Once there was a diary

Collection of my diaries, management diaires and  journal books since 1964 in my study

1967 diary made of hardboard paper
and cotton strings

 One life-long habit of mine is to keep a diary.  Sometimes the diaries are complemented by notes, travelogue and journal books, photographs and news cuttings.  I keep diaries to help me remember events and happenings impinging on my life.  Jottings in a diary help me practice self-talk.  The aim is to be truthful to myself in facing the negative talk in life and to counter them with positive self-talk.  In this digital era my diary writing is further supplemented in blog posts that take into account my daily experiences further enhanced by digital images.  In many ways blogging exposes you to the outside world so there is a fine line between private and public consumption in your life's jottings.  Tomorrow, 16th September,  Malaysians will celebrate "Malaysia Day", the day the nation was born 51 years ago.   Below is a glimpse of what happened on "Malaysia Day" in 1967 with a stark difference.  In 1967 Malaysia Day was celebrated on 31 August.  But that is now history as the date has been changed to its proper date i.e. 16th September. Thanks to historians the truth finally wins the day.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!!

     
 (Note: On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

A glimpse of my life's happenings on Malaysia Day in 1967 while a Form Four Student at Tanjong Lobang School,  Miri.

A decorated arch to welcome Malaysia Day in the 1960's.

Once there was a speedboat

Me on the speedboat cruising the Likau River, Similajau National Park,Bintulu.

Ooops, that's the way to do it!
My wife on board.

 Between 1988 - 1992, I took lots of riding trips on a speedboat.  I would travel up the the rivers of Kemena, Tatau and Likau on official duties.  Those were days when my hands were full.  I had a wide range of working portfolio (landscaping, housing, PR and tourism, squatters resettlement, HR and general administration) which brought me to places around Bintulu division. .  Sometimes the locations are remote and the only means to reach them was by the speedboat.  On one occasion, I had to endure two and a half hours of 3 meters wave in pitch darkness to arrive at Likau River.  Even the boat mechanic vomited and got seriously seasick.  As for me I could not tell the difference between a huge 3 meter waves and any other wave because it was my first experience riding in an outboard in the dark.  Fortunately that night  we arrived Likau safely, thanks to our expert driver, strong spotlight  and two twin 200 hp engines.  I used to bring many groups of  people to Similajau National Park and the Likau River which was the entry point to the park.  From Likau I would bring visitors and friends to see  the golden beach at the Similajau National Park  where turtles regularly lay eggs.  Once  I brought my children to play on the golden sands there. My pet project at Likau was the construction of tourist facilities there on behalf of the Forestry Department.  We built hostels, chalets, office block, canteen,rest shelter, jetties and footpaths.  Today, Likau is reachable by road (about 40 minutes drive from Bintulu town center) but in those days when we were doing the facilities, the only means to reach the location was by sea.  However by the time the facilities were completed proper road was also completed by the JKR or PWD (Public Works Department).  Sarawak has huge potential in tourism but there is so much still to do, even today.  Glad I was involved in the early days of tourism in Bintulu. And not to forget the speedboat that saved my life that dark night.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!


  (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Pic shows the golden beach at Similajau National Park, taken on 23 March,1991.

My children playing on the golden sands at Similajau National Park, 14 December,1988.

Aerial colour photo of Likau River.  This I took while on a commercial plane flying over the area, taken in 1988.
Accessible only by sea from Bintulu.

Recent satellite photo of the Likau River.
Note the presence of the road linking to the tourist facilities area/park headquarters from Bintulu.  The clearing on top left of the picture are for oil palm plantations.

In the speedboat with visitors to the Similajau National Park, 25 July,1990.

Office Block under construction at Likau, 14 January,1991.

