Sam Nahk Song Kampung Pong, Klian Intan

The weather throughout last Sunday was favourable during our day trip to Sam Nahk Song village which was in Klian Intan, Perak (somewhere near Grik , anyway this was the first time I heard of the name besides being there). After all, it was raining cats and dogs for whole of last week.

It was a dana trip and was the first for many of us. There were about 30 members, all from a voluntary service group that I have joined since last year. A convoy of 2 mini vans and 4 to 5 cars. It took us about 3 hours to reach there after going through a narrow trail through the jungle.

Within Sam Nahk Song

After the offerings of lunch dana, we had big feast before we washed up and adjourned to offer some food and other provisions to the temple.

Beautiful orchids

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sun-bathing or meditation ?

Later, we visisted the reverend chief monk’s meditation place which was situated in a cave across the river. Quite an adventurous river crossing by using the ‘canopy walk’. I silently congratulated the lady who had decided to stay put as I reached the middle of the bridge. I felt (or did I imagined it?) the bridge was swaying vigorously from left to right and moreover, it was a bit worn out so it tended to sway to one side even there was no one on it and imagine having a couple of slightly overweight people like me. I thought I might fall into the river below, the current seemed a bit strong. The only comfort was, I could swim a little, not extremely well, though. But then again, it crossed my mind that there might be crocodiles in the river !!

Finally all of us made it safely across the river. Now the climbing up the cave began ! I braved myself to climb up the steep and narrow steps as I really afraid that I might slipped and fell. The stairs were moist and a bit slippery. The cave was a bit dim (luckily, there was a natural opening which allows the sun to shine through) and damp. I guessed this was also the chief monk’s sleeping place as well.

We tried to meditate for about half an hour. I could not concentrate at all as I was busy scratching myself after being the ‘feast’ for the mosquitoes. Besides that the dogs that followed the ‘sifu’ all the way up the cave were with us. I could hear them walking around sniffing at some people or scratching and growling at their own mates when some of it became too close for comfort.

In order not to slow down others, I climbed down a bit earlier so that I could go slowly, knowing my own clumsiness. On the way, I plucked a few chillies from the trees on the slope. I had the bridge all to myself and it was not as bad as the first encounter of crossing though I got nothing to hold on to as I ventured out; the rail was not within my reach and I only held on to a leaf for support! Imagine that, I knew fairly well at that very moment that it was useless to hold the tip of the leaf; it could never support my weight but just did so for own comfort. At that moment, I remembered a proverb of ‘a drowning man will grab even a leaf’.

Last stop, visiting the orang asli setttlement

915 to 919

This week is really a dramatic for a lot of people, even around the globe. First, Lehman Bro had filed for bankruptcy. Then the stock market crashed. And then about the insurance giant in some kind of trouble, etc. etc. So dramatic for a lot of people, including me though I did not lose millions like those big shots did.

Just when I declared Thursday was the most perfect day for me and that’s what I wanted to live like if I ever able to retire now (of course with the condition retiring rich) ie running around financial institutions to check my time deposits, placement for structured funds / unit trusts / shares investments,,,blah blah…..
(Despite that is something called ‘internet or phone banking’ , I do really enjoy going to the banks and wait if I had to. What the heck, I have plenty of time
to spend by then)

Come Friday, it should be one of the worst! Just slightly after half a day, my whole day was spoilt. In fact, I expect if for the next few days too. Barely, after my lunch, I have fallen a prey of a snatch thief! It happened at #New Lane, just a few metres from Wisma Central. There was a big lorry in that lane and caused other vehicles to slow down, also forcing me to walk slowly and forgot to be alert. The guy was on a motor-bike, just bent over and snatched my hand-bag. I did not even realise it until I thought I heard sound of the straps of hand-bag being torn, when I looked again, he already got the bag in his hands. I was too surprised (not shock) to realise that this thing ever happened to me . And I have been such an easy prey! All I was thinking was not to become a victim of it!! I just stared as the bike went forward, but not at a very high speed. The only thing I remember to do was to look for the number plate. But alas! With my blurring eye sight I could hardly read the numbers on it even if got one! I was thinking if I could have run like the bionic woman or six million dollar man, I would got back my bag as he
was not that fast, everything was like trapped in a bit slow mode.

