Malaysia early memories-Part 2

July 2nd 1971.
This was the day we set our foot in Malaysia for the first time.
Although it was my first overseas trip too, I was already practising my favorite trick of appearing outwardly confident although quite nervous inside.
As the aircraft descended, the view was spectacular. After coming in over the Straits of Malacca, the approach to the runway at Subang airport was first over a thick forest, and then over palm oil plantations. Green, green everywhere. Skies were a mix grey and black, with lightning flashing, with a shower threatening at any time. When we came out of the airport though, the skies were clear and brilliant blue. Our old friend Mr. Kokatnoor had reached Malaysia earlier and had come to the airport to pick us up in a Volkswagen van. Unlike some of my colleagues, who had arrived single, stayed at the YMCA and searched for a house and then sent for the rest of the family, we had decided to all land together and share the experience .
Our drive from the airport was to set the tone for the impressions of Malaysia. Wide clean roads, disciplined traffic, big cars, very few pedestrians at the crossing. Our first sight of the multi racial Malaysia too. There were Malay faces, Chinese faces and of course the South Asian faces.
Our journey ended at the YMCA, located in the Brickfields area of Kuala Lumpur. It was small and very pretty in those days, nice clean rooms.For the three of us, coming in from India all things were a novelty. We came down to lunch after leaving our bags. And thus started Ashwini's romance with the non Indian food, away from Poli bhaji. There was a Chinese caterer from whom we ordered Cantonese noodles I think. For the next seven days, Ashwini would demand that we go down and sample his goodies, which included hot dogs and Burgers. After attending the office briefly, we started our house hunt earnestly. Kokatnoor had seen some houses for us, which we did not fancy too much. Finally, we chose a house in the suburb Petaling Jaya [called PJ in short], located somewhere between Kuala Lumpur [referred to simply as KL] and Port Klang, on both sides of the huge Federal Highway, connecting the capital city with the port city.
PJ is divided in numbered sections. Our house was in Section 10, off the main road Jalan Gasing. [Jalan being the Malay for 'Road' and Gasing the name, meaning a spinning top]. As the small approach road descended, it reached a huge and lovely park called Taman Jaya.The rear compound of our house joined with the Park fence.On the same approach road, on one side on a hillock, was a beautiful Siamese temple, another land mark in PJ.
Our house had three big bedrooms and a nice living and dining area. I recall the house full of sunlight during the day. Our stuff was yet to arrive from India. In the mean time we needed basic things in the house. So, the shopping for sofa sets, bedroom furniture, dining table, started; all very enjoyable. We had not done much serious shopping after our marriage [mainly because we did not have that kind of money]; hence this was really the first big shopping for us. Here we were introduced to the world of buying on credit. For all this stuff, we barely paid 20% upfront; the rest was to be paid over six months. Then came the TV and refrigerator, both of which were our first. All an exciting time for Ashwini, who gave hints of her future influence by naming the shades of color she liked even at that age.

