2nd Day: Retro of us Living at Sandakan

The next day, at 0630 a.m, the pilot with the co-pilot together with our 5 years old nephew went out for breakfast at Sandakan Town. All the way to the town, as the pilot drove slowly we took a view of Batu Sapi. This was the place where we used to live. Flat Guru S.M.K Batu Sapi was once located at the edge of the hill is gone. Even the hill is nowhere to be seen! It was demolished by the government as it was too old and not safe to be lived. During our time living there, it was obvious that the flat was old enough. Crack can be seen everywhere. The earth quake in Philippine in 1991 helped a lot in contributing the crack.

Memories of us lived there flashed clearly! I saw myself, my sisters & cousin: Unggak Pende and Gidik helped my late father at his kebun. My late father was a great part time farmer. His hands were good with plants. Marked my word when I say: The Kebun can be nominated as no. 1 Kebun! And if there’s competition, sure the Kebun can win. I really want to let you guys know what we planted at our kebun: Jagung, bayam, tembikai, kepayas, ubi kayu, lada, kacang panjang!

We had ayams as pet! We even had reban ayam! It was built by my late father. Guess where we managed to get wood for the reban. From the Kilang Kayu at batu Sapi and the kilang’s still there! I once followed my late father there, looking for kayu for his reban and pagar for his kebun. His blue PICKUP TOYOTA really help a lot!!Our friends: anak-anak cikgu of course. If I can remember well sure I write down, but my brain is not in the mood to dig deeper now. Better put it this way, my friends were great! We really had good time together especially with ‘football stars’ of Hj. Syamsuri! We learnt agama and al-Quran with him.

Most of the children went to learn al-Quran with Ustaz Hj. Syamsuri. He’s good man. Before he released us to go home, he taught how to do prayer. His son, Bakhtiar will be the imam, as he watched us praying. Not only watch but taught us what to read on every action we took. There’re many funny and embarrassing moment happened, but worth to be remembered. We modified lampin as tudong and my cousin show his talent in playing curi ayam, 21, cangkul (lol) and caught by the ustaz. My brother, Syamsuri farted while mengaji. Kids…..

Before landing for breakfast my brother drove us to our once upon a time: schools. My sister and I went to SRK St Mary’s Convent. Even my mother was once a teacher here. In 1992 we celebrated its 100th year. Now, the buildings are abandoned, the school has new building. However, the old 2 storey buildings are still there. We even went to SM St. Michael Sandakan. This was my 2nd and 3rd brother’s school. Like St. Mary’s Convent, this school also one of the oldest school at Sandakan. Even St. Michael Church looks old and classic.

We had breakfast at Kedai Mamak. All of us ate roti canai, what can be ordered at Kedai Mamak for breakfast except for roti canai. My nephew really enjoyed his roti canai and milo. Actually he wanted teh susu, but not good for kid age 5.

After breakfast we drove back to Sibuga through Sim Sim. My late father was a headmaster at SK Sri Tanjung Papat @ SK Berhala Darat. Pende and Gidik went to this school. He was great Headmaster; the waiting area was built during his serving time as headmaster. According to my brother, during his time at SK Likas, he was one of the teachers who introduced safety walkway to students. If you see ‘Pakcik Trafik’ at SK Likas, it was the safety walkway initiated by his batch.

There’re so many changes that we noticed. However the sampah’s still there. Seem littering has becomes hobby to Sandakan citizen. Hmm actually it happens to be SABAHAN HOBBY.

Make it short; by 0945 we arrived safely at Sibuga. My mother and Jebat already siap, seem they really can’t wait balik Ranau.

Feel sleepy. Better stop now, later I’ll continue again. Trip Balik Ranau.