Nanyang Dawn
Working on a book titled 'Nanyang Dawn' ... a sneak peek on the first chapter...
The Nanyang Dawn
Chapter One
Journey To A Promising Land
Woken up by the ruffling noise, Jessie was going through her last minute check list of things to bring along our long waited trip. Each of us were asked to packed our personal belongings, things like candies and snacks. Mom will be packing the remaining important stuff like clothes and faithful bolster. Little Eric is still soundly sleeping in his hammock. He would be woken with a soft shake because he did not like to be dribble which hammock were suppose to be made for.
We will be going to grandpa's birthday in kampong. Grandpa a reputable and strong influence man in kampong would be celebrating his birthday, 2 days after our arrival. All his children and grand children should be back by today. The women were supposed to be helping out with the great feast preparation where as the rest of were supposed to be having fun and creating more headache for the adults. Headache like using up all their hard safe water in big wooden barge due to dry season which we will use most of them for bath after swimming in the sea.
With dad working in the city, getting away from his never stop schedule was a great break for him and the family. It was the most happiest trip which I had been looking forward to since the day I left kampong each time after grand father's birthday a year before. Dad was number 2 with an elder and younger brother before and after him. He had no sisters as grandma all 3 daughters were either still born or passed away at a young age of 2 and another less than a year. Grandma accepted the facts that she will not blessed with a daughter. She was gifted with a special pair of ears which allows her to eavesdrop on conversation from the next world. After giving birth to a girl, in the vague darkness of the night, she heard hell policeman discussing the retrival of the little female soul. With that grandma knew, her daughter would not be staying for long.
Grandma, a talented soft spoken lady was married to my grandpa at the young age of 17. She had fair skin with dark soft wavy hair. She had medium frame with long slender fingers as those of young bamboo shoots. She graciously carries herself presentable at all times. Every morning, she would washed herself, put on new set of fresh and immacutely pressed mandarin blouse and black pants. Her hair was pull sleeky behind in a small bun. After that, she made sure she had powdered her face with Kim Chee powder and a little lip gloss before starting the day. Being separated from her husband, my grandpa, after Big Uncle's birth, she only came to Nanyang in her early 20's. Grandpa had left his hometown Shantou, District : Ang Po, Town : Kwang Lou Teo, Village : Cheok Kou Lai to Nanyang hoping to earn more money so as to support his family in China.
Grandpa arrived with a group of brothers and friends, mostly married but leaving their wife and children behind in search for new living. They first set ashore in Bako where he dealt with local merchants collecting rose wood tree barks, reselling them to British where these tree barks were later shipped to UK which were to be process into dye. He later moved to Kampong Buntal , recognizing it's potential in seafood industry behind this small new fishing village. Kampong Buntal was situated in between the mouth of South China Sea and the inlands to Sarawak river. Fishermen were having fruitful catch each time they went fishing. The sea was deep with lots of beautiful unpolluted fish ranging from garoupa to pomfret, jellyfish and much much more. Apart from rose tree barks business, grandpa started his seafood business.
He worked hard along with his brothers earning money to support their big family in China. Besides working hard, they played well. Informats told great grandmother that the group of monkeys were having fun in Nanyang. Immediately, great grandfather ordered grandma to catch the next sail to Nanyang leaving behind 9 year old big uncle under great grandmother's care. Great grandmother believed, by keeping Big Uncle behind would make grandpa and grandma kept their promise by returning to China one day.
The Nanyang Dawn
Chapter One
Journey To A Promising Land
Woken up by the ruffling noise, Jessie was going through her last minute check list of things to bring along our long waited trip. Each of us were asked to packed our personal belongings, things like candies and snacks. Mom will be packing the remaining important stuff like clothes and faithful bolster. Little Eric is still soundly sleeping in his hammock. He would be woken with a soft shake because he did not like to be dribble which hammock were suppose to be made for.
We will be going to grandpa's birthday in kampong. Grandpa a reputable and strong influence man in kampong would be celebrating his birthday, 2 days after our arrival. All his children and grand children should be back by today. The women were supposed to be helping out with the great feast preparation where as the rest of were supposed to be having fun and creating more headache for the adults. Headache like using up all their hard safe water in big wooden barge due to dry season which we will use most of them for bath after swimming in the sea.
With dad working in the city, getting away from his never stop schedule was a great break for him and the family. It was the most happiest trip which I had been looking forward to since the day I left kampong each time after grand father's birthday a year before. Dad was number 2 with an elder and younger brother before and after him. He had no sisters as grandma all 3 daughters were either still born or passed away at a young age of 2 and another less than a year. Grandma accepted the facts that she will not blessed with a daughter. She was gifted with a special pair of ears which allows her to eavesdrop on conversation from the next world. After giving birth to a girl, in the vague darkness of the night, she heard hell policeman discussing the retrival of the little female soul. With that grandma knew, her daughter would not be staying for long.
Grandma, a talented soft spoken lady was married to my grandpa at the young age of 17. She had fair skin with dark soft wavy hair. She had medium frame with long slender fingers as those of young bamboo shoots. She graciously carries herself presentable at all times. Every morning, she would washed herself, put on new set of fresh and immacutely pressed mandarin blouse and black pants. Her hair was pull sleeky behind in a small bun. After that, she made sure she had powdered her face with Kim Chee powder and a little lip gloss before starting the day. Being separated from her husband, my grandpa, after Big Uncle's birth, she only came to Nanyang in her early 20's. Grandpa had left his hometown Shantou, District : Ang Po, Town : Kwang Lou Teo, Village : Cheok Kou Lai to Nanyang hoping to earn more money so as to support his family in China.
Grandpa arrived with a group of brothers and friends, mostly married but leaving their wife and children behind in search for new living. They first set ashore in Bako where he dealt with local merchants collecting rose wood tree barks, reselling them to British where these tree barks were later shipped to UK which were to be process into dye. He later moved to Kampong Buntal , recognizing it's potential in seafood industry behind this small new fishing village. Kampong Buntal was situated in between the mouth of South China Sea and the inlands to Sarawak river. Fishermen were having fruitful catch each time they went fishing. The sea was deep with lots of beautiful unpolluted fish ranging from garoupa to pomfret, jellyfish and much much more. Apart from rose tree barks business, grandpa started his seafood business.
He worked hard along with his brothers earning money to support their big family in China. Besides working hard, they played well. Informats told great grandmother that the group of monkeys were having fun in Nanyang. Immediately, great grandfather ordered grandma to catch the next sail to Nanyang leaving behind 9 year old big uncle under great grandmother's care. Great grandmother believed, by keeping Big Uncle behind would make grandpa and grandma kept their promise by returning to China one day.
posted by Duckee on cruise! | 7:01 PM
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