Outdoor water filter

Back in the old days, there is no need of having a water filter in our house.

The water in the stream is so clear you can see fish swimming way down deep and so clean that you can swim in it.

Not many will have to go to market to buy fishes as they can easily set the traps at the river bank. The fish that caught is big enough for a meal.

All this was a long time ago, my friend Chai remember well before any factory industries began, after that I don’t think you would even want to wash your feet in polluted stream caused it will make you itch.

Either the world we live in has become more in advanced technology as more home have some sort of water filtering system or our water becoming increasing polluted.


Having water filter is necessary to ensure water safety and cleanliness; it’s no longer a 'rich man's' gadgets.

In the olden days, what we must do before drinking is simply to ensure we have boil the water but these days are not enough to be safe.



When water filter promotion first started it focus on water filtering for drinking purposes but then as water became even dirtier, manufacturer include the outdoor water filter.

We use the outdoor filter for utility water on household purposes such as washing clothes, car wash and bathing.

If you do some renovation work before shifting to your new house , make sure you have the contractor to provide you a pre-installed piping follow by a incoming water flexible hose get ready when you want to install your new outdoor water filter.

Most of the housing water holding tank is made of fibreglass tank and some house owner may have replaced it with stainless steel tank.


Before installing the new outdoor water filter, you might also need to check the water holding tank to be sure it’s clean. Most people often neglected to do a cleaning on water holding tank after a long period of time as we taking things for granted, thinking the water holding tank is clean. We did not have the chance to peek at what’s inside the tank.

Some of the things that will shock you, other than sludge are dead flies, wasps, cockroaches, to more extreme contamination can found mice, rats, birds and even human corpse found in those rare few cases.

Residential water storage tank normally in the old days are placed outdoor, on the floor of the concrete roof slabs but nowadays it’s hidden from the view when placed inside the roofing attic. (Why change the old way of placing which is so convenience for maintenance work?)

It's hot in the attic

Normal cleaning procedure on cleaning the household water holding storage:


Turn off the incoming public water system (JBA water) from the main water shut off valve.

Cleaning begin with draining the water down and NOT to disturb the sludge. Once all the water removed or drain out, you can remove the sludge by using a water jug to shovelling the sludge out and a container of pail to dispose it. Scrub with PVC broom (clean one - NOT the one used on the toilet) to remove the stubborn sludge.

Once all cleaning completed, refill the tank by turning the mains water valve back on.

Urgh, Look at those dirty water inside the water holding tank 

Remove the sludge by using a water jug to shovelling the sludge out and a container of pail to dispose it.

It will take some time for the tank to be full, depending on your area water pressure. Also there is a need to open the water taps to allow any air locks to clear out.


After cleaning the water holding tanks we wait for the tank to be fully refill before using, to allow the pressure to build up.  Normally it will take a couple of hours, at the meantime we have restraint from using the water taps that comes from the tank.

Something went wrong as the next day water is not coming out of my taps that comes from the water holding tank.

The first thing you should do is check for the common an airlock in the water pipe.

Now unless it's the draught season - no it's raining season and the water authority board has decided to cut off water supply at specific times during the day(only when comes to water rationing), there must definitely be a problem with my water system. It happens when an air bubble gets trapped inside your water pipes and then creates a blockage, preventing water from flowing smoothly in your water system.

You can try to drain the water system down. You will need to turn off the main water shut off valve supply to your house. Then open all taps until all water has been drained down. After that, you need to turn on each tap only a little bit, let the water flow for a little, then turn it a little bit more. Keep on opening each tap a little bit more until they are all fully function.


Ehh....fail



After searching extensively we found the brass float was the culprit. There was no air lock in the pipe after all. The brass float provided by housing contractor was not a quality one or maybe while cleaning the tank, some of the sludge may get into it. I would prefer to replace a new as it won't cost much for a branded one. The brass float failed to open to allow water into the tank. The brass float is used for control the water level in a tank.

No problem when the brass float has been replaced.

An increasing number of consumers are installing outdoor water filters at their houses in addition to the filters inside the home but not all outdoor water filters are suitable for you.

If the water supply in your area is very dirty than using outdoor filter that based on membrane and cloth filter technology will not be advice as the large sediment particles will easy clog very fast your outdoor filter. This also will cause your house water pressure low and you need to frequently clean your outdoor filter daily.

