Coffee Poetry

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We haven't done this for some time. I'm talking about unleashing the inherent poetic talents within you guys and gals. No no ... don't protest, I've demonstrated from previous postings that you can do it. Anyway you'll never know till you try.

Well, today's theme is COFFEE ... whether you call it KOPI or EXPRESSO or CAPPUCINNO, we're talking about that tantalising aroma and bitter-sweet taste of fresh brew that promises that giddy satisfaction. Did you know that Ethiopian shepherds discovered coffee when they realised their goats began to dance :)

Now whether you like your coffee served like this ...

or like this ...

or even this ...

To start you off, here's a short piece of java poetry to kick-start the creative process ...

Bean Peace
A poem by Drew K. 

A mystery wrapped in brown,
A fragile enigma,
Enveloping the senses,
With the earthy steam
Of a bean.
The mind wrapped in warmth,
The essence of dark roast,
Heating from within,
The senses thrill,
With every lingering
Sniff of the aroma
In the mug

Wasn't that pretty? And here's another in a very different style ...

HONK-HONK
By Galeigh

WHAT THE HELL YA HONKIN AT?
ARE YOU TRYIN TO WAKE ME UP?
“ CAN’T YOU SEE I’M DRINKIN COFFEE
FROM MY STARBUCK’S COFFEE CUP?” 

I GOT SOMETHIN ELSE THAT’S IN MY LAP..
(OF WHICH YOU’D BE AMAZED)
“ A FREE GIFT I GOT WITH A COUPON”
A DONUT, (THAT’S ALL CHOCOLATE GLAZED) 

IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I SEE YOU-
SHAKIN YOUR HEAD, AND MAKING A FIST-
HEY! DON’T GIVE ME THOSE HAND GESTURES
“ I DONT CARE HOW YOU INSIST” 

THE LIGHT JUST TURNED GREEN-
( IT’S BEEN A SECOND OR SO)
“ KEEP HONKIN THAT HORN” “I AIN’T GONNA GO”
“ TIL I’M DARN GOOD AND READY”
“ SO JUST LET ER BLOW!” 

I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND
SIGN LANGUAGE, OF THE HAND
“ THEN YOU CAN SEE, WHAT I’M GOING TO SAY” 

WHOOPS!! “I HIT MY LEFT TURN”
NOW (YOU’RE STARTIN TO BURN)
GEE... “I BET THAT MADE YOUR DAY!” 

SO WHEN YOU GET BEHIND-- (A CAFFEINE DRIVEN MIND)
WHO’S TRYING TO START THEIR DAY RIGHT
“ DON’T GIVE ME THE TOOT” (“YOU ORNERY OLD COOT”)
(I DRINK COFFEE) “ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT” 

BYE BYE - BEEP BEEP

Now over to you, boys and girls ... show us what YOU can do ... impress Bro Adrian or Mr Nicholas Jee or whoever your English teacher used to be ...

St Joe Going Private (Part 2)

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Back in October, I posted what I had heard regarding the possibility of St Joe going private, but at that time the news was not yet official. You can go to that posting by clicking HERE .

Anyway, over the past two days, there have been a number of reports in The Star newspaper. I have been sent digital snapshots of some of them (thanks Leo & Bob!) .... Part of the text may not be very clear, so I hope to find a website link later.

Read it carefully and answer for yourselves the question: Is St Joseph's really going private?

Slightly zoomed in ...

And continued here on Page SA2 ...

Incidentally, Dominique Ng (Kim Ho) is a former Josephian  (Form 5Sc1, 1978.

.The CM expresses his view ...

and finally ...

I'm sure this posting will evoke some emotional comments from different parties. Over to you, parents and students, boys and girls ...
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Thrilla in Manila

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I've been to Metro Manila, Philippines a couple of times over the past year. Recently I somehow got to thinking about one of the most exciting sporting events that happened there back in the 1970s. How many of you remember what the media called "Thrilla in Manila"?

Yes indeed, this was the World Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on 1st October 1975. It was fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

I went pass Araneta Coliseum on one of my recent visits. It's still looking good and hosting big shows. In fact in February and March, Taylor Swift and Don McLean are performing there. I believe Araneta Coliseum is still one of the largest indoor facilities in South-East Asia.

Anyway, back to the World Heavyweight Championship match ... The bout is often regarded as one of the greatest fights of 20th century boxing. It was the climax to the long-standing rivalry between Ali and Frazier over who was the legitimate Heavyweight Champion.  What happened before was that Ali (or Cassius Clay as he was previously known) had been stripped of the title in 1967 for his refusal to join the Army when drafted during the Vietnam War. Some years later, Frazier petitioned President Nixon to restore Ali's right to box, thereby bringing about a classic Trilogy of Fights between two undisputed heavyweight champions.


