3. Lost in Kampung Boyan

To school by Trishaw

In primary school, I often shared a trishaw ride to school with Ng Chong Koon, the present day Physician. We were neighbours in Green House. One afternoon, the trishaw man forgot to pick us up after class.

We decided to walk home on our own. Thinking we knew better, we tried a “shortcut” through Kampung Boyan. Hours seemed to pass as we wandered all over Kampung Boyan, carrying our rattan school baskets.

Just before the sawmill, still in Kampung Boyan, we suddenly saw my father waiting for us. Relieved, he walked with us all the way back to the Green House area.

Chong Koon lived just behind or in front of my house, depending on which direction you came from. Normally, there was a proper route - walk past Taiping GH, then the railway station, past Station Road, across the big junction by the sawmill, pass the Chettiar temple, and walk straight along Simpang Road to the Kota River bridge. From there, we could follow the riverbank straight home.It would have been quicker and easier, we knew.  But boys being boys - instead of sense, we chose adventure. We thought we were discovering unseen places.

Like in the old cowboy movies:

“Have gun, will travel.”Only for us, it was:

“Have rattan baskets, will travel.” 

Cheah Eng Seng

7thSeptember 2025