EARLY MEMORIES

I was born and bred in the famous historical town of Melaka (the old spelling being 'Malacca') as stated in my birth certificate - Place of Birth : The Straits Settlement of Malacca. Actually I was born in Dr.Yeoh's Maternity Clinic at Heeren Street.

Can't remember whether the Maternity Clinic was the one above or the one below. So much has changed now into antique shops or museums . Anyway, pictures taken at Heeren Street.


The first 5 years of my life was spent in a little shop at No.24 First Cross Street or then known as 'Kampong Keling', just a road away from Heeren Street.

Recent photo of No.24, First Cross Street, Malacca, now occupied by some Chinese trader.

The first memory I had was as a 4 year-old when my 8-month old little brother, Rosmadi, died of diarrohea. I remember shortly before his demise, my doting Mom and Aunt, Embun, took him to a Kodak Photo Shop nearby to have his photo taken, coaxing the little one to smile. I remember later my Mom and Aunt crying their eyes out upon his death. Naturally, because he was the only boy after 3 daughters.

Little Rosmadi - we miss you adik ..

I have fond memories at the old shop (picture as above), how many times I fell down the stairs from the first floor, how we braved the great flood of 1950 at Kampong Pantai when I was almost swept away by the fast current, how I accompanied my Along (elder sis) to her school in Kubu although not yet of school-going age, how I loved getting the teacher's attention with my slate-board (papan batu - no exercise book then), the mee-goreng packed in banana leaves eaten with Cikgu Salmiah in the classroom during recess, how when my Uncle Hamid won a bicycle at the Lucky Draw at the Circus, how my uncles would give me rides on their bicycles, how my sisters and I would visit Misi, the Serani (Portugese) family at the marine quarters by the river behind the shop and fed rice with fish in yellow gravy (ikan masak lemak kuning), how the Bawean community nearby took care of me. My ... those were surely very fond memories and I thank God for them.

It started as the Dutch Ice Company (no they don't sell ice) office during the Dutch occupation of Malacca in the 1640's. Then during the 1940's or so it was turned into living quarters for the Bawean community - about 6 extended families living in the once garages for the horse-carriages of the white masters. Situated at Jonker Street very close to my father's first shop. The men of this community (a.k.a Boyan) were mainly chauffeurs for the rich Chinese towkays or Tuan orang putih. My Mom would send little me overthere to be looked after during the day. The building underwent several changes since then. Wow and now it is an eating house serving Malay & Western food, known as 'Tranquerah Bistro'... ayo yo ...