Though, the amount of cash is not significant at all to most people but it really upset me. On any normal days, I would not carry more than 50 rinnggit in my wallet.
And the I. D and atm plus credit cards. Not to mention my spectacles in it. But surprisingly, I had not been cursing the damn thief. I really wonder how could I not cursing ? Maybe first, I had not like the Bum hand-bag as it was starting to be worn out and I had nothing really valuable in it except for about 80 to 90 ringgit (which meant a lot to me….soon when I need to settle my bills). Secondly, now I had very valid reason to buy myself a new wallet. I have been using this ‘faithful’ for about 15 years which I bought for THB300 in Haadyai, when I first set foot in Thailand. It was a very good bargain. Weeks ago, I have realised that the wallet was looking old and worn out but I did not have the heart to throw it out. Luckily, I had not brought my camera with me, if not, I think I will feel like murdering someone. The things I missed was my old faithful wallet and my spectacles and my cards and cash which I rather spend it all then fell in the hands of that fellow, not even a cent!

Besides the not so much money in it, I think I would enjoy a good laugh when he checked ‘the loot’. Medication oil, dog snacks, re-recycled draft papers plus a pen. Anyhow, I was pretty sure that the thief was greatly disappointed with the loot. Ha ! Ha ! Ha!

Probably, I have done my meditation the night before for almost an hour after ‘being lazy’ for 8 days? It also crossed my mind that something much worse might happen to me so I should be grateful that I am unhurt, not even a scratch. I did not even feel any pain, the whole ‘modus operandi’ went as smooth as silk …..
It might happen to me on Thursday, which I had more cash in it! Most important of all, I was not hurt, neither was Mom. It was better to happen to me now then happen to me when I was 60 or 70 years old, whereby I would be too weak and fragile and got seriously injured. (By the way, this was first time this kind of not so fortunate incident happened to me) I hope it will serves as new reminder for me to be extra alert and mindful. By the way, I am glad that I have change to a new habit of keeping the keys in my pockets, rather than in the bag. I would have imagine how tormenting for me to stuck in the police station, worrying sick that some idiots are looting whatever things in my flat. (My address is on the identity card and library membership cards)

The second thing that upset me was when I made a police report at the Petani Rd police hearquarters*. The staff taking my report was so unfriendly. I do not expect any empathy or sympathy from her but what p….. me off is the her/their attitude; the famous ‘COLDDDDD’ and ‘don’t bother’ type. First, I was asked to sit aside to wait, I wonder if there is any intention to call me to the counter when they have finished the tasks in hands, if I had not went to the counter and stood right in front of them.

She just handed me a piece of draft paper to write all my personal particulars ie address, i.d. no., items in my bag. After typing out the report, she just signaled me to read through before it was printed out. I think an atm machine is more ‘humane’ then her. I really got a feeling that could it because of racism??
A guy who came in to make a report of his loss bike sat next to me and was attended by another personnel. When the staff handling my report overheard that the guy was unsure what was the name of road, she quickly picked up the phone and called someone to check. She even called the ‘whoever, master of all road names in Penang’ for the second time as she did not manage to get him or her the first time. Why was she so helpful even without being asked?

Later, I had been told to go upstairs to see a sergeant, probably to investigate the case, I guessed for I have not really spoken about my case to him.

