Finally, Time Off!

It's been more than a month since I joined the A-Levels programme in Taylor's College. Seriously, life is hectic. The first problem was that I didn't have any books for the first month which was way against my study style which is to prepare beforehand for classes. So, I was struggling to keep up and always anticipated the weekend to catch up on work in class.

Second problem, there were just too many things to think of. Besides the normal things, I was having a hard time mixing around with my classmates. They are so used to conversing in Mandarin that they even do that in class. So, at times, especially when they're discussing something important or laughing about a joke, I feel left out.

This one week holiday was the timely boost I needed. I had gotten most of my books. But before indulging on pages after pages of theories and formulae, I needed some time off from my college life. The best way to kick start the holiday-hanging out with the best friends I can ever have....my school friends!

My sister was the one who first told me about the book fest in KL Convention Centre. I wanted to go because I was on the lookout for certain books to complete some of the series of books that I have read. After getting my dad's permission on Friday night, I decided to invite my friends to join me.

Four friends, one of my friends' family, my sister, her friend. There were ten of us in total. The plan was to take the train as that was the easiest way to get there. We were supposed to take the train to KL Sentral and from there on take a LRT to KLCC. The last time I went on this journey, I was alone. This time around, it was a whole different story.

As usual, when my friends and I get together, we just love talking and a lot of the things we say will turn out to be funny. After an awesome 1 hour journey, we reached KL Sentral. Surprisingly, there was a book sale there and I managed to get one of the books that I was looking for-Angels & Demons by Dan Brown-for RM10. After that, while taking the LRT, one of my friends reminded me about how packed the monorail was when we boarded it to the Bukit Jalil Stadium last year to watch the Malaysia vs Arsenal match. (by that, I mean the perverted side of the journey)

To be honest, the book fest was a big letdown, for me at least. I didn't find the books I wanted at the price I was expecting plus most of the books there were just priced at the normal 25% discount. It wasn't that surprising as Popular book fairs are always like that. However, I did buy one book that my friend recommended to me. When I exited the book fest, I was met by a astonishingly wonderful surprise.

Packets after packets of currency notes and colourful stamps displayed. I stumbled upon a shop selling stamps and currency which set up a stall at the exit of the book fest. I was just amazed as I had finally found the kind of shop that I had been looking for for the past few years. I spent all that remained form the RM50 (my budget for the book fest) to buy currency notes. The best part was that the original shop is in Amcorp Mall. I'll surely pay frequent visits to the mall after this.

At the end of the day, I felt a little tired. I told my mum that I would reach home at around 6 something but I only reached home at 8. I was satisfied with my discovery that day and glad I wasn't lectured by my mum for coming back home late. I slept early because another journey awaited me the next day.

A few hours after day break, I was on my way to Cameron Highlands. It was a trip with my family from my dad's side. I personally love Cameron Highlands because it fits everything I look forward to during a holiday-wonderful weather, relaxing environment and a laid back, small town kind of place. On the first day, the only thing we did was just eat and relax.

Day 2 was just awesome with a mix of emotions. We started of by visiting the the strawberry farm. The strawberries were just the same as ever. This time however, I got a chance to indulge on some strawberry jam topped cheese cake.

Next up was the butterfly park. I love nature and for that reason alone, I don't mind visiting these places again, especially this park. It's nice to have big and beautiful butterflies on your hands plus getting a chance to view snakes and insects. It gives a kind of bonding sensation with nature.

Just before lunch, for some reason, my family wanted to go the place which I was hoping not to go-the place where I used to train during my training stints there. I've still not recovered form my injury to the adductors. So, for an athlete who is injured, it's painstaking to get the feel to run when you're temporarily disabled.

The basketball court where I used to warm up as the chilly wind swept through my running shorts, the track where I used up every ounce of energy to run, the hill where I worked that difficult sprint up, the field where I played football on the final day of each training stint and the small river where I dipped my legs in after running to prevent injuries. Hmm, all those memories......

The next day, we visited the Boh Tea Estate before we left the place. Cameron highlands has undergone some changes compared to the last time I was there (2 years ago). One of the chicken rice shops that I wanted to recommend to my family was closed down and the seafood restaurant which charged RM10 per person for a variety of dishes was missing too.

What a way to get myself away from college life. Hanging out with friends and a holiday in my favourite holiday destination managed to take off all the stress from my mind. I tried to study in Cameron Highlands but it just didn't work. Maybe, sometimes, it's good to take the foot of the pedal for a while......

P.S. The blogger's birthday was actually on the third day of his trip to Cameron Highlands. More of that to come in the next blog post. Stay tuned!