Then came the surprise. All along in Bangalore, Ashwini had shared her bedroom with us. Here she announced that she must have her own room! We were quite worried and dissuaded her from the idea for a few weeks. Finally she had her way and was installed in her own room with a small bed, all at the ripe age of 2 years. This was a first glimpse of her independent spirit.
We were still shopping and that left little money for fun, and we had no car yet. We all used a common transport to the office, a Volkswagen van.
Something about the factory now. Named Indo Malaysia Engineering Company Sdn Bhd, [The last two words being the Malay for Pvt Ltd.], the factory was built over 5 acres of land in the biggest Industrial area in the country called Shah Alam Industrial Estate. Built in a very modern way, it had tried to replicate in a small way the facilities at three of our factories in India. Except for the MD who had a cabin, [we trust the practices of the British]; all others sat in an open office. Like everything else in Malaysia, open areas were green. In fact one of the major expenses was to trim the grass every 15 days.
We manufactured Electric motors and AC generators, and my responsibility was to take charge of the Design, Testing of products and the Quality aspects. I do not want to dwell too much on the factory side, but let me say that for me professionally this was a very revealing experience. Whereas I had not learnt a great deal in India on the subjects to be called an expert, here I was an expert and had to find an answer. Very quick learning curve indeed. There were five other Expatriates in our Company. Most were living not far from each other, all in PJ. [Far is of course relative and the distances were ranging form 3-6 KM.] In addition there were two more working in our Area sales office.Most knew Marathi, although for some of them not their mother tongue.
Our social life for the first few months consisted of get togethers at the house of one of the families and picnics on weekends. To continue the proud tradition of India, we toiled on a six-day week, so weekend meant only Sundays. We had our first look at the countryside, which was jus beautiful, I know I am repeating myself, but green everywhere. The forests were very dense. Then there were plantations, rubber trees with regular cuts on their barks and cups attached and very early in the misty mornings, workers collecting the sap in pots. Palm oil plantations with the squat trees laden with huge bunches of fruit. All trees in regular rows with streaks of sunlight between them and turning the top of the leaves to gold.
Something about the Malaysian weather, you get to see all three seasons during a single day. Cool in the morning, hot and very hot during the day, thunder, lightening and a downpour in the late afternoon, again cool at night.With all that rain however, we managed without the umbrellas for quite a while, since the heavy shower lasts only a few minutes, clearing the skies immediately.
Now we started making other friends as well.
Two friends with whom we have had very long relations, were the Pethes and the Ramalingams, with whom we came into contact by a coincidence. The Ramalingams at the Independence day flag hoisting at the Indian high commission. Pethes we met in more amusing circumstances. There were not too many shops selling Indian groceries in PJ those days. The most popular was the ' Pillay' shop. We were there one evening, when we heard a lady trying her best to explain to the shop owner about '' Sabudana''. The conversation was something like, '' You know, round round, white white, to make porridge''. That was Mrs Pethe.
These two families and later on Ashok and Anuradha Gokhale became our closest friends in Malaysia.
Dr Shivaji Ramalingam was one of the best known entomologists working in University of Malaya. Viju Ramalingam was the granddaughter of Veer Savarkar's cousin [who converted to Christianity] from Pune and was longing to speak Marathi. They had three children, the youngest slightly older that Ashwini. Dr Pethe was a professor of mathematics, who after working in Canada and the USA was now with the University of Malaya. Mrs. Pethe from Mumbai was equally keen to have Marathi friends. They had two children both older than Ashwini. Manju the older one became Manjutai for all younger children.
We had by now paid up for most of our stuff by now, and my urge to buy a car became unbearable, although Sujata was urging caution. Through a mutual friend we came across a used Austin 1100, white colour, and we jumped at it. This was October 1971, and finally we had our own car! This also meant that the car was going to remain at home all day, since we still used the office van. So driving lessons for Sujata became a necessity. To be frank, I had never seen such systematic driving lessons. [My own were very practical with the most senior KEC driver taking me thro the steps and declaring one day that I was ready for the test.] Those were fun days. After all her lessons were over, I insisted that Sujata do a few hours on the road with me. That helped her in the practical aspects and she passed her test at the first attempt. Now she was truly independent.
1972 was the time for the first school for Ashwini. That was Assunta Convent, one of the better known schools. I was there on her first day and hearing the cry she let out when we dropped her off was a very sorry moment for me. She managed however and became used to the school. Her teacher [Miss Shanthi] on the first day, whom we met months later, told us that she still remembered how much Ashwini cried on her first day. And ironically it was also a first day for the teacher, and what her worry was that if Ashwini did not stop crying what would happen to the teacher. She was sweating all over but finally Ashwini stopped. She later became Ashwini's teacher in another school, and had only nice words to say about Ashwini.
We were just about completing one year in the house when the owner, a huge Sikh man, decided that he wanted a substantial rental jump, which we could not afford, and then began a series of house hunts thro PJ, which finally took us through five different houses in the 8 years we spent in our first stay. That also introduced to a fairly reliable house agent Mrs Low who was our partner in this unending quest. This regular shift in residences led to many jokes amongst our friends, who concluded that we just love to shift houses every year for the principle of it.
Before I talk about our next house, a few words about the park next door. It was a huge park with a lake in the centre and childrens' playing areas. Ashwini just loved it there, and we spent many evenings there, followed very conveniently [ for Ashwini] by a visit to the nearby A & W with their specialty hot dogs, or even a cart outside the park with his own brand of burgers. We were also introduced to the delectable Satay, which were sold on roadside carts [like our Bhel carts]. Even to watch the satays being grilled on a charcoal grill was a pleasure. Satays are small boneless pieces of meat marinated for hours with a special mix, and then skewered on a stick and grilled, and served with a special peanut sauce, cucumber rounds, and a cake of glutinous rice called Katu pat.A great treat, and so affordable! Satays were made from chicken, Beef, or lamb for Malays who are Muslims, and also with pork for non Muslims.
So, in July 1972, we moved to our new house, on Jalan Gasing, the main road itself, not as picturesque as our first one, but more convenient.
More about our life in Malaysia, 1972 middle onwards, in my next installment.



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