Fight #1 (Madison Square Garden, NY, 8 March 1971)




Both men were offered USD 2.5 million each, the biggest payout up to that time in boxing history. Anyone who was anyone was there. Even Frank Sinatra was ringside taking photos.

The bout was very brutal and ended with Frazier winning on points. Both men had to be taken to hospital but Frazier spent a little longer in hospital which allowed Ali to boast bout how much damage he had done, even as the left side of his own face was swollen.



Fight #2 (Madison Square Garden, NY, January 1974)

Although the rematch was a non-title fight, Ali put on one of his best performances and almost stopped Frazier in Round 2, but the referee Tony Perez stepped in thinking the round had ended. Ali won by a unanimous decision, thus earning himself the right to challenge George Foreman (who had beaten Frazier in 1973) to try to regain the Heavyweight title.

Ali did beat Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire in the so-called "Rumble in the Jungle" in Oct 1974. The bout ended in a very convincing 8th round knockout.

Fight #3 (Araneta Coliseum, Metro Manila, 1 October 1975)


This time Ali got USD 4.5 million and Frazier USD 2 million. In his taunting usual way, Ali promised that it would be"a killa and thrilla and a chilla when he got the gorilla in Manila". About 28,000 people packed the area, and 700 million more watched the match on TV worldwide.

Ali started attacking Frazier for the first 3 rounds.  In Round 5, there was a change in momentum when Frazier backed Ali into a corner and began pounding him. Ali rallied in the 11th, 12th and 13th Rounds and Frazier's eyes and cheeks began to puff up.Ali kept up the pressure in Round 14, trying his best to put Frazier away. Both men were exhausted but Frazier was clearly the worse off. His trainer, fearing a fatality as Joe had been taking countless punches in the head, decided not to allow Joe to come out for Round 15. It was all over.

Ali sensing the fight was done stood up to celebrate but almost collapsed in exhaustion. He later said of Joe Frazier, "He's the greatest fighter of all time ... next to me".

Here's a video clip of the last rounds of the fight ... enjoy.

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Guess who I met yesterday?

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ADDED LATER
Since you have all guessed the identity, I'll add some more photos from the event ...

More later ...
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Mini Reunion

Another mini reunion of boys from Form 5 in 1976.

I don't have much time to write at this point, so just posting the photos first. I will edit the text later later. But feel free to post comments anytime ...

Photo 1

Photo 2

Condolences to Datuk Justin Jinggut

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Our deepest condolences to our brother Datuk Justin Jinggut on the loss of his beloved father Datuk Temonggong Jinggut, who passed away early this morning. May he rest in eternal peace.

The "ngintu pemati" will be held at


No 3, Lot 10378,
Lorong Hua Joo Park 8,
Sunyeh Garden,
Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli
(behind Express Bus terminal, 3rd Mile)
Kuching


from Saturday onwards.


The funeral will be on Monday 7th Feb.


Some of the boys at Datuk JJ's place

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Happy Lunar New Year

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The tiger's roars fade into the distance, the bunny hops into centrestage ...

Enjoy yourselves .. but don't eat too much, boys and girls !


And if you are keen to learn how to fold these cute bunny heads origami-style, check out the steps in the following WEBSITE.
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Snapshot from Old Kuching

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Hope many of you have seen this old photograph before? I suspect not too many. I hadn't until Nick Chin (Form 5, 1977) kindly sent me a copy recently. Were it not for the telltale tower (and the caption, of course), I would never have guessed where this was.

This is the original Fire Station in Kuching. It was demolished in the 50s.  In its place now is the Open Air Market - the part opposite Electra House.

Here's another picture of roughly the same place but in the 60s ...

I never quite understood why the fire watch tower has been retained till this day, even though the rest of the building has been gone for many decades. But in a way I'm glad they did preserve it. It gives the place a bit of character, and allows us seniors to show off and tell the youngsters some stories from the past. LOL

ADDED LATER: A Broader Perspective

Our buddy Norbert found this more "extended view" of the old fire station, which may give us a better idea of what stood on the right hand side of the station. This was obviously way before Electra House was built. Could it be the office of the electricity company, after which Electra House was named? And if I'm not mistaken, the road there was Power Street, wasn't it?

Fascinating, isn't it ...