With The Kids In Bintulu

“Never a dull moment” they say, when there are little kids around, and it is true with my three grandchildren in Bintulu. They are always up to their tricks, playful antics, and demanding ways. Even the 5 month old girl knows how to shout, as loud as the brothers too.

The first time that I took them out to the playground Babang asked me whether I remember how to go there. I pretended that I don’t remember. So, he gave directions.

Babang: Turn left here and then turn right there. Then you go straight Tok Bah.
Tok Bah: Ok. After go straight go where?
Babang: After go straight you go the round and around road. (That’s the roundabout)
Tok Bah: Round and around road? Where?
Babang: There near the KFC.
Tok Bah: Where got KFC?
Babang: Yes, there got KFC, with Tok Bah’s picture there.
Tok Bah: Tok Bah’s picture, where?
Babang: Yes, there at KFC on the top. Wait Babang show Tok Bah.

Ohhhhh my! Is he equating me with Colonel Sanders???? As we approach the roundabout he proudly announced….

Babang: There there, Babang can see Tok Bah’s picture on top there.
Tok Bah: That man wear spectacles, Tok bah don’t wear spectacles
Babang: If Tok Bah wear spectacles that is Tok Bah’s picture
Tok Bah: But that man has moustache and beard, Tok Bah got no moustache and beard
Babang: No that picture when Tok Bah got moustache, now Tok Bah no moustache.....

Dedek meanwhile was laughing away saying Tok’s picture ha ha, Tok Bah’s picture ha ha!

So that was that. They have made up their mind that Colonel Sanders is Tok Bah ha ha ha!!

Babang continued giving me direction to the park and running commentaries as we go along. There Tok Bah, is Taman Tumbina, he said. Babang went there with Daddy and Dedek. Babang see many animals inside, and so on. Dedek of course gave commentaries too but I had difficulties trying to make out what he was saying most of the time as he babbles in short syllables when he talks.

The playground we were heading for is one in a public park by the beach and also close to the Taman Tumbina, an enclosed agricultural and animal park. The public park is big and to slow jog once around the park takes one about 20 minutes or so.

I went for my slow jog around the park. Ram stayed at the beach while the kids played with the beach sand. (Ram is not one for slow jogging. The most she will do is walk around and usually when we go to the park, any park for that matter, she will do some Tai Chi and similar exercises). When it was time to go home about an hour later, it was quite a job for us to get the children away from the beach. Had to do a lot of coaxing and pleading to get them to leave.

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Bintulu.