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!

Ghost Marriage

Ghost marriage is the name of a Chinese tradition where the wedding is performed for one or both of the spouses is dead.


Previously engaged to be married

There have been a case in China where a couple were set to get married on February 4th, 2010 but on January 28th, 2010 the bride was stabbed to death by two heartless burglars. Although he's devastated and grief stricken by the loss of his bride-to-be, the groom still determined to proceed a sombre wedding at a funeral parlor for her.

On February 4th, 2010, at a funeral parlor in Zhangzhou, Fujian, the new bride lie in the crystal coffin in her wedding dress.  Family from both sides invited to act as witness to this unique wedding.

True Love Never Dies, It Only Gets Stronger With Time

So touching,  heartbreaking and true love is rare in this age. I can't help thinking it's like a tale in Romeo and Juliet but with a classic Snow White twist. 

It makes me wish they could have a happy ending where reminds me so much of Snow White. Prince Charming's true love kiss awakens Snow White, the two get married where they lived happily ever after.

In a real world 'Snow White' does not awake from her crystal coffin, she would remain asleep forever.

I feel sorry for the poor groom and the family of the bride.

“Be strong and brave because God is with you."

I want to believe, my heart says yes but my mind says no

Ghost marriages are often set up by request of the spirit of the deceased. I’ve got two stories related on this you might find this hard to believe. 
Story #1- A True Story From My Friend- Yeo Kim Hoe

A girl from my friend neighbourhood has passed away. A few months later she appeared to her mother in a dream saying she wished to marry a man who died recently. The girl gave her mom his name and address. The mother asked my friend if he knows the location of address her daughter had told her. My friend being inquisitive asked her why she wants to go to this address, she subsequently tell my friend the whole story.

Would you believe it? She found the address location and true to her words there was someone who died go by the name of...

During their “spirit wedding” at a flat house in Penang near Bayan Lepas the couple was represented in the form of two effigies made of paper, bamboo or cloth. 

On either side of them stands their respective paper servants, and items needed by the dead in "daily life", such as the dressing table (complete with a mirror), a table and stool, trunks of paper clothes and cloth. 

When the ghost marriage ceremony has been completed, all of the paper belongings are burned to be sent to the spirit world where it will be used by the couple in the afterlife.


Story #2 – From a recent story reported by local newspaper 


A FEMALE ghost has been infatuated with a 63years old man since his younger years. She has been trying to make sure he remained bachelor by spoiling all his matchmaking sessions.

He should considered himself lucky as she did not harm him physically but only breaking up any chances of him pairing with another girl. It was wrong for her to interfere with his match making affair but she did it in the name of love. 

Patience is a virtue even for a ghost as she could have takes it an easy way out by taking away his life.

Three years ago he died of a heart attack.

One day the man's sister said she dreamt her brother. In her dream her brother told her he wanted to marry the woman during the Hungry Ghost Festival last year.

Through the medium his sister was able to find out where the female ghost family was living. She already felt in love with him while she was still alive but did not reveal her feeling.

A lesson to be learned. If you love someone don’t hide your love, let it be known to the one you wish to spend the rest of your life with you.

It is better to have tried and failed than to regret for not trying.


So there it goes another happy ending story where she will live happily ever after in another world. She may not able to experience a life as a couple in earthly world but at least she redeem herself up as his spouse in a spiritual world.

 
Traditional marriage vows need to amend a bit to accommodate spiritual marriage which usually go something like 'blah blah.. Will you love her/him, comfort and keep her/him, and forsaking all other ... In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, til death we won't part...'

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride,  2005 stop-motion animated  film about Victor, he is pledged to marry Victoria, a pre-arranged marriage by their parents. The two only meet the day before their scheduled nuptials, and Victor
conduct the wedding rehearsal  unknowingly in the presence of a deceased young woman,
she rises from the grave assuming he has married her!

Sometimes there are certain things are hard for us not to believe. It is when you have gone through certain experience than you will be a believer.

After All,  True Love Never Dies.

Sekinchan, My Old Hometown

Family Trip to Sekinchan, 19th August 2012 

It’s bond time. No not James Bond but a family vacation where quality family time needed for cohesive family bonds.

Most people when talk about hometown, they refer to one only but for me I have 4 hometowns - Sekinchan,  Georgetown Penang, Ipoh and Seremban.
This holiday we did not have any plans to go anywhere in particular, so I suggested we go to Sekinchan.
I spent my early childhood in Sekinchan but I grew up in several different places.