Water from municipal water (JBA) contains chlorine to disinfectant and fluoride to prevent tooth decay among children but most owners fails to understand this by installed filter that tend to remove these two elements.

Most municipal water provider has to ensure some residual chlorine acts as a shield to counter or prevent contamination. Without it, water stored in the tanks will not be protected against possible contamination.

Generally most household will need to have a outdoor water pre-filter to remove dirt , rust, sediment down to size of 10 micron and reduce excessive chlorine down to 80%, followed by a indoor filtering for drinking and cooking need to be fine down to 0.5 microns to remove the widest range of water contamination by using carbon block filter or numerous ceramic filters. More advance indoor water filter now use sophisticated technologies like RO and UV filtration.

No matter what brand of water filter we choose to buy, we need to ensure that we need to do self maintenance washing, outdoor sand filter requires backwashing cleaning every two weeks. 2 minutes for slow rinse followed by 2 minutes for fast rinse.

Don't forget sand filter is not everlasting, it may only require sand replacement every 5 to 10 years if it is not heavily used.

By using an outdoor water filter unit surely save a lot of changing indoor filter cartridges as the outdoor filter already capture all the larger sediment particles thus prevent any premature clogging and prolong the indoor filter cartridges lifespan.

When you do your house renovation, get the plumber to add another kitchen faucet for your new indoor water filter unit. The kitchen faucet is for point of used when required for drinking and cooking.

Indoor water filter is a water purification process to remove contaminants from raw water to water safe for human consumption. Substances that will be filter during this process included thoroughly removal of bacteria, silt, rust, algae, fungi and toxic minerals.



I further request the installation piping to include a bypass system.
 This is for safey measure only as any low pressure or faulty filter I will still be able to use.

Water is so precious and yet we are taking things for granted, the moment you turn on the tap water you assume water continue flow out.

If there is no more water, life can no longer sustains all life on earth.

We must respect the water by keeping it clean from rubbish dumping, chemical pollution and water wastage  through leaks of pipe and fixtures.

I hate it when those idiots who toss their garbage into streams or rivers because it's conveniently for them. Don't they know it's the same river the drinking water is obtained from.

This is not acceptable!


Remember This Well.

NO WATER, NO LIFE!

Moon Cake Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival ( 中秋節), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival is well celebrated by Chinese people from all over the world.


This festival first appeared as a ritual some 3,000 years ago and only became well known during the Tang Dynasty. The festival is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It's when the moon is at its roundest and brightest for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate "zhong qiu jie."

How does the Chinese people will normally celebrated this festival?

It’s customary for friends and family to have a gathering in the evening to appreciate the beauty of bright full moon. While having one tradition of getting together, it will not be complete without the mooncakes which goes well with drinking warm tea to wash down the sweetness of mooncake filling.

To get everyone in the mood for this day, it would be appropriate songs related to the moon will be played. One song that is stuck on my head is the evergreen song "The Moon Represents My Heart" by the late singer Teresa Teng.

This festival might be a good excuse for having a party at your house.

Another customary way to celebrate and decorate this day, is to light up the night with lanterns and candles. In my childhood days the lanterns usually in the shape of animals like dragons or horses but now more in the cartoon character like Angry Birds.

 My favourite childhood lantern was a dragon

Playing with candles are one time kids enjoy when mom allowed
 during the festival, nowadays it
even come with noisy music battery operated cartoon lanterns but
 Nothing Beats An Original when having fun with lanterns!

In Taiwan, floating sky lanterns will be release in the sky but we are concern this might be hazard to aircraft therefore are banned here. So far any planes at Taiwan being affected by the lanterns? Don't know for sure? How high can the sky lantern being flown? It can only flies for 5-10 min with approximately 200 - 500m.

Wow- pretty scenery to look but
Need to be environmental friendly which contain no metal parts and are 100%
biodegradable - Light up the sky without littering the ground and also when release into the sky
 for safety purpose
need to choose open space not near major roads nor nearby airports.

In the past before commercialization began, mooncake festival is known as Mid-Autumn festival from the ancient ceremony of Sacrificing to the Moon Goddess for the year's end harvest to give thanks for the good harvest season.

People offer sacrifices and pay homage to the moon.Offering from the harvest such as apples,grapes,melons and pomelos were common. Not to miss out on this festival is "tang yuen" which is sweet glutinous rice dumplings. 

