My very first encounter with Nature...

The year was 1966..I was a 6 years old staying with my family  in a police family barrack in Johor Bahru. Those days a family of a low ranking police officer had to live in an impossibly small house and sharing  the whatever  room we have  with every member of the family. And there were 6 of us not including my dad and my mum!!! ( My youngest sister wasn't born yet..She was lucky!!) Even the toilets were somewhat terribly, as we had to share  toilets with the rest of the other families living in the same building!!

Somehow i never find our living condition that bad at tht time. Maybe becos i never live elsewhere before and was having the thought that other people were living  ridiculously the same way we did. Basically during this time having a car was somehow a very  rare thing. It was just too expensive for most people and of course being a low ranking police officer, my dad just couldn't afford to have one. If he wanted to take us anywhere he would  have to borrow someones car and only then we could go some where..Otherwise our world would only be within  the fences of the barrack.

We had an uncle who live outside these fences of the police barrack. He was a businessman who has a family of his own. The best part was he got a car and used to come to our house to take us for a drive. Everyone in the house was always happy if he drop by our house. After all, his wife was my dad's sister. During that time, if u got a car, u are filthy rich in our eyes!!!

One day he came to our house with the intention of taking my elder brother Najib and my elder sister Noi to stay for a night at his house. Everybody knew that he has a nice beautiful house where he lived with my auntie and his children. He loved to go hunting with his shotgun and in our house, he was a celebrity..
When he arrived i was so excited because I was having the crazy idea that  he would be taking me along for the trip. Unfortunately, i was just too young and he didn't want to take the risk of taking me. Except that i didn't know about this.
I told my mum of my intention of going and knowing me to be persistence, she just asked me to go and take a bath. After all, Pak Akop would never take anyone who is dirty and smelly. I was so happy and would do anything just to go with my uncle and join Najib and Noi. So, I happily undressed  myself and hit straight to the bathroom to get myself 'clean'!!

While in the shower, i heard the sound of the engine of my uncle's car. I said to myself;"Are they leaving me???'. I rushed out naked to see the living room empty and ran straight to the door only too find that Najib and Noi were already in the car with  my parents  standing waving them goodbye. I got the shock of my life..They were ACTUALLY leaving me..

I shouted and ran to the car . I didn't give a damn about me being naked at that time. I just ran to the car.  My uncle saw me and immediately moved his car away leaving me crying next to my dad...How could they do this to me. I was ready to go. Couldn't they just wait a few minutes for me??!! I felt betrayed and cried my heart out. My neigbours were looking at me standing  naked at the roadside. Some how i wasn't feeling awkward. . I guess being 6 years old gave me the right to be naked without having to feel shy about having my penis exposed to the sun! My dad said,"Ish, Tak malu..semua orang  tenguk..Sudah. Masuk rumah!". How could he be so heartless to see my situation. I was crushed with my uncles betrayal.!

When Najib and Noi came back two days later, they were telling us stories about travelling with my uncle and his family  to number of places and enjoyed picnicking with them. They had the best time of their lives.Man, how i wish I was there!!!

A few months had passed and one day,  my uncle dropped by to the house again. This time he cameby just to pick me up...just me... to his house. My dad asked me to take a shower...oh no..not that again. My uncle ensured me that he'll wait for me this time. And every few seconds  i was in the bathroom, i would listen if the engine of the car was running. Somehow it didn't.

I was ready in minutes...and i sat in his car just next to him. I was happy. He actually felt so bad that he left me the other day and promised me this time around, i would have a good time.

I went to his house and met with the rest of his family..but there was this cute girl sitting in one corner playing with her dolls. I never spoke to her and she never acknowledge my existence. She was always in her own fantasy world! And I was always surrounded by his brothers who treat me well..They even shared some of their favourite stuff with me.

 My uncle's  house was a big wooden house with many rooms. You could smell the woods and the breeze of the cold wind just made you fell so good. The living rooms were full with animal trophie on the wall. After all, he was a hunter and an avid one at that.

Later my uncle took me for a boat ride at a nearby river. This was how my uncle spent his free time...net fishing ...besides hunting. I thought now i knew how he got to be so rich...He caught his own fish...!!! Wow..I could do  that! We had fun traveling in his small wooden boat. I really had a good time and he made sure of it. I couldn't thank him enough for showing me that there are so many wonders outside the fences of the police barrack!

My uncle did more than that. He made me realised and appreciate the amazing wonders of nature. Since then i guess, i have always love nature and will always be for the rest of my life.Thank you Pak Akop!!