A little bit of Sekinchan history..

In the early days 1920's, Sekinchan started as a small fishing village and the main one is Bagan.The early Teochew settlers were mainly fishermen.

In the year of 1953, the idea of New Villages was born and used for the purpose of cutting off resources and support to the Malayan Communist Party.

Sekinchan consists of four villages, that is Site A, (mostly Hokkien farmers), Site B (is the largest village,most of them are Cantonese and Hakka, beside involve in agriculture, the villagers in Site B also involve in business owning shops, coffee shop and grocery stores in the main street), site C  (smallest village that inhabited by rice farmer) and Bagan (is a fishing village in Sekinchan, 90% of the population is Teow Chew)

How Sekinchan got his name?

Before that it was called by the Teow Chew settlers as Ang Mo Kang (white people port) due to the place used to be the British Military base.

The arrival of Hokkien people named it as Chap Lak Gi or 16 Miles due to distance from Kuala Selangor is 16 miles.

With the forming of new villages the above name was not suitable to use. According to old folks tale, a teacher by the name of Lim Bee Teack tried to run away from the Imperial Japanese Army and hid here. He found the soil is very fertile and name it as Sekinchan, in Chinese means the 'village suitable for plantation' or 'place good for farming'. This place was once a wetland idle.

From 1973 onwards, residents began planting rice with the encouragement of the Government scheme of the Green Book . Since then, Sekinchan has been known as Fisheries and Rice Village.

At that time, all the rice is very difficult to grow commercially because it rely on human labour. The farmer standard of living failed to improve.
Nevertheless, earning has increased due to the perseverance and persistence of the Sekinchan Chinese farmers. Self effort to improve productivity has triumphed by the following method:

I) Bringing in Taiwan new technology and new breed of rice
II) Using modern machinery in farming to increase production rice yields
III) Good irrigation system supplies to equal amount of water to each paddy field.
IV)- Utilize the transplant machine can contribute to better yield
V)-  Apply fertilizer at right time and sufficient amount

Now this is interesting, Sekinchan is the highest rice production per acre in Malaysia. Three folds more than the national average but Kedah better known as Rice Bowl of Malaysia! I don't get it, its like a team from a national team cannot compete with a state team? Only the size matter, Kedah being the largest paddy growing in Malaysia.

Malaysia currently imports around 27% of its annual rice requirements from Thailand, Myanmar and India.

The rice in Sekinchan is harvest every June and December. Rice here is yield the highest per hectares and the rice bowl of Selangor. It produce 13mt per hectare compared with other states can only yields only 4-6mt.

We have plenty of land but still only produce about 75% of our needs. Perhaps other state should take the liberty to know why Sekinchan can able to produce that high yields. At present the paddy farming area in the country covers 650,000 hectares of land.

Even countries like Japan, Taiwan and Korea with scarce land can be self sufficient. What is our excuse for not doing better?
We salute the hardworking and dedicating Chinese farmers of Sekinchan, even without much help had proved the saying; “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”


For the state of Selangor, selling paddy yields to other states would require a permit and approximately 70% of the yield must be sold locally. That's why you'll find thousands of people flocking to Sekinchan to buy high quality rice as they can't get from their local departmental store.

Today, some of the land in Site A has been switched to growing crop diversification involving maize, fruits (mango, guava,longan, melon milk) and vegetables. In this way the farmer can raise income, optimize their use of resources, increases their land productivity, and minimizes unpredictable risks on pest and diseases common in rice culture. Something to fall back on, if something happens in one area, revenue can still be made in another area.

Journey To Sekinchan

According to the Meteorological Department this year the Hari Raya festival forecast will be a hot and dry weather brought by the south west monsoon to hit the country until September.

The funny thing is every time they announced something like that the weather turned out differently. Just as I predicted the weather turned to rainy day as GOD has other plans.

This is the first day of a long holiday festival. Normally when it comes to a stretch of public holiday especially the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, the city folks will go back to visit family and relatives or spend a holiday somewhere.

I expected the traffic will be flowing smoothly but there's so little I know. Even before reaching Kuala Selangor the road already congested.

The first thing I need to do when I reach Sekinchan is to do is to find a hotel to stay.

My Old Hometown I've Come Home

In my head I was thinking who would like to visit to a sleepy town like this. No need to pre-booked hotel rooms. Wrong again, 40 years ago we don't have to book. Now, there are more tourist here than Seremban! It will be even more popular after Ntv7 film the drama Seeds of Life shot at the locations in Sekinchan.

