Mr Sober Hj Salleh Memorial Trophy 2017

During my years in the Penang Free School, I joined the school rugby team. Our rugby coach back then was Allahyarham Sober Hj Salleh but everyone addressed him as Cikgu Saber. To me, he was not just a teacher who taught us in Seni Perusahaan classes and a rugby coach. He was a mentor to me. He taught me about life. He is truly a master indeed.

In PFS, all male teachers were being addressed as "Sir". The Teacher's Room sign was "Masters' Common Room". Hence, the word "Headmaster" is the Head of the Masters. But now many refer the position as the School Principal. Influenced by the Americans, perhaps?

A few months back, our Old Frees ruggers had discussions to organize a friendly tournament between the Old Frees Assoc. (OFA) and the PFS school team memorial game to commemorate Allahyarham Cikgu Saber's contributions to PFS Rugby team.

On that Sunday evening, after the Asr prayer at the PFS Surau, we started off the event with a Tahlil prayers for Allahyarham Cikgu Saber and for our friends who had left this world too soon.

5:00pm

We gathered at the school field. Theere were football and hockey tournaments too on the same day between OFA and PFS.

Most of the known faces were there including my uncle from batch '79.

5:30pm
The weather was cloudy as it was raining in the morning. The morning rain had dampened the field and the soil was soft. The temperature was also not too hot. A perfect condition to play rugby as the soft soil beneath the grass could prevent injuries.

I was not prepared for this game as I feel that it just for fun. It has been more than 25 years since I last played rugby. Furthermore, I just came back from the ride to Songkhla last night. Hope I have enough energy to play.

We started the game. After a few minutes, it all came back to me. As they say, it's like riding a bicycle. hehehe

As the game ended, the OFA won. It was fun. I'm really exhausted but enjoyed.

Till we meet again next year.

Fortis Atque Fidelis!

One Day Ride to Songkhla

My Old Frees buddy, Anas had told me that he would like to join me if I intend to ride again to Thailand.

I told him is it ok on the 29th July 2017?

He said ok.

I asked a few other friends to join but most of them were unavailable.

It's me and Anas then.

Oh, and also Nabill, a Thai friend from Hatyai whom I had just befriended on Facebook will join us at Songkhla later on.

From Penang:

Anas and I on our Yamaha 135LC each.

From Hatyai:

Nabill with his Honda CBR300R.

8:30am

I reached Hentian Sebelah Tikam Batu at the North-South Expressway. That was our rendezvous point.

8:45am

Anas arrived and we proceed with the ride. We stopped at Gurun R&R for refueling and carry on with the ride.

10:20am

We stopped at Changlun to buy the Thai insurance for our bikes and to fill-in the Thai Immigration entry/departure card a.k.a. the white card.

10:45am

We refueled at BHPetrol station Bukit Kayu Hitam. It's the last petrol station before crossing the border.

11:00am

We crossed the Malaysian CIQ complex. Everything went on smoothly on Malaysian Immigration part but things turn out to be quite opposite when we reached the Thai CIQ complex in Dannok.

The people queuing to stamp their passports at Thai Immigration complex was very long. Thai Immigration had just moved into the new building located on the left hand side of the border.

I believe it might take more than 2 hours to queue. I told Anas, let's turn back and enter through Padang Besar border gate.

We turned and rode back to Bukit Kayu Hitam. I told the Malaysian Immigration personnel that I'm turning back and will enter through Padang Besar. He said OK. Thanks.

We rode on from Changlun, via the Changlun - Kuala Perlis expressway and exited through Chuping. The scenery at Chuping was beautiful. It was cloudy and the wet road showed that it was raining before we arrived.

11:40am

We arrived at Padang Besar and refueled at Petronas station. It's the last petrol station before crossing the border.

11:55am

We crossed the Malaysian CIQ complex. As usual, the Malaysian Immigration part went smoothly. Upon reaching the Thai Immigration CIQ, the queue was quite long but not as long as the queue at Dannok.

Other 135LC group from Kedah going to Thailand.