A Sudden Flash Of Memories

A walk in the park, chit chatting with my old friends from my first primary school about how things were and how things are now, went back home, and a sudden flash of memories. Dark, mysterious, frightening, I don't know how to describe them.

A small entrance to my first primary school within sight. Somehow, I hesitated to make my step towards the school. I had something with me that I know I couldn't take into school. Maybe toys, or sticker books or junk food, I can't really remember. The teacher at the gate was checking the students bags. I turned back and walked somewhere else.

I walked between rows of houses looking to pass time. I knew that if it was way past 1 p.m., the teacher would not be at the gate. I walked and walked alone in the quiet neighbourhood, ideas of being kidnapped never crossing my mind. I see a playground a few metres away. I sit on the swing and just play around staring at my watch. It's 1.30 p.m. I make my way back to school and just go in without being checked as only the guard was there.

Another flash of memory. I walking around a restricted area in school. I see a huge concrete bath tub-shaped structure. I think that's the place that the rubbish is thrown. I see a few guys playing around there. I can't remember their faces, except for one. But I know that they were elder to me.

How did I end up there? I don't find any answers but I think I knew them somewhat. They call me to go and see them catching grasshoppers. I knew that students were restricted there but I just followed the 3 boys. Then, all of a sudden, the headmaster catches us red handed hanging around. I stood the furthest from him and behind me was a coridor heading to the front of the school.

Instinct told me to run. I turned back and dashed. I can't remember if the teacher was yelling at me. My nightmare in school started form that day onwards. Whenever I saw the headmaster, I tried to get away and go somewhere.

My class was very near the office. Everytime I saw him outside the office, I would bend down form my seat in class so that my head was under the table. I was terrified whenever he walked by my class. I still remember his face. So intense was the fear in me that I was freaked out at the sight of him.

Somehow, my father found out about my fear. I can't remember if I told him what really happened. Or maybe, it was parent-teacher day in school and when I saw the headmaster, I hid behind my father. Somehow, the next thing that flashed across my mind was me sitting in the headmaster's office facing the headmaster himself.

I think my father explained to the headmaster about why I was scared of him. The headmaster then called me to him. He asked me to sit on is lap. He uttered kind words about his intentions that day and reassured me that he wasn't the monster I imagined him to be.

Another flash of memory. I was again getting away from somebody, but this time it was not the headmaster. I made my way through scores of students just to distance myself from his searching eyes. However, my eyes caught his terrifying figure.

He was a year older to me. He was slightly taller and possessed a piercing stare. However, the scariest thing abut him that made so many students scared of him was that he had no fingers in one of his hands. He used this disability to scare students and demand for money. I was one of those victims.

Everytime I saw him, he would call me and ask me for money. I didn't know why but I was just to scared to resist him. I never really told anyone. But somehow, again, my father found out about my fear in school.

The next day, after school, my father was there waiting. He saw the boy and asked him why was he threatening me to get money. He did not budge from his silent stance. Then slowly, he revealed that he was form a very poor family and his parents never really gave him any money to eat. I still remember how that small scared boy (me) felt so sympathetic for him.

Another flash of memory and I remembered where he stayed. His home was a small hut by the side of the road. I remember seeing him going into his house one day when I was on my way back from school. I did see him a few times after that but then he just smiled at me. I was still scared on one hand but sympathy filled my heart for the disabled and disadvantaged boy.

Memories start pouring in again. This time, I'm sweating. I'm standing in my between my classmates in a line during the after-recess assembly. One of my friends' was called out. My heartbeat raced. I knew I did something I should not have done, something the school prohibited. Finally I remembered. We were not supposed to play football during recess. But that was something my friends and I couldn't stop doing.

Another flash showed me running away from a teacher who had seen us playign football. I think that's why the teacher decided to take action all of a sudden. The disciplinary teacher asked my friend whom he called out to call out the names of others who were playing football with him.

In my old school, soem of them used to call me 'kavia' instead of Kavi. I heard this friend of mine mentioning the former name. I jus stood in my place. My classmates were staring at me. I recall telling them that my name was Kavi and not Kavia. That day, my named saved me and I escaped the caning that my friends experinced.

The sudden flash of memmories that day as I was standing in front of the mirror brought me back to my darkest memories during my time in my first primary school. The friends whom I met in Botanic Park that evening were actually caned by my teacher that unlucky day.

When I look back at all things I used to do, it's quite ahrd to imagine how naughty I used to be when I was in my first primary school. Going late to school to escape the spotchecks, running away from the headmaster and playing football during recess which was strictly restricted