+ Work | Morning Ride

Malay Kampng House off Punggol

Never thought I would write this bit in Escapade section related to my work, but here goes.

Had a ride in a cab this morning, the first day of work in year 2006.

Was quiet along the way but the cab driver started to chat half-way through the journey from my home to my work place. Did not catch his name or his cab number though.

JUST REMINISING...

A very intresting and educational ride I must say. Exiting from TPE and ascending uphill via Sengkang East Road, he started to talk about his childhood days when he was still living in the Kampong in Punggol. He is in his fifties now.

He was living in a Chinese village beside a Malay Kampong overlooking the Punggol River. The spot we drove by was about the place his home was way back then.

When his family saved enough money, his father bought a patch of land beside the Punggol School. It was up the hill about 6.8M high, the highest point in Punggol at the time.

His father said that the place had the best Funshui or good geomancy, because the hill behind them seem to protect them as the Chinese expression says that they have "the mountain behind" to "back" them up against bad luck.

To him the place was high and the scenery was great, overlooking the village below and the canopies of the surrounding trees and the ultimate river view.

They were farmers, raring chickens, ducks and pigs, but poutry was their forte.

He remembered having to row a sampan or boat from Punggol to many parts along side the river to buy chicken feeds for their farm when he was just in high school.

He admired the Malays, having no big patch of land, but a village of their own. Each house had their home and surrounding compound kept clean and tidy.

They did not have much money and the state of many people living at the time was poor, but the Malays were happy people.

They lived harmoniously among themselves and with the Chinese too, while his family had to endure hard labour and work from when he was small to accumulate wealth that never seemed to be enough.

They could fetch about $10,000.00 a month of profit but still toiled hard day in and day out for more.

With all that money, his home still did not have electricity. So when he was in his high chool, Saint Andrew's Secondary, he had problems after when his teacher asked them to watch some Sharespear shows to talk about the next day.

He just had to pretend he watched it and discuss with the class even though his house did not have a TV set. All that wealth, no minimal luxury available.

With a hint of regret, I felt he was robbed off his childhood from the hardwork he had to endure suppoting their farm.

CHICKEN TRIVIAS...

Then came the educational part of the conversation.

He told me that there are several types of chickens - the layers, the broilers and the breeders. I am sure he said there was another category I left out, but can not recall.

The layers were their specialty.

A chicken would live up to 2 "productive" years. That is to say, from chicks, the chickens will be laying eggs at age 3 months ro so and be laying about 98 eggs out of every 100 days, for about the two years.

After the productive years, the mature chickens will slowly but surely lay less eggs until it could only lay 2 to 3 eggs a month.

Upon which, these chickens will be sold off to make chicken essence, etc. There was a time that they sold the mature chickens to Malaysian businesses to make chicken nuggets, which is the right age for such meat - succulent and tender.

LESSONS LEARNT...

The farming era in Singapore ended and they moved to leased their land to small industrial businesses making abastos ceilings and moulds. They would also earn about S$10,000.00 a month from the rents.

The hardship has taught him the value of money and dealings in business. He now lives in a terrace house - landed property that is a dream for many Singaporeans to own and shop in a shopping centre which name I forgot.

I guess him being a cab drive is to while his free time. If he was me, I would have gone on tours to see the world instead in my golden years. With that much money has has, I would think he already has done that.

Since I am always a sucker for reminising old Kampong days and the simple life... well, may be for the Malays, not the Chinese or him in particular.

It was a nice start to work this new year. Thanks to Mr. Cabby who has refreshed my spirit to welcome the possibilites this year may hold for me. Insyaallah.