It's significant due to the meaning of word 'yuen'. It meant round  'yuan man' (complete), cycles of seasons, for good luck and symbolize unity and harmony within the family.
Traditionally, mooncakes are filled with lien-yung(brownish lotus bean paste) and at the centre a yoke of a preserved duck's egg stuff in the middle. It will be cut into quarters and shared among friends and relatives. Other varieties there are tousha(black bean paste), tou-yung(yellow bean paste) and golden trotter(lotus seeds mixed with sweeten paste).

In this modern era for marketing purposes the mooncake pastry will be diversified into different flavour to suit the taste of customers.

Today, mooncakes may be filled with everything and  include green tea mooncakes, and ping pei or snowskin mooncakes.

The price of mooncake can be quite expensive. Unless you're planning to buy a gift for friend or relatives, I would rather wait till festival around the corner cause that's when you got the best discount price.

Mooncake price reduction as the festival night approaching

Mooncakes now comes in fruits, tea and others flavours

Mooncake Legends

1. Chang'e the Moon Goddess

Children in the past like me are quite gullible and naive as we believe what the elders inform us. Just like the western countries children believe there's a Santa Claus, Chinese children are told the story of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface.

There are many story variants and different adaptations of the legend of Chang'e but basically goes like this

Once upon a time when ten suns appeared at the same time in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer by the name of Houyi to shoot down the nine extra suns. After the mission was accomplished, Queen mother of Western Paradise-Hsi Wang Mu rewarded the archer with an elixir pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife - Chang'e stole and ate the pill. To evade being pursuit by the husband, she stays and fled to the moon till to this day.

Now, with modern age of science and technology and already being to the moon, I must say children will likely tell me to grow up if I tell the same story to them. There is a better chances of them believing there are ET in the moon then Chang'e.

2. The Hare - Jade Rabbit

This legend tell the story about Buddha transformed himself into a pitiful old man and approach three creatures for food- the toad, a baboon and a hare.
Both toad and fox could provide fruits and a carp for the old man. Since the hare could not provide any food to offer, the hare jumped into the fire to provide it's own flesh for the starving old man. In recognition of the hare ultimate sacrifice, Buddha was touched and let it live in the moon so where he became the "Jade Rabbit".




 3. Ming revolution

According to the legends,in the Yuan dynasty China under Mongol rule. 

The Chinese are living in hardship at that time became unhappy resenting the alien domination.

Group gathering were outlaw by the Mongols to prevent any chances of uprising. 

 Liu Bowen (劉伯溫), 

who circulated a false rumor that a deadly plague was spreading, and

                           to avoid the plague, the only way is to eat the mooncakes.   

                           Knowing the Mongolian will not eat any of the Chinese food,                                                         

                                     he plotted a plan to overthrow the Mongols.

 This allowed the quick distribution of mooncakes, which were used to hide a secret message coordinating the Han Chinese revolt on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It remind me of the Mission Impossible says 'this message will self destruct in 5 seconds' but the way done here was pieces of mooncake are then eaten to destroy the message.

On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government  facilitated by inserted secret messages in to the moon cakes.

Henceforth, the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with mooncakes on a national level by most Chinese people.

4. Matchmaking and marriage month

The Chinese lunar 8th month is the most auspicious months for marriages. You will most likely find  the restaurants are fully booked for wedding dinners.

Yue Lao (月老),“the old man of the moonlight”, shares his birthday with Mid-Autumn Festival. This moon deity, an old greybeard is known as a matchmaker and his duty to ties couples with a magical invisible red thread which bind them. However, this cupid does not provide a warrant the possibility of happy-ever-after ending and is not responsible for any divorce. Marriage takes a lot of work to make it work, just don't blame Yue Lao if your marriage fails!

Matchmaking has been part of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the past.

In some parts of China, dances are held for young men and women to give an opportunity to find partners. Another is "One by one, young women are encouraged to throw their handkerchiefs to the crowd. The young man who catches and returns the handkerchief has a chance of romance." I'm sure those who stand in front has a better chances cause how far can the women throw?

It will work better the Western way, when a woman had her eye on the right target , she will dropped her handkerchief and expected the man might pick it up.

This method of using handkerchief is outdated.

Now you'll find method using online dating such as Face Book much more appealing and realistic but not all the the time Facebook user will reveal her or his true identity. Some people will try to dupe Facebook users using fake photo.

