be able to tell my grandchildren, if I live long enough, how stupid the grandad was when he was younger to embark on such journey alone without proper car escort. Or that they would be able to read it in my blog. I would not encourage Arif or Akmal or anyoen to undertake such stupid journey that saved me less than RM5 of bus tickets.

Unless they do it properly of course.

EPILOGUE

I don't think it is safe to cycle anymore. There are just too many cars; and mostly speeding without any care for others. I would like it very much if our suburbs is cycle-friendly; that we need to only cycle to go to most places as cycling is a very efficient mode of transportation.

What did I get out of this? Nothing much I guess. Only the right to brag that I have been there and done that, like what I am doing right now.

This is me a week or so before the tour. A self photo taken at our house in Bukit Kerajaan Kuala Kangsar. I was better dressed than this of course during the tour.

I'm a fool to want you

I was mesmerized when I heard the latest Chanel No 5 advert.

You read that right! When I HEARD the advert. On the telly, mind you.

It is to the tune of a familiar song that caught my attention, though the vocal is not a voice I am familar with.

Don't get me wrong; I thought it was a catchy advert. The scene and scenery was breathtaking to say the least. It is the stuff romance is made of - the Orient Express, the tunnel and the arch bridge. I should not comment much on the actor/actress or the models, if you must, in it. The model was not up to my standard, to be honest, but then again, what do I know about casting, right?

It is also stuff murder is made of - Agatha Christie's style.

Here is the advert again.

But what I would like to highlight is this is one song I have been listening to at night, coming back from the harsh working environment at Perak Hanjoong Simen in mid 80s, and I have known this song from my uni days circa 84-85. Her voice is so soothing.

The orchestra, helmed by Nelson Riddle, was fantastic and Linda Ronstadt's voice was simply awesome and full of bodies. I can listen to this over and over again 25 years on. How I would melt over and over again if she would sing it for me! ;-)

The arrangement showcased the voice beautifully. YOu can immersed yourself in her voice, and yet still able to listen to each one of the instrument; the piano, the viola, the horn section. Wonderful.

I'm a fool to want you
I'm a fool to want you
TO want a love that can't be true
A love that's there for others too

I'm a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss the devil has known

Time and time again, I said I'd leave you
Time and time again, I went away
But then would come a time
When I would need you
And once again these words I have to say

I'm a fool to want you
Pity me I need you
I know it is wrong - it must be wrong
But right or wrong,
I can't get along
without you

But here is the version by Billie Holiday as used in the advert. She sounds so painful to be honest though it is a pleasure to listen to her too. While I have always been a fan of Linda Ronstadt, I would give credit to Billie Holiday for this 1950s version. The arrangement is great too.

She sends shivers down my spine. She sounds like she was in pain. Frank Sinatra has a hand in writing this song though his version to me is forgetful.

I did not realize that the 'you' in this song was really a fragrant! ;-)

EPILOGUE

Listening to both I am a fool to want you and What's New, I was transported to another era and another equally haunting song, of course this remake was by Linda Ronstadt and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Both of song I am a fool and the one below When your lover has gone are songs from her Lush Life Album.

If only Arif and Akmal would one day produce this kind of work, I would be extremely proud. Never mind Mozart or Beethoven. That's why I thought the Lush Life album is one album I would take with me if I am stranded on a deserted island.

When Your Lover has Gone

What good is the scheming, the planning, the dreaming
that come with each new love affair
The love that you cherish,
so often may perish
and leave you with castle in air

Aah, what a voice, and what an era. Err, never mind the lyrics of both song OK. It may have some negativity in it, but I guess they are reflections of the time they were written . If I may term the 40s and the 50s as the romantic era, with apologies to the real romantic era of classical music.

Here is what I found in Wikipedia.

The album was released in 1958. Says Ray Ellis (composer/arranger), "I would say that the most emotional moment was her listening to the playback of "I'm a fool to want you" There were tears in her eyes...It wasn't until I heard the final mix a few weeks later that I realized how great her performance really was."

And I thought I would never see her again..

in the full splendour and glory of the song and the video clip, as I saw them in 1983.

I have been posting about this song (you can read it here) and mainly it was her singing live with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. I love this song so much that I keep on re-posting thinking that I have not done so.

But for some reasons, I can't find the real video as I knew it then until today.

Aah, thank you Youtube. Thanks you for the person uploading. Been looking for this for years and suddenly today, here she is

She was born to sing this 1939 song.