You’ll see why. I had been told to wait outside as there was already someone, actually three people including himself in the tiny room. The ‘outside’ meant many rooms away from his room which was situated at the end of the corridor. I really wonder could he remember to call me in when he had finished with whatever case he got as I was sitting so far from his room, could he remember? If I were him, I would have forgotten because out of sight out mind. After waiting for a few minutes, the guy who reported the loss of his bike came up and went to the same sergeant’s room, I guessed. Later, he went off. That was when Mom ‘strongly encouraged’ me to go and check whether the sergeant was available. We walked to the end of the narrow corridor and saw that he was still talking to someone who was there earlier. I went back to my seat and waited. Finally, I got very impatient because I felt time was running out and each minute was ticking away which allowed the thief to do wonders with all my cards. ( I have been in the station for an hour! A millions could have been done by the thug) I went to his room for the 3rd time and this time I asked him whether he was the sergeant that I have been asked to see. He sounded very annoyed told me he was still not available yet but asked about the nature of my case. After that he asked me to sign some papers. (blank papers, okay, as I had not really sat down and narrate the whole incident to him and he was typing something else) So, gladly I signed the blank paper and left the report with him.

The only thing I was not happy about was the loss of time spent to wait and I wondered how long if I had not gone looking for him again, but at least he showed a tiny bit of ‘humane’ side when he spoke.
Of course, he did ask me the amount I had lost and to him, it was not much. I agreed that there was what most people would have said. I just told them I was more anxious to go home and made report of stolen of cards.

Finally, after almost 2 hours, I reached home and settled my worries. How I wish that all government agencies could operate like a bank. At least there was a call centre, where I could report my loss straight away and they easily checked all my cards and just put a stop on them. Best of all some banks might even record the whole conversation.


So, what upset my feelings the most was my own carelessness and the coldness cum robotic treatment from the front desk staff at the station. I really wonder how would the H.K. police react in the same scenario. I don’t expect it to be like in the movie or t.v. series but at least, I do not have to wait so long to make a report ?
I had quite good impression of the Hong Kong police when I was there; helpful and friendly. (p.s. not that something like this sort happened though, just asking for directions to the subway)

I don’t expect the thief being caught# but at least the work pace should be more efficient. Time is really very critical if my keys were in the bag too! I really can’t imagine if a rape victim going to the station and being asked to sit there to wait for hours before a report is taken and sent to the hospital. No wonder, no one bother to make any report when they have being fallen prey to snatch thieves or pick-pockets.

From now on, I would not lecture my friends or anyone else on reporting these ‘minor’ cases to the police; I would just advise them to do so. I was pretty well aware that the thief would not be caught and I might not got my belongings but I remembered that once I read in the papers that a police officer advised that by reporting the ‘minor’ cases, the statistics would show a more accurate figure so that it will help to prevent crime. The heck !




*p.s. The police station had been torn down and rebuilt a few years ago. On the outside it looked okay, but , come to think of it, the upper floor that I went to….is really terrible. I don’t even want to work there ! I wonder who design the layout there ? I am a self-declared non-artistic and no-good-taste person but that is really terrible. The corridors were dim. Rooms on both side, all doors closed. No sight of blue sky and fresh air, more like a dungeon. Quiet and dim , perfect place to shoot a horror or haunted movie where the victim/s would be chased by the psycho path or ghost/vampires. The room of the sergeant I spoke to was like a mess, I would have mistaken it for a store room if there was no one in it.


p.s. # that place is a famous hangout for snatch thieves. (I would have been more alert and careful if I had remember that)

p.s. Something I did not bother to put into report ie. Toto tickets for tomorrow and Sunday. Something that I am not so please to loose. Just check with one of the Toto outlets and found out that they could do nothing about it even I had made a report of loss to their head office. The idiot can still claim the prize money if my set of numbers ever strike on Sat or Sun! To think that I have to share the prize money with the idiot !!!!????? Of course, I don’t give a damn if the prize is only a few ringgit or so but imagine if my numbers strike the jackpot or first prize ! To share a few hundred thousands from the 6D or even twenty million from the jackpot with the thief is out of the question !!!
So now I am really in dilemma ; to wish for my numbers not to strike this weekend? Sounded funny, huh? And to think that today and tomorrow is my last hope to be able to hand in my resignation letter by next week so that I could retire rich but not so young! Now what? Wish that the numbers don’t strike, strike next week? Bla…f…xyz@#$%&^*