In the old fashioned way. If you're interested in someone, go directly and asked for her phone number or you could give her your number and says "Call me maybe?".  Nowadays that's another way which is people will use smartphone to scan bar codes linking users to their website on bracelet or t-shirts to find out about someone. I'm not sure this will be a good way to advertise your personal information.

Yue Lao the Chinese Cupid tied a invisible red string around the ankle of two soul mates, unlike
Cupid uses his arrow to strike the two people causing them to fall in love

5. Fire Dragon Dances.

There is a traditional and spectacular dance -the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance which has roots going back to the 19th Century.


For the three nights, visitor come to see a 67-metre-long 'fire dragon' that winds its way with much fanfare and smoke through a collection of streets located in Tai Hang, close to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

This started in 1880 when Tai Hang was a small Hakka village of farmers and fishermen on the waterfront of Causeway Bay.

According to local folklore, over a century ago, a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the village was hit by a typhoon followed by a plague. As if that's not bad enough, a python turn up and ate their livestock. Some of the villager when in a fit of rage killed it.

One of old man villager believe the giant python was actually the son of the Sea Dragon King. He claim the King will seek vengeance for the death of his child.

He has an idea. Knowing the Sea Dragon King will be afraid of fire, the villagers made a huge dragon of straw and covered it with incense sticks, which they then lit.

This dance around the village will be supported by loud beating drummers and bursting firecrackers for three days and night until the plague is vanished.

Therefore, the Fire Dragon Dance tradition continue to hold today with the exception of the Japanese Occupation and during the 1967 disturbances.

Spectacular Fire Dragon Set The City Alight

The two 'pearl' forwarded by two men who twirl and
spin to make it like a shining pearl.
 It is actually pomelos inserted with sticks of incense.

中秋节（zhong qiu jie) night of rejoice, reunion, happiness and romance...umm

Car Overheating

Last week, my van was overheating. I stopped at a petrol station workshop and asked the mechanic to take a look at my vehicle's cooling system. He inspected all hoses, fan belt, thermostat, radiator cap and he notice all of the radiator hoses has hardened. The hoses are in poor condition, coolant fluid could have leak out.

Radiator hoses will wear out eventually. Rather than driving your vehicle until the problems becomes apparent with a breakdown, you should replace them all every four years or when the condition deteriorated.
He found there was a large amount of rust in radiator, and he suggested a radiator flush to clear rust contamination and replaces contaminated fluid.

If you're car still new, you must send your vehicle to service only by the authorised workshops during the warranty period. The workshop personnel are well trained according to the car specification and provide the right tools and parts to service your new car.

While you required to pay more what you get are the parts mentioned in booklet will be guarantee in that period. If you send to other workshop to give your car a great sporty look then you  may cause your new car warranty to be declared null and void. Any modification is best done after the warranty period


After the warranty period end then you can send to any Ah Kow workshop (independent workshop).

I am not saying the independent workshop no good as some mechanics may from a authorised workshop and decided to open his own workshop. There come a time when most of the newer car will not be able to repair by independent workshop as it become too sophisticated.

One thing for sure benefit of sending to a independent workshop is you're able to learn more about your car. You'll know what spare parts has been changed and able to see what going through the service or repair. Any questions you might have you can direct ask the mechanics.


There are some independent workshop will work in partnership with a petrol station . Both will benefit from each other. Like the workshop do not have to worry about stocked up expensive lubricants and petrol station need not worry about unable to sell their lubricant products.

In our country we use the word petrol for automotive fuel. Naturally it sound correct but in America the word use is gasoline for fuel. They called it gas for short and that's why it sound awkward when they called it gas station. The Malaysian people when in America will wonder why these station sell gas only and no petrol?





Petrol kiosk cum workshop

 Petrol Station have come a long way from just dispensing vending soft drink cans to providing convenience stores, automatic teller machine (ATM), automobile workshops and some even with fast food restaurant on its premises.



No waiting room for this auto repair shop, Mom don't mind as long as they provide reading material

My experience learned from car overheating


Your car engine cooling system works to keep your engine from overheating and any parts could be the reason of car engine cooling failure.


Before you know there is something wrong with the radiator there are symptoms like

1- Water/coolant dripping to the floor from the car ( not the aircon water dripping).

2- Hear a boiling sound from the radiator.