Actually, upon further mulling, I didn't actually see the full splendour of this song back in 1983. I was expecting a B&W version of this video clip ala Casablanca. But then again, my memory was playing the trick on me.

My TV during those years is a B&W telly, so I could only be seeing this clip in B&W!

So it was an anti-climax for me to see them in colour. I still prefer if the video is b&w.

I also wrote the following on June 20, 2007.

"The video also features Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the B&W Casablanca, so it is always nostalgic to see the clip."

There was no Ingrid Bergman nor Humphrey Bogart in this video clip and there was no Casablanca. Only Linda Ronstadt and an unknown actor reprising the roles. See how memories can play the trick on you!

Check you bill please - carefully!

Sometimes you wonder to what extent Malaysian companies would take to trick (read:cheat) the Malaysian public just to fill in their coffers.

They need to do it fast, before Malaysian public could be awaken.

I spent 2 hours at Ampang Puteri Hospital today. Nothing out of the ordinary I must say and nothing to be concerned about, I am glad to tell you. After informing the receptionist at the (specialist) clinic that we have been here (Ampang Putri) before albeit at another specialist clinic, she didn't have to register us, and within 30 mins, we were ushered in.

Not bad for a walk-in clinic without appoinment.

The doctor was chatty and more than I had expected. I mean we had been to another specialist here in the same hospital whose answers were one-liner so much so that I had to send an SOS message to a former colleague at Monash University for him to take our case or at least recommend us another doctor.

That Dato' doc at the specialist hospital thought that we the public could not comprehend medical terms and descriptions.

So we dumped him for another specialist, at the recommendation of my old friend at Monash (a professorial doc minus the title who had taken cases of utmost political consequence a decade ago) who unfortunately could only take adult cases.

Sorry I digress.

At the outpatient pharmacy, we were explained about the medications and then were told that it would cost us RM381.60. I didn't bat an eyelid, though I thought it was expensive. But you are talking about Ampang Putri and not Taiping GH here, so I would just pay up.

Given them my credit card and after I had signed the chit would they produced the detailed bill. By then, I had already paid my bill obviously.

So I scrutinized the bill while I was walking out, and what I saw was interesting. They had charged us RM15 as a new patient.

And we are not new patient.

So I went back and make noises about the charge. RM15 Alhamdulillah is not a fee I would normally baulked over, sometimes our lunch would exceed that amount, and I guess Arif's pizza bill would amount higher than that.

But she told me that the last time we were there was 5 years ago and that after 5 years we would be considered as new patient.

"How convenient!" I told her.

"So you would want us to come here every year or every month even though we are not sick?" the loyar buruk side of me was starting to talk.

She laughed. "No, that's the rule."

"But I can take it out for you if you wish."

Now she is talking.

I told her in no uncertain term that at hotel, we are always given the detailed bill before we sign the chit. Here they tried to con us by giving it after they had charged you.

So she reversed the bill and saved me RM15. She knew looking at this serious looking guy, that this is one guy willing to kill someone over that amount of money, if he feels that there is an element of cheating involved.

Here are my take on this:

1. Every 5 years you would have to renew you membership at the hospital. With computerised system that would record everything, it costs practically nothing for them to have you in the system
2. How convenient it is that we have exceeded 5 years since our last visit. If it were there say 3 years ago, the rules would be changed to 3 years and still they would charged us.
3. The detailed bill was given after we paid up. In this case, I would consider it a hassle to reverse the credit card charge and would have preferred to leave so as to avoid traffic jam (it was 5.30 pm by then).
4. You can ask for a policy reversal if you were to ask for it. Rules are after all meant to be broken.

I think Malaysian companies, especially the GLC, can always get away with murder. Tell me how many Malaysian companies are there in the Fortune 5oo list who rake in more than 60% of their revenue from overseas operations?

Other than this singular company, most other big Malaysian corporations who make at least RM1 billion a year would use this kind of trick. Maxis for example would charge RM3 per call to TM 103 line instead of RM0.30.

That's why I thought many Malaysian companies can get away with murder.

But at least, to their credit, Ampang Putri were willing to reverse the charges and I didnt go through too much hassle to get them do it. In fact she did it willingly.

EPILOGUE (Updated 8 am 27 Oct)

I just browsed the net and found an article on an alternative website entitled Getting Away with Murder. I just read this Tuesday at 8 am and hence my above article has nothing to do with this murder - so to speak.

I was talking figuratively and they were talking literally!