A Tribute to My Beloved Grandpa

Having a mum who is a malaysian, I've always enjoyed my childhood in a 'kampong' like style in my grandma's house in Segamat, Malaysia. Ever since young, it seems like a yearly ritual that i will visit my maternal grandparents at least once a year, with my childhood spent with them the most; about 5months a year. They all the closest people to me other than my parents.



I can still vividly recall the days back when i was as young as 3. Sitting on the front of my grandpa's old scooter, he would bring me around the village with him. The usual haunt for him that is the coffeeshop, that probably has survived decades, to fulfill his addictive coffee, as well as to chat with his friends. For me, as a little kid, i would learn the way that my grandpa had taught me to drink the coffee, that is by pouring the cup of coffee into the plate. I would run arount the coffeeshop, mixing with friends of my age, playing toys with them, while nagging and crying for my grandpa to bring me back home.



Since young, whenever i go back, upon reaching my grandparents' house, i would call out 'Gong gong' and 'po po' loudly before i stepped into the house. They love seeing their grandchildren back with them. However, as a child, i always hated the way my grandpa would chase me and trying to tickle me when i reach, the way tried playing with me. cause, i would think that he bullied me.



My grandpa, as he grew older, we would sit on his old rattan chair by the window, reading his chinese story books over and over again. These books include titles such as romance of the 3 kingdoms, hong lou meng, journey to the west, etc. A familiar sight of him, a siliouette of him by the window daily.



My grandpa is a chef before his retirement. He had a great taste bud. He can taste the slightest bit of overcooked food or uneven marinating of food when u could not. On his usual seat on the dining table, he would always chew on his food in the unique way that u would take notice.



An avid smoker, he would smoke lots and lots of cigrattes daily when he was healthy, only to be forced to cut down when he was down with a heavy illness years back. However, he survived that odeal, only to be down with the old man illness. where he started to be more and more forgetful.



For the past few years, my grandpa had been sleeping everyday. Only waking up for his meals on a wheelchair. My aunt woould feed him daily, with my grandpa still sitting on his favourite seat.



Everytime i returned to my grandparents house for the past few years, i would have to go to his room to call him, instead of the usual. Thou, not reacting to the environment, my grandpa seemed to know whats happening.



I saw the smile and happy mood when i went back with my cousin and cousin in law for their 'jin cha' to my grandparents. Clearly, you can see the smile that he was wearing that day.



Perhaps, thats what he'd been waiting for before he leave for another world.



Last tuesday, i received news that my grandpa had passed away. Shocked, i packed my bag, and left for malaysia on wed.



Upon arriving with my cousins, i saw the unusual sight. The road to my grandparents' house were blocked. Tents were set up. i went in to the car pouch. From far, i saw my grandpa's picture. Lying behind, the huge coffin.



upon entering the gates, i greeted him just like i was when i was young. However, this time, with the joss sticks.I went round the coffin, i could not believe my eyes that the person lying inside was my grandpa.



I went to the side, looked into the coffin. My grandpa's lying inside, just like how he always sleep, but this time, wearing a little smile.



The buddhist prayers started soon after. we chanted and chanted for the night. The kids seemed unknown to the fact that grandpa had moved on. Perhaps the affection for them were not as much as those who had grew with gong gong.



The 'long time no see' relatives, cousins of my mum arrived for the night. They had a good chat with my mum and aunts. Perhaps, that is what is going to happen when i grow old. Meeting my cousins only when there is such an event like this.



I looked around. Everyone were rushing back to see my grandpa for the last time. My third uncle being one of the most filial, rushed back immediately from Sabah, the place that he worked. However, 2 of my cousins were missing. One is in England, the other is in Singapore, For whatever reasons, never got to see him for the last time.



On his final day, Everyone's wailing. As we chanted the prayers and going round the coffin, i could not help but got emotional. Tears welling in my eyes. I looked at my cousins, aunts and uncles, perhaps everyone's feeling the same. I could picture the past when my grandpa spent with us. The moments that he had left with us. The legacy that he had done to the village as a village chief.



On his burial ground, which he bought 20+ years ago, his coffin was slowly laid into. Thats the last that we saw him.



No longer, will i be able to call 'gong gong' when i reached the gate of my grandparents' house.

No longer, will i see the sight of him while eating on the dining table.

With only memories that can bring him back to me.



This whole incident, i think the one who got the most upset, is my grandma. She cried whenever, she thought of him. She cried whenever she sees her grandchildren. They had been married for at least 70 years.



He died at the age of 96.

Gong Gong, i will miss u.










Charm: Away you may have gone, We will always remember the legacy that u have done.