It is a small town with not so many choices for accommodation, the only hotel the most decent one in the area is Harbour View Hotel. My sister asked the receptionist any rooms available? She replied "I'm sorry, it's full".

So she asked the receptionist to recommend us another hotel. My brother-in-law called and gets the same answer.
Wait a minute, on our way to town we saw a signboard at the traffic light, saying a new resort and it’s open for business.

Wow! A new resort

Looks nice, unfortunately not completed

We tried our luck but they need to confirm as the rooms are not fully completed. The rooms are schedule to complete in phases and the contractor might have some ready today by 5.30pm.

This resort path will lead us to the Redang beach within walking distance. We made a short trip drive there and found many cars already at the beach side parking. The sunset here is especially beautiful and plenty of seashell to collect for souvenirs.
Yeah, this place is a nature photographer haven for scenic places for photo shoot- the fishing village, paddy fields, nice sunset shots and migrating birds.



An old family photo taken at Redang Beach when the beach looked much cleaner than today

We search for a place to fill our growling stomachs. Found one at Jiann Chyi Restaurant as recommended by Axian TV show but the place was packed.

Nah, forget it, we’re hungry and later we found another new brick building opposite of Jiann Chyi restaurant.
It was packed as usual but luckily we found a table for us. However we still need to wait for another 1.1/2 hours to get our food. After dinner at 5pm we tried to find our way to a rice mill.

On the way there I saw this strange looking tree that look like a pomello. No, my sis said this is an anti cancer fruit which she does not know what it was called.

It's looks like a mini pomelo, no it's a grapefruit

As we pass by, we find a long stretch of irrigation channel and followed it. We thought we'll see a scene like
'A little house of Prairie' with it's open skies, seemingly endless horizon and tall grasses but luck has deserted us as the rice have been harvested so what left with a barren paddy fields.

Post Harvest Rice Residual Burnt

After harvest, rice straw is left in the field. Rice farmers scattered rice straw over the field to decompose, adding nutrients back into the soil. This is an important part of soil health. Cover Crop is grown mainly to reduce soil erosion by covering barren land.

flood a portion of the fields

Generally,rice fields also serve as the habitat for birds. A portion of the field is flooded where they help decompose straw, reduce weed population, and provide natural fertilization.(bird droppings)

Along the way we saw many swiftlet rearing building. Some foreigners they might think why are there so many war bunkers look alike at the paddy fields?

War Bunker? Nah it's swiftlet bird house

At a junction we see many cars drive pass us and I suggested we follow the path and see where it leads us. Ah.. so this is the ultra modern rice plant. Not the one I saw when I was young.

So many visitors at the Rice mill plant

Rice Mill Machine

The cultivation of rice begins by planting water soaked seeds in a properly prepared bed

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Something about Rice
Rice is a staple food of Malaysia, Asian and 79% of the world population. Worldwide there are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice but the four major categories of rice worldwide:

Indica, (long-grain-is firmer and less sticky than shorter grain with less starch so the it tend to break easily. When cooked, the rice is fluffy and does not stick together. It's usually grown in hot climates)

japonica, (medium- and short-grain, very starchy and cooks up soft and sticky. It’s used in things like sushi, It is majorly grown in Japan).

aromatic/jasmine, (medium to long-grained rice. Jasmine rice is originally from Thailand, sometimes known as Thai fragrant rice. It is known for its nut-like aroma and taste. When cooked, the grains have a light and fluffy texture).

and glutinous (also called sticky rice, sweet rice, and pearl rice, widely used in many Chinese cuisines and home brew red rice wine.)

Rice can be grown practically anywhere, even on steep hillsides. It is typically grown in paddies, shallow puddles, because the the rice plant is tolerant of water and the water in the paddies prevents weeds from overtaking the seedlings.

Interesting Facts:

Chinese have a typical way of saying How are you? They say "Have you eaten your rice?". You are expected to reply "Yes, I have eaten"
Another fact is the old folk tale, usually the parents will says to their children 'If you did not finish up every grain of rice, you're wife/husband will not be beautiful'. A clever scare tactic used!

Rice Growing Process

Planting- The cultivation of rice seedlings are raised in a seedbed with a saturated water supply.