Once there was a flower

Pink Poui (Tabebuia rosea) along a major roadside in Bintulu.
Date: 13 May, 2012

Pink Poui and Olive-backed Sunbird

 The Poui trees (Tabebuia rosea) are now a familiar tree in Bintulu.  Its magic is evidently seen by its crowning glory of large and bunchy pink and white flowers.  The first ever batch of these trees were planted along the Tanjong Batu scenic road.  Gradually over a period of 35 years the trees were planted on major roadsides in Bintulu.  I can write endless stories about these trees but suffice to say that it was from the Bintulu experience  that other town councils began to adopt these trees as landscape trees in their main towns and rural areas.  Not many people know that originally these trees came to Bintulu in an envelope.  The story is here. Over the years too I regularly blog about them.  The relevant blog postings can be accessed below:
1) http://myussop.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-pink-and-white-glory.html
2) http://mysarawak2.blogspot.com/2010/11/be-there-right-time-and-moment-in.html#comment-form
3) http://mybintuluclicks.blogspot.com/2014/04/flowering-pink-poui.html

It is from this tree that my association with Arthur George Alphonso was first nurtured and provided me with many learning experiences on landscaping matters based on his experiences in the greening of Singapore.  Just a couple of years ago I planted one Poui tree in my garden in Kuching.  I consider the Poui tree as an essential tree for the Kambatik garden or Malaysian garden.  Check out more of my gardening experiences on this tree in Kuching here. 

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!

  (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

I 

White Poui (Tabebuia alba)

Photo shows me (extreme left) and George Alphonso (middle in blue shirt) entertaining Japanese volunteers (JOCV) at Pantai Ria, Bintulu. Date taken : 26 October,1990.

Once there was a course

Combo pix showing the Bintulu Golf Course (2nd nine - Hole 10 - 18)
Picture shows the course in various stages of completion.  The 2nd nine course faces the South China Sea

BDA worker mowing the green at Hole 14 - 1988

1988 was a most trying year for me.  I was steeped into the landscaping of the greens, tee boxes, fairways, slopes, bunkers and general landscaping of the Bintulu golf course.  It was my first experience in doing the landscaping and maintenance of a golf course.  There were many visits made to Singapore and various  courses in Malaysia to understand the practical details of landscaping and maintaining  a golf course.  There were staff to be employed and specifications for procurement of  equipments and course maintenance to be written down in technical details for contractual documentation.  The course was to start with the 2nd nine or back nine, i.e. holes 10 -18 and to be opened for play in 1989.  I have shared many stories about the early beginnings of the course as in here and more here.  There were tons of pleasure and joy in doing the job even though it was most taxing in terms of new learning, time schedule and organisational capability.  On reflection I was  indeed blessed with a very supportive team of bosses and subordinates in carrying my responsibilities.  Memories are made of them.  Not many people however knew that we also built a  golf green for our  boss house in Kidurong Residential area in 1986 (see bottom picture).  It was  the only house in Bintulu to have a proper practice green.  At the end of the day I found that doing the course was one of the best adventures of my life.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!

   (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

The picture above shows the golf club building.  In the background is Hole 10 tee box or start of play and at middle  of picture is the Hole 18 fairway and green, the last putting green for the 9-hole golf course.
Picture taken in 1989.

Hole 18 fairway - jungle clearing and burning in progress
Date : 31 March,1986

Hole 18 fairway - turfing works completed to fairways, slopes and green
Date : 4 February 1987.

BDA staff housing at the Kidurong Residential area showing our GM's house with the practice green (at center of picture)

Once there was a guitar

2012

As a young kid I always admired young adults playing the guitar.  I could never own a guitar myself because I was too poor to buy one.  Fortunately, I had a school mate willing to allow me to strum and sing Beatles songs on his guitar.  Gradually I learned some basic finger works from him.  As a young adult in 1972, I used part of my scholarship money to buy my first ever guitar while studying at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.  I joined the university's pop band as a bassist.  From then onwards, there was no stopping me playing the guitar.

Me on the guitar and voice recording "Rain" - 2012

 The year 2012 was kind of memorable for me because in that year I decided to do cover versions of songs to be shared on You Tube.  I thought why not render the songs with guitar sound and voicing only, clean and pure.  Plus a little bit of your own interpretation and style thrown in.   Playing the guitar has a cathartic effect on me.  It makes me happy, at ease with myself and keeps me tuned to my true north.  Furthermore, I really wanted to do the video making  myself especially its story board and photography.  So here's three songs for the sharing....please click on the links below :-

The song "Rain"

The song " Windmills of your mind"

The song " Camellia III"

Enjoy music while it lasts.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!