3-The water level continues to go down despite topping up the radiator tank and reserve tank level everyday. 


Your cooling system components include the radiator, radiator fan, radiator cap, water pump, thermostat and  hoses.

Radiator function

A radiator is a type of heat exchanger. It is designed to transfer heat from the hot coolant that flows through it to the air blown through it by the cooling fan.


Radiator Fan Function


The radiator cooling fan has an important job in the engine compartment. It can push air through the radiator core. Therefore radiator fan able to cool down the hot coolant in radiator fin and cool radiator will flow back  to the engine. 


 Radiator Cap Function


The radiator cap is a simple yet important part of cooling system that we normally overlook. It's a pressure relief valve that prevents a dangerous build up of internal high pressure rupture within the cooling system. The cap vents release some pressure by allowing a small amount of coolant to overflow the radiator into the coolant expansion tank. When the radiator cools back down, a vacuum is created in the cooling system that pulls open another spring loaded valve, sucking water back in from the bottom of the overflow tank to replace the water that was expelled.


Water Pump Function

The purpose of the water pump is a simple one, making it to push the coolant through the hot engine block, hoses and radiator to cool the engine down.



Thermostat function 

The thermostat is a vital components of your car's cooling system. Its job function is to regulate the temperature and keep it at an ideal level by allowing the upper radiator hose transfers the hot coolant.
When you start the engine, it’s very cold and require warm up. So the thermostat will blocks the flow of coolant to the radiator. When the engine warms up, the thermostat can starts to let coolant flow through the system.



Possible reasons on what makes a car overheat

What is the possible reasons that can cause a car to run hot. It is easier to narrow down the likely suspect.

Possible reasons

1) water pump is not working proper- Puddles of coolant or water underneath your vehicle or high temperature readings may be signs that your water pump needs replacing.

2) Leak- It could be a tiny leak in the cooling system and you losing the coolant. You won’t see it dripping on the ground

3) Bad radiator cap - can cause leaking radiator and overheating cooling system. Seals on the radiator cap are damage. Replacing the radiator cap is easy and inexpensive, not worth of fixing, it is most likely temporary.  Eventually you have to replace the radiator cap.

An enlarged radiator cap gasket can cause the cap does not vent properly. This can result in coolant loss. (picture below- left bad cap, right good cap).

Caution: You should never ever open the radiator cap when the car's hot. The radiator cooling system is pressurized and opening them while it's hot can cause hot coolant and steam to escape resulting in serious burns or scald.

You've Been Warned!

4) Bad thermostat -
A bad thermostat may cause the reading fluctuate wildly temperature gauge could indicate that the thermostat  needs to be replaced.


5) Checking a car's radiator hoses will involves squeezing them to see. Radiator hose should be firm when squeezing but not harden,swell, soft or spongy.

All the radiator hoses changed with the matching hoses

7) Car cooling fan not turning - most likely a problem with the thermoswitch.

The cooling fans are controlled either with a thermostatic switch and they turn on when the temperature of the coolant goes above a set point ( radiator is hot) and turn back off when the temperature drops below that point (radiator is cold).

Others components in the cooling fan circuit can also be the reason for not working include the cooling fan fuse, relay, thermostat and the fan belt driven fans (a bad broken or slipping belts), or broken fan clutch. All can cause engine cooling problems.


If the above parts checked satisfactory but still cannot avoid the car from overheating then it will probarly the car radiator needs your special attention.

How will you know you need to send to Radiator workshop?


When you pull the radiator cap off and shine a torchlight inside, look inside the coolant should be transparent (plus depend on what color of the coolant you use) , and the fins should be visible and clean.

If there is dirty murky fluid and small deposit that build up over time, it can cause the fins to clog and perventing the water flow freely.

We must clean condenser and radiator fins every 20,000 miles or every 4 years but most will neglect this maintenance obligation.

When you go to a normal workshop is like you see a General Practitioner (GP) doctor. GP decide if you needed to be referred for specialist. In my case a Radiator specialist.

I still encounter van overheating, I now know for sure my radiator require some detail attention to be sure its clean inside.

So next day I go to checked with the Radiator workshop. I intend to do a radiator cleaning and repair leaking if any. A normal servicing radiator job is to cleaned it out, soldering the core and pressure tested it for RM150.



I notice the workshop specialising in radiator and car air conditioning repairs and service. My guess is radiator and air conditioning system works on the same principle. AC condenser is just like a radiator which has tubing or coils and fins.

Radiator draw heat away from the engine and replacing the environment with cooler water drawn from the radiator. Making the engine much cooler.
Same like radiator, air conditioning also drawing heat away from it. As a result is a car temperature will go down significantly, which makes the car feel cooler.

After he removed the radiator side covers, he showed me the radiator in bad condition. It's badly corroded and is not worth fixing. When the radiator is deteriorate with age , it is likely the radiator won't last long anyway.Even after cleaning and repair by applying the bonding to the cracks and holes.

He recommend me to use a 3 row core radiator as the vehicle I use has dual air conditioning therefore will generate a lot heat.
Using a 3 row radiator will last long as when one of the row failed the other two still works.

Cooling will be efficient with the three row radiator fin. The more fins the greater the cooling area due to the greater surface area.

When he show me the new 3 row radiator, I was surprise as why it look like rusty? It's new right? He replied I am not the first person who asked.

What is the color of copper? It is a reddish, orange color.
Ooh..I see!


Again I asked, "Why is the car engine radiator made from copper?".

The radiator is made of copper because copper transfers heat very well.Elementary, my dear Watson.



Some customer feels it's no nice looking , so the manufacturer has to spray painted the fin black but after sometime the paint detoraited and stick on the radiator causing it to overheat. Now it comes without any spray painting. Why do we need the radiator to spray painting , nobody going to look at it?


I asked him whether is alright to use coolant again? He advice me that old van is like a older people should not taking too much medicine as the body organ cannot work as well it use to be.
Old coolant gets acidic and corrosive, and will eat all sorts of internal parts, from your head gasket to the water pump impeller.

Although I've change a new radiator but other part also will be affected when you use collant.


For old car we don’t recommend using Coolant. Using just water instead will do.



While using coolant you need to remember , any deposits at all in the radiator are bad and are caused by one of more of the following:


1) Incorrect coolant Coolant concentration too high – the correct mixture is coolant 70% and water 30%.

2) Mixing incompatible coolants. You should use only the coolant recommended by car manufacturer.


Another problem solved! Another one will appear. While the radiator man doing a last minute check he warned me air leakage somewhere in the exhaust pipe system.

Oh Dear, another appointment require with the Exhaust specialist.  Van/Car with never-ending annoying problems. Sigh..

Radiator has been removed for inspection. Cooling fan placed at the rear of the radiator.

2 row radiator fin core kaput, no point of using back the old radiator

Recommended me to use a 3 row fin core, it's new but one can't help notice the colour makes you think an old radiator

Traditional Children Games

Children today are spending less time outdoors than their parents did as children and this is having a huge impact on their health, growth and mind development.

Whether or not the children now are fortune with playing with computer games alone than those of yesteryears.
I must say I prefer playing traditional games with happy active group of friends.
Those kids who are passionate about video games only will grow up destined to spend their life as a social outcast or loner.

I know my niece don't play any of that stuff I used to play. Those kid will not play the traditional games of yesteryears as they find it boring or too childish. Kids who watch too much television are growing up too fast. They speak, dress and act more like adults than we used to.

I wanna borrow Joker's favorite line, 'Why so serious?'

The kids needs to slow down and enjoy life as a child and don't lose the sense of playful, fun, creative, laughing and joyful child.

It is hard to please yourself. When you're a kid, you wish to grow up fast to become an adult but when you've became an adult, you're gonna wish and miss the days of being a kid again.

A majority of parents putting too much pressure of school life for young kids. Even after school they have to go to the tuition class. Afterwards the child would still have to complete the homework from school as well as those from tuition.

So much of academic result oriented lead to little or no time for outdoors physical activity.

As far as I could remembered, I never studied at home after school hours during my primary school. What I remembered was the schoolbag will leave at home and straight to play with my friends. Oh no I lost track of the time, be prepared to take punishment by caning for being late for dinner!

The traditional games played by children of my generation will be forgotten due to many kids who show no interest in these games. You won't even find it played in the villages any more. Sad to know even I have forgotten some of the rules of traditional games being played!

The coming generations may not have the luxury of playing or even knowing the games we played during the bygone era unless we document the facts while they are still relatively fresh in our memories.  Some of games are localized and some traditional games played from other countries.

What are the games we played in the good old days? Will the traditional children games dying out?