12:30pm

After we've done stamping our passports and obtaining the vehicle permit from Thai Customs, we proceed to the nearest money changer in Padang Besar, Thailand. Then, off we rode from Padang Besar to Hatyai. 

The weather was cloudy but no rain. A good day to ride. The ride took about 1 hour.

1:30pm Malaysia time

12:30pm Thai time
(from here I'll use Thai time)
We reached my favourite restaurant, Chalee D'Hatyai, had lunch and performed our prayers there.

While we were having our lunch, there was a tourist bus from Malaysia arrived. The passengers were having their lunch inside the air-conditioning area while the driver and the tour guide ate next to our table. We overheard the bus driver's conversation that they had to queue at Dannok border for 3 hours to get their passports stamped. Luckily Anas and I re-routed and entered through Padang Besar just now.

The food was nice and the staff were friendly but I noticed that their price had gone up a bit. Oh well, when a place was becoming quite famous, the price will go up too.

I texted Nabill, a friend from Hatyai to arrange our meeting point. He had just finished his classes at Thaksin University in Songkhla. We shall meet him there.

2:20pm

We rode from Hatyai to Songkhla via the outer ring road. Hatyai has an outer ring road around it. That's why I never see any heavy vehicles within the Hatyai town center.

3:00pm

We reached Thaksin University in Songkhla. It was situated just before the junction to Songhkla town. Nabill arrived a few minutes later on his CBR300R Repsol livery. He is a teacher at a private Islamic school run by his family. Now he's pursuing further studies as part-time in the university.

3:25pm

Nabill took us around Songhkla old town. I never knew Songkhla had the heritage part like George Town, Penang. There were some mural arts and we took photos there. Quite interesting.

From there, we went to the famous serpent statue. I've been here for many times but this is the first for Anas. We had to refuel at Songkhla town before continued our ride.

Then we board the ferry from Songkhla jetty to the other side and this is my first time using the ferry. The ferry fare for each motorcycle is only 3Baht (38sen). So cheap. I'm not sure how much is the fare for cars.

The narrow channel that we crossed is where the sea connects to the Songkhla lake. The ferry ride took about 5 to 7 minutes. I'm quite excited as this is my first experience using the ferry in Songkhla.

After we reached the jetty on the other side, we rode on to Koh Yo (Yo Island). The island is connected via 2 bridges back to the highway, Route 408 to Hatyai.

4:50pm

On Koh Yo, Nabill took us to a cafe by the lake. The view was magnificent facing the bridge. The cafe is called Jibfae Laele. We hangout and had some drinks there.

We made one loop from Thaksin Universiti to Songkhla ferry
to Ko Yo and back to mainland.

5:45pm

We move on from there heading back to Hatyai. On the expressway, we were caught in a traffic jam due to the construction site at the intersection from Route 408 to Route 407. Luckily we were riding motorcycles. I pity those in cars where they had to endure the traffic jam.

6:30pm

We reached Khlonghae floating market near Hatyai. Lots of Malaysian tourists. Had some drinks and light meals. After spending time there for about half an hour, we rode on to Hatyai town.

The land of smiles :)

7:40pm

We reached ASEAN Night Bazaar. I had my dinner at the food court here. There were lots of Malaysian tourists. We bought some t-shirts as souvenirs. With Nabill, who is a Thai, we can get more bargains. hahaha!

9:00pm

It was time for us to head back to the border. The border at Dannok closes at 11pm Thai time (12am Malaysia time). We need to reach there before the border closes.

We had a great fun. Thank you so much Nabill for taking us around Songkhla and Hatyai. Till we meet again!

10:00pm

Reached the border at Dannok. The queue for cars was not too long and fortunately, we who rode motorcycles had shorter queue. After stamping our passports and returned our vehicle permits to Thai Customs, we rode back through Bukit Kayu Hitam and refuel at Caltex Changlun.

12:40am (Malaysia Time)

We stopped at Gurun R&R for some refreshments, performed our prayers and continued our ride back home via the North-South Expressway. Upon reaching Bertam exit, Anas went to his home and I continued to Perai.

1:40am

I reached home safely.

That's all for today's ride. Selamat kassim selamat. hehehe