Death of a love one

I just received news yesterday that my grandpa had moved on to another dimension. It was a rather shocking news to me, thou he always sleeps, i never expected him to go off suddenly.

I'll be going back to malaysia for his funeral. Not sure for how long.

Will update when i return.

Conservation vs Compromisation

School finally started today. Its tiring to have to pull myself up today just to attend a 3 hours lecture. This semester isn't going to be great as one of my group mate has "jumped ship" to another group. The other is still unknown, leaving me and bernard. Hmmm.. think we have to start looking for a new group for projects.

I was about to go home today when i saw an activity on th open court in SIM. Probably organised by SIM cca group, groups of people were having a fun with water guns shooting at the piece of paper on the other, trying to "destroy" the paper on the head of the "enemy" to elimate them.

I stood there watching. It seems to be great fun thou. People laughing, having great fun. Spectators aroung enjoying as well.

However, at this point, something hit me. We humans, are the worst animal/creature in the world. Perhaps millions of years ago, we are friends with the animals in the jungle. When we dominate them, we dominate the world.

The newspaper today showed the coast of a country with beautiful scenary and sea. Dominating the coast, are the tall CONCRETE buildings.

Yes, for the luxury and comfort of humans, we do away with the habitats of the animals. Humans having fun under the sun with fresh water sprayed around, when countries around are having drought. Destroying papers as a game, as the expense of the trees which supports the life of all living beings.

Aren't we cruel? Destroying the surroundings for the fun of it?

I went to Canada for an exchange programme 7 years back. I was surprised at how the tried recycling the stuffs they use, even if it requires efforts. Perhaps it may not be the majority, but if we can do it together with them, we'll be enjoying the benefit of a better weather, prob less disasters, much better air, etc...

Lets do it together and stop being a murderer to the mother earth.

Remember the law. Murderer = death.

Nothing else!

Charm: Destroying takes minutes. Building takes time.

2 unfortunate incidents

2 days ago, i met up with shane and khim for a session of karaoke. The session was fun thou with all the singings. i ordered 2 glasses of peppermint mile tea, and i farted the whole night. when i reached home, my grandma asked me to drink the ginseng soup that she made 2 days ago. i'm a lazy guy. Unkown to the fact that i need to warm the soup to kill the germs, i drank it cold.
an hour later, i started rolling on the bed. body rolled up like a dough. The pain on my stomach was excruciating. I was groaning in bed, enduring the 'attack' on my stomach. Probably the pain was too much, i fainted perhaps. sometime later at 3 plus, i was knocked awake by the pain again. this time, i shuffled to the toilet, hands on my stoamch, body crouched. urinating was a torture too.. i quickly jumped back to bed thereafter, hoping for the pain to go off.

However, its getting more onto me!! I struggled to my mum's room, woke her up, and quickly jump onto my bed again. my legs were powerless to hold my body, getting weak as i stood more on the ground.

My mum felt my stomach and was astonished that my stomach was bloated. Very bloated. she took an oilment and applied constantly onto my stomach. Telling me constantly to endure it and that the pain will be over after i farted all the air in my stomach out. All these while, she, sitting beside me, taking care of me. The pain subsided.

The next day, i still went to work, although feeling lethargic from the little hours of sleep that i had. legs still wobbling. This is because of the insufficient man power for the day as all the full timers had went for their trainings in the office. I stayed til Jia xin returned to the store before making my move back home a charging time on my bed. (Sleep)


The 2nd incident happened today. It left me feeling gulty.

I received half a dozen of drink from my colleagues who are involved in a promotion just outside my work place. i was thinking of sharing it with a friend when an old lady approached me for a bottle.

The 6 bottles that i received are free, but i told the old lady that i have to deliver it to another friend, which obviously to me, it isn't the way. She seemed to be begging me for a bottle as she asked me if i know why she's asking for bottle, saying that she's very thirsty.

And me? being so hard hearted, i told her NO!! omg... i dun even noe why i did that.

while walking to cineleisure, the guilt somehow crept into me. I thought that she may be some one in need and that a bottle won't kill me. The fact that i may need another person's help, while in need, also build on the guilt on me.

so, i turned back, walked back to tangs, in search of the old lady, but to no avail. I felt more guilty.

Guilty that i dun even want to offer her a drink that comes free, not less to say it cost me. i cannot bring myself to face this fact.

I promised not to turned down a begging person who requires a help from me when they are in need. I do not wish to be in ther situation either. So please forgive me...

I'd learned another lesson on moral issues.

Charm: A moment of madness/foolishness will leave a lifetime guilt on you.