 (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Once there was a nursery

Planting works with materials from Green Acres nursery, for one of the many MLNG houses at Kidurong township

Green Acres Nursery logo

 In 1992, I set up a nursery business as one of the many ventures upon joining the private sector.  The nursery business was run as a firm.  It was to provide all the planting materials for landscaping jobs undertaken by another company of mine.  Throughout the 1990's landscaping was a worthwhile business to go into because of the increasing number of residential houses built to meet the rising demand when more people began to work and stay in  Bintulu as a result of the first boom period (1979-1983).  Demand for landscaping jobs grew also from the corporate sectors and government organisations.   The demand increased further during the second economic boom 1998 - 2000.  To meet increased demand I decided to move the nursery from its small site in town to a new location about 22km away from town along the Bintulu-Tatau road.  The nursery was instrumental in developing an eco-farm and finally a nature park on the same site but with expanded acreage.  If not for the nursery my dream of having a nature park would not have been realised easily.  To see more happenings today at the nature park, please go here .

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!


(Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Planting project for expatriate housing at Sanctuary Villa housing, near Park City, Bintulu.

Landscape planting for Sekolah Agama Assyakiriin, Bintulu.

Once there was a pond

The Flamingo pond is shown at the foreground.  Note the name of the park on the grassed slope - "Taman Hidupan Liar" to mean 'Wildlife park' in Malay.  The park was officially opened to the Bintulu public and visitors on 2 August,1991.

Greater Flamingoes
Phoenicophocus ruber

 There is a wild life park in Bintulu or Taman Hidupan Liar in Malay.  It was established in 1991.  It was one of my pet projects.   Sarawak is sometimes referred to as "Land of the Hornbills" and Borneo on which it is located is one of the most biologically diversified  tropical paradise on earth.  Thus it was a  very interesting proposition those days to bring in the flamingoes to Bintulu, the first ever flamingoes in Sarawak and the great Borneo island for that matter.  Upon arrival in Bintulu they were temporarily housed in a caged location .  But once they were healthy and strong, they were transferred to their permanent home, a pond at the entrance of the park. The spot where the pond is found is indicated on the layout plan below.  There were tons of pleasure in doing the wildlife park but the most challenging was to fly in the flamingoes from Tanzania. More details about the flamingo story can be accessed in another blog of mine as in  here.  We have done the impossible.  Sarawak can do.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!

(Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Layout Plan of the Wildlife Park or Taman Hidupan Liar

Greater flamingo (Phoenicophous ruber) - getting comfortable in a pond designed for their home and permanent stay at Binulu.  A flock of 23 birds were flown in from Tanzania, Africa.

Me at play with a flamingo, 1991.

Once there was a stall

BDA Exhibition stall fully optimising allocated space, enhanced with new presentation ideas and techniques.

 In 1988 just 10 years after BDA (Bintulu Development Authority) was created as a Sarawak state statutory body, it took part in a state-level development expo held at Kuching.  This was the first time BDA was to expose itself  to the Kuching public and outside visitors of Sarawak  in the form of a development stall exhibition.  I was given the responsibility to coordinate and implement the BDA stall from concept to construction.  I had the best men to do the job.  Fumiaki Izumuda, a landscape architect attached to my Landscaping Division was tasked with the design of the stall.  Hong Seng Teck, an engineer and doing the quantity surveying in BDA was tasked with procurement of relevant materials in Kuching.  Both of them were assisted by electricians, carpenters, painters and general workers from the BDA.  Many novelties were introduced in the stall like the use of large transparencies with light boxes, models and a zoning map or structure plan.  During those times Bintulu was the only town in Sarawak that has a urban Structure Plan.  BDA's participation in the exhibition provided lots of experiences for me in doing exhibitions.  Later, in my days as a contractor I was able to successfully do many exhibitions for the national oil company, Petronas and Sarawak Shell based on my experiences in undertaking three major exhibitions during my BDA days.  The 1988 exhibition however was exceptional for BDA because it provided a platform for  aggressive marketing and branding of Bintulu's potentials to foreign and domestic stakeholders to jointly partake in its industrialization agenda.  Today, in its fourth boom starting in 2010 Bintulu is poised to become an industrial showpiece of Sarawak or Malaysia for that matter.

To see more images of Bintulu before and now, check them out in my other blog here .

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The week-long Development Expo started on 16 September, 1988 ; Opening hours 8 am - 10 pm daily.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!

(Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Once there was a sculpture

Clay model entitled ' Seated Figure', done in 1968

 The days spent at Tanjung were formative years in my development as an artist.  In 1968 barely 5 years after Sarawak jointly formed Malaysia with Sabah, Malaya and Singapore, I was studying art in Form Five as an exam subject for my School Cambridge.  In that year I made a sculpture in clay called 'Seated Figure'.  My initial and the year the work was done are inscribed on the sculpture.  My days spent at Tanjung Lobang School (and later named Tanjung Lobang College) were 1967-68 (Form Four - Form Five)  and 1969-70 (Lower Six -Upper Six).  Those were days of creative freedom that instilled in me a deep and lasting passion for the arts, fine arts and performing arts.  These were fully encouraged by the school principal by the name of Robert Nicholl.  The conducive environment provided by the school and the expert guidance of our art teacher Mr. Voong Kiat Hui made us enjoy art in ways that have far lasting impact after we left the school, and continues to this day.  I still keep this clay model and is a prized collection for me.  I have written quite extensively about Mr. Voong .  The links are here, more here and finally here.

On reflection I really  feel fortunate to have studied at Tanjung Lobang School  and especially the art instruction I received there.  In many ways it has given me a rounded education that encouraged creativity and passion for the arts - fine arts and performing as well.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!!

  (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Me in Form Five with the clay model - 'Seated Figure'. 1968.

Once there was a school magazine

 In 1979, the Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan Bintulu (previously known as Bintulu Government Secondary School)  issued its 13th School Magazine.  I was invited to write a message  by its editorial board being the school's new principal.  This was another memorable moment in my life's adventures.  At 28 years of age I was sent by the Education Headquarters in Kuching to assume the position of headmaster.  I assumed this new role on the 1st of July,1979.  The 13th issue of SMK Bintulu magazine is one of my prized collection.  My first ever message as principal of SMK Bintulu is shown below.  Towards the end of 1980 I left the Education Department after completing my 5 years scholarship bond to join another state statutory body called Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) which was newly set up to spearhead the development of Bintulu.  The appointment as principal completes my association with the school as a student in Form One in 1964, a teacher in 1975 and a Headmaster in 1979.  I created history because this was  the first time that the school has its own Bintulu born son to assume the position of Headmaster, since its inception in 1963.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak.


 (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)

Once there was a children's theater

SMK Bintulu students performing the children's play 'Dewi Bunga'.

 With the vigour and freshness of a trained teacher in 1975, I set upon a dream to produce a children's theater for the students of Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan Bintulu or SMK Bintulu in short.  The children's drama was based on a script by one of my course mates in USM or Universiti Sains Malaysia by the name of Shamsiah Mohamad.  We were the very few undergraduates who opted for the elective subject 'Children's Theater' in 1973.  The play was written in Bahasa Malaysia.  What was novel in this children's theater was its concept.  In this drama the students were playing the roles of children and interacting with characters from the animal and plant kingdom. I was excited to introduce to Bintulu a real children's theater i.e. the experiences of life from the viewpoint of young eager, curious and happy minds. The child 's world of fantasy and unlimited possibilities and imagination were given a free rein. The animal and plant characters began to be alive with human values and freely interact with the children. The children could quickly and easily symphatise with the characters because these characters are close to the world of children every where in the world.

'Dewi Bunga' -  children's theater performed by students taking Bahasa Malaysia subject staged at the SMK Bintulu school stage in 1975

Today, I find a real dearth in the production or staging of real children's theater in Sarawak schools   despite our early attempts to introduce it way back in 1975.  Whether the plays are in English or Bahasa Malaysia is of irrelevance. In producing dramas, we should write the script from the children's point of view or from the "eyes "of the children.  I am waiting to hear news of schools in Bintulu or Sarawak for that matter to  produce or stage real children's theatre based on stories that can help with the development of  their creativity, communication skills,  moral upbringing, social and  emotional intelligence.  I am happy for once that my dream came true in 1975.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak!

 (Note:  On the 16th of September, Sarawak will celebrate its independence being a party to the formation of Malaysia.  As part of remembering history I'll create some posts on what  it means to be a Malaysian as I have experienced it.  Check out the rest of the postings by following this link here.)