Let us go back in time to the good old days and  revisit our childhood traditional games.

Game 1: Hopscotch- In Malaysia it is called Aeroplane Jumping(Chinese Translation), ting-ting or ketengteng.


Hopscotch is a children's game which originated as a training exercise in the Roman Army that can be played with several players or alone. Arguably it's found in China as early as 2357 BC.
The shape of hopscotch are variants on drawing the design(circles, squares or cross) but the most common shape played here is the shape of an airplane.
Hopscotch is a popular playground game in which players toss a small object as marker into numbered spaces of a pattern of rectangles outlined on the ground. Hop through the spaces to retrieve the object.
there.

Let see if I get this right on how to play:

Throw a flat stone or whatever small object (bottle cap is a popular choice) to land on square number one. It must land inside the square without touching the border or bouncing out. If you failed, you lose your turn and  the next person gets to play. If you get it right, go on to the next step.

Hop through the squares, skipping the one you have your marker on. Each square gets to hop one foot. You can choose which foot you want. You may not have more than one foot on the ground at a time, unless the square you hop is in between of two squares, in which case you can put down both feet simultaneously.

Always keep your feet inside the correct square(s); if you missteps on a line, hop on the wrong square, or step out of the square, you will lose your turn.

Pick up the marker on your way back. When you have reach the last number(square), turn around (still remaining on one foot balancing) and hop back in reverse squares order. While you've reach the square right before the one with your marker, lean down (balancing on one foot) and pick it up, then skip over that square and finish the rest.

If you completed the course with your marker on square one (and have not lose your turn), then throw your marker onto square number two on your next turn. Your mission is to successfully complete the course with the marker on each square. The first player to get all square done will wins the game!

I've always lose to girls when comes to hopscotch

Game 2: Runner and Tagger as Galah Panjang

There are two teams with at least 5 person on each side. One will play the role as runner and the other as tagger. The object of the game is to get through the lines controlled by the opposition know as taggers. The number of runners able to get through the line without being tags is the winner.
Many years ago when we organised a holiday trip to PD, I had a chance to relive this game. It's so much fun, it's like being a kid again.

Dodging a taggers

Game 3- Spin Top aka Gasing

Spinning tops balance on a point while spinning on an axis. This motion is produced in the most simple forms of top by twirling the stem using the fingers. The supported top is spun by a cord or string while holding the top upright with a support. The whip top is spun by whipping the top. This provides a constant spinning motion.
Occasionally, boys will cried when his top spins broken by his opponent top spin. Therefore, they always search to find stronger wood that will not so not easily broken after being hit.

A boy holding the string after pulling it to spin the top

Games 4- Chinese Game Eagle catch Chicken

The children will select who will play the role of the eagle, hen and baby chicken. The hen will try to protect the baby chicken from the eagle. All the baby chicks will line behind the hen and follow closely whenever the hen goes. The eagle need to catch the baby chick that couldn't follow closely behind. The one that got caught will play the role of the next eagle.

Mama hen protect its chicks against meancing eagle

Game 5- Batu Seremban


Batu Serembat stone is also known as the "batu seremban". This games mostly played by girls.
It is usually played in a group - two or more persons using 7 pieces of stones or other objects used are glass marbles, rubber seeds, medium to large chunks of gravel or small cloth sachets stuffed with small stones, beans, coarse sands.

Batu seremban usually played at a flat floor surface. The player must also sit on the floor so that it is easier to play.
The objective of the game is to throw one of the stones one at a time and sweeping another on the floor simultaneously catching the one you threw earlier on. This game continues to advance stages where the game gets complicated.

Game 6- Rubber Band Jumping

You can make a giant chain rope out of rubber bands usually approximately eight feet long. Tie the ends of the rope to make a rope ring. Two children will stand to face each other with the rubber band rope in front of them. They will act as a post for the rubber band ring. The player then jumps in the rubber band loop, in and then out. If they are successful, the height will be raise higher.

You won't find many obese kids as Jump ropes are very effective at burning fat

Game 7 - Spiders wrestling.

A type of spider is called “leopard tiger” usually selected for fighting. The children take two spiders and put them on opposite ends of a stick. They tilt the stick back and forth until both spiders meet at the center of the stick and start to wrestle. The spider that falls off the stick loses the game.

Alternately the children put them in the match box for fighting. Spiders fight mainly by wrestling and they will wrestle with each other using their legs. They're trying to get a grip on the other so they can bite.

Fight, fight! spider wrestling promote violence? Nah not as much as today video games

Game 8 - Scissors, Paper, Rock or done in Mandarin style-  Jan Dow, Boo, or Schurr toe.

In the US it's called Rock Paper Scissors but in Mandarin in reverse order.

Two kids will face each other and randomly decide which to choose using their palm as Jan Dow (scissor), Boo (paper), or Schurr toe (rock).

At the count of three, both players hold out their palm.

Hand Sign selected for:
Jan Dow (scissor)- Stick out the sign of V sign.
Boo (paper)- open hand is held palm outward, fingers pointing down.
Schurr toe (rock)- Clenched hands/fist.


Scirror win when player choose jan dow over boo.  Scissors can cut paper.

Paper win when player choose boo wins over schurr toe.  Paper can wrap around rock.

Rock win when player choose schurr toe wins over jan dow.  Scissors will not able to cut rock.

Player with same call is a draw.  Nobody scores, so repeat.

Player who scores 2 out of 3; or 3 out of 3 wins.

Alternative sign for scissors pic below, also people here usually Say
 ONE,TWO,JUS!

Another version of scissors, paper and rock is called “la la li la tam pong” . This is usually used when who will be the one to start the game, we would stand in a circle and sang “la la li la tam pong” while turning the palm up and down following the rhythm of the verse.

At the end of each song line, we would stop  and show either with the palm facing up or down. The one remainder showing the odd hand will lose.
For example, if there are four people, and three show the palm facing up while one shows the palm facing down he loses. Vice Versa. The majority wins.

La La Li La Tam Pong additional rap line..

Ah Pek Beh Ah Pong .............(Ah sells apong)

Ah Pong Lin Lok Hai ............ (The apongs fall into the sea)

Ah Pek Chiak Kau Sai ............(Ah Pek has nothing to eat . . i.e. eat dog shit)

* Apong is peanut pancake,  one of the popular local delicacies in Malaysia

Game 9 - Blind man's bluff


Tag, but without the use of vision. The person who is the seeker has their eye's covered. Can be done indoor or outdoor. The person who they touch or tag  then becomes the next blind man. It is usually played in an area free of dangerous obstructions so that the blind folded player will not suffer injury from tripping over or hitting something.

To add difficulty the one in the middle will be spun to make him dizzy

Game 10- Marbles (guli) games

A marble is a small spherical toy usually made from glass or clay. These balls vary in sizes.

I have played the Marble games all but been forgotten the rules. Used to love and play the games everyday.

One game is involves drawing a circle in sand, and players will take turns knocking other players' marbles out of the circle with their own marble.

Other versions involve shooting marbles at opponent marbles into holes dug in the ground.

Marble can be also a poor man golf game. If he grew up and become wealthy then he can continue playing a rich man's sport.

I can't remember where I put away my marbles?

Games 11 - Hide and Go Seek

There is no limit on any number of children can play. One chosen child (La La Li La Tam Pong can apply here) start first will hides their eyes by leaning against the wall or tree and begin counts up to 10. All the other children will run and hide. When the person has finish counting will says, "Ready or not, here I come". The search can begin and start to find others players hideout.

If you can get back to the pole/tree without being caught by touch/tag it, you are saved. If the seeker tag or touch the hider or the last one found will be the next seeker and must count for the next game.

Hide and seek. We all remember the phrases: 'Ready or not, here I come'

Games 12 - Hop Tag game

One chosen child will be selected to start the game. Mark a large square border lines on play area or field but not too big. Anyone step out or touch the line will have to play seeker.
The chosen one must catch others by tag or touch but can only hop around until almost all but one player that did not gets tagged and thus gets to play pursuer in the next game.


There are too many tradtitional games to talk about. I can only remember a few of them. Other games worth 
mentioning are board games - Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Scrabble, Checkers Board Game, Mastermind and many more.

If you mention the names of any of the boardgames or the traditional children games, the children will scratch their head cause they have no idea what you're talking about. They'll be more likely to say, 'What's that?'.

What we lack in fancy computer games we make up for fond childhood memories through traditional games.

Those were the days when games play with joy and laughter, something computer games will never bring.

LONG LIVE TRADITIONAL CHILDREN'S GAMES!