Reminisce - Teenagers...

The happening was in the late fifties and early sixties, the days of Elvis Presley, the Rock and Roll and the visit to the Nurses Hostel for a dance get together. We were young teenagers just out of secondary school and for the first time we are been treat as adult in a world that we are yet to understand. With no proper jobs to start a living on our own, most of us still stayed at our parents house, thus everything are provided for just like before but with a difference, we are now more free to roam the streets with our gang of like minded youth. Come evening we would dress up and meet at a corner shop at one end of the Jail Road in Kuantan. It is the shops that are in front the Abdullah School, where we all had our Primary School education. My home was at Tanah Putih, now Jalan Wong Ah Jang. Tanah Putih in those days was the end of the town where the Kuantan River cut the road to the west. One had to use a ferry to get across. To us it is the end of our world. It is a place no one live. It is a swamp where Nipah grows in abundant. Folks would come here to gather the leaves to makes roofing material for houses. At time we would also join the old folks to looks for clam in the swamp. Other then that we seldom ventures across the river, where at time, you would see crocodile swimming freely. It is indeed not a place for kids to be going. No way would we venture across the river.


Our place for a meeting usually starts at the Kuantan Recreation Club or the KRC. There is a green there and wooden benches were placed on the side of the green field. It is known as the KRC Padang. In those days there are no bus services and the only way we move around are by bicycles. Four or five of us would cycle from our home and meet at one of the bench and would sat around and smoke cigarette. A new found freedom and enjoy the in things those days. Smoking cigarette is sort of the coming of age for us youth. Some would spot the Elvis Presley hair do and others would do the P. Ramlee look and all of us would use that sticky Hair Cream and all would look smart with their hair well comb and shining. Girls were not yet in our minds at that time. We were just enjoying the freedom from school before going for further study or getting proper jobs. At time we would just yarn until dark or just go to one of the friend's house to listen to the music on the gramophone and enjoy the music. At time we would sing along and enjoy the day over drinks that the friend’s mom prepared for us. As for me I believe it is the beginning of my love for music till this day, for I just cannot live without music. It is now part of my culture of fine living. I stop smoking a long time ago and now live a healthy lifestyle.

We all love to dance and at most time when the Nurses Hostel had their regular Dance Party we would get invited by some of the girl’s schoolmates who now got jobs as nurses at the local hospital. Dance party became sort of a regular pastime for those nurses at their hostel. We would dress smart and went to have a good time. We would dance all night long and really had a great time. Care less of what the happening in the world. The dance music was provided by a local band and some of the musician was friends of ours. With such great music we would just dance till midnight and then leave like all good boys do and get home happy. Friends those were the day. Image above is one of those dances. Have a nice day.