Transplanting-  4- to 5-week - old seedlings are transplanted from nursery beds into the water, giving the young plants an important head start to survive over a very wide range of competing weeds.
The rice has to grow 4 to 5 months to mature, when it turns to golden yellow. The paddies are drained of water.

Harvesting - Grains are harvested after the rice plants have flowered. Rice in the old days is harvested by back-breaking labor with a sickle but now with rice harvesting machine.

Drying- Once harvested, the rice is usually dried in the fields with the help of sunshine or bundled for processing. Undried rough rice is transported to a drying facility to reduce the moisture content of the harvested grains The rice is now ready for milling.

Milling- In this process is to produce final product of polish white rice. It has three basic stages,

•the husking stage -  removing the husk from the paddy
•the whitening-polishing stage-the bran layers are removed through whitening and polishing machines to give rice a pearl white look
•the grading, blending, and packaging stage

Pallets of packaged rice await distribution in warehouse.

No Hotel Rooms Available

My brother-in-law called the receptionist and being inform they still cannot confirm room availability till 8.00pm.
We did not want to take the risk of waiting for an uncompleted room, so we save for the next trip in future.
My co-worker asked me why didn't I call him as he could help me to find a place in homestay.(Homestay as the term suggests means staying in someone's home. By definition a home is "place together with a family unit that occupies a house with all the comfort of home facilities, differs from staying in a hotel room experience")

Head to Hometown No 3- Ipoh

I suggest either we go back to Seremban or pay a visit to my aunt at Ipoh which is about the same distance. We finally came to a unanimous decision to go to Ipoh.
My brother-in-law want to use the costal trunk road to reach Ipoh and he should listen to me to use another route southeast and continue using N-S Highway I suggested. Although a bit further, what you get is a smooth and comfortable ride.
A bad decision as this coastal road is dark, narrow and full of roller coaster bumper ride.

I consider this a blessing in disguise as this is the first time we cross the Bernam River using the dual parallel bridge, each boasting a road with two lanes. The Bernam River forms part of the boundary between Perak and Selangor. My sister says most of the younger generation has no idea before this bridge was built the only way to cross is using a motorised boat pushing the tiny wooden barge or some sort of wooden ferry. There would be scary moments as when a boat speed pass, the wave tend to rock the ferry.

The good old days - Old school style of crossing  Sabak Bernam river

Before we reach Ipoh the rain began to pour , making me difficult to drive due to the wiper of my brother-in-law car has worn out blades.
Do remember most car does not have a longer lasting windshield sea as the sun bakes will harden the rubber parts. I suggest you'll need to change to Silicone Windscreen Wiper Blades for longer lasting.


Looking back on the trip

I can hardly recognize the place anymore. It’s once a small, sleepy, quiet fishing and paddy field town but now turn into a bustling busy town, swarming with tourist.
Many years ago the people here use bicycle mainly for transport but I don't see much now except by tourist using it for sightseeing.

Mom says, 'there have been a lot of changes in this town since she left'. What she remember is every year a flood will come along and flood for 3 days come and go. Sometimes the flood comes at night, the water level just quietly rose and the next morning mom will see all her pots and pans floating around somewhere. My old Sekinchan also reminds me of my childhood when I used to catch dragonflies and fireflies. I was not a naughty boy, just a bit mischievous.

Old photo - My dad holding me during a flood in Sekinchan

When this place was still undeveloped areas, snakes are often found and caught in my area. My neighbor used to catch the snakes, cook it and ate them too. Seriously! Snake meat is usually said to taste like chicken. You won't know the difference.
Snakes are found wherever rats and frogs/toads are prevalent. Naturally they are often found in rice fields. So just be careful while visiting rice field.

For the record, the man who invented USB pen-drive hails from Sekinchan. Quality rice and plenty of eating fresh caught fish( Omega 3 found in fish is good for the brain)  from here makes a person smart. No kidding!


Pollution is bound to happen. The rows of restaurant should not be so close to the coastline. I am not sure whether the disposal of rubbish is done properly. I am sure if there is no proper disposal of rubbish, the rubbish or leftover will be throws to the sea for conveniently.

Restaurant owners need to look at cleanliness as a major concern. We love good, fresh, cheap and tasty Sekinchan sea food is well know for but if the owners don't want to be bothered or emphasis on  hygiene and cleanliness then all of my good impression will go down.

Is the good business of tourism a good or bad thing for Sekinchan? I hope it would not sacrifice the
ecological environment or natural beauty of this place.

Unfortunