Kuala Sedili - where my childhood memories were

 

Jetty to Sedili Besar

The only Chinese restaurant still there

I managed to hitch a ride by my uncle-in-law (a last minute rush decision) to go back to Kuala Sedili of Kota Tinggi, Johor, West Malaysia, on Friday. It is a small fishing kampong (village) where my maternal grandmother used to live 20 years ago. My last visit was also more than that, and no one in the family has visited since my grandmother moved out to Johor Bahru. I still remember the 2-hour journeys we had to endure to get there from Singapore, with my dad being the sole driver. We used to go there every Chinese New Year and every alternate school holidays. The Chinese New Year trips were the most trying as they usually involved embarking just past midnight to avoid the massive jams at the Woodlands customs at the causeway. However, all the hardships were worth it as I had some of my best childhood living in the rural environment: looking at the cows and goats, fishing at the jetty, and playing on the secluded bay beach.

The kampong is now a slightly bigger town. There are more people and better facilities though developments are still modest. There is now a bridge linking Kuala Sedili and Sedili Besar where only ferries could reach just a few years ago. Our old house has been taken over by an unknown owner and is in a dilapidated state. What a shame that I wasn't old enough to be able to do something to preserve the house then. Besides, it wouldn't be practical to keep it anyway. There are chalets and resorts at the Jason Bay we used to have so much fun and near the village now so we still can stay the night if we do visit again. Some of my grandmother's neighbours still live there and they do remember my parents well enough so the place is not entirely unfamiliar to us despite the changes.

Childhood memories in an old place...

Fishing boats at the jetty

May Day Trip

It has been a long time, about three or four years, since I last crossed the causeway. Hence I decided to organise a trip with my parents to visit my grandmother in Johor for the Labour Day holiday. It felt so wonderful to be out of the city and be with my grandmother, aunts, and cousins. One and a half day of eating, mahjong and shopping following an hour of driving.

Speaking of shopping, we went to one of the two shopping malls, Jusco @ Bukit Indah. Though only three storeys high, it occupies a huge amount of land area, giving rise to a large floor space of about 70-80 stores per storey.

A point to note while shopping in Malaysia though. If you want to pay by credit card, ensure that your credit card is one that contains a smart chip. Singapore does not have this requirement yet so my only card that has such a chip is my Citibank Dividend which I conveniently didn't bring along. The cards I had with me then could not be used so I had to ask my aunt to pay for my purchase first.

Taylor Swift - Tear Drops On My Guitar

好听的旧歌...

百听不厌，回味无穷，也会钩起一些人的层层回忆。

那天在港剧《和味浓情》听到了已故香港巨星陈百强的《深爱着你》，真是悦耳动人。80年代的歌到现在还是能吸引人，好歌就是好歌。陈百强的另一首歌《偏偏喜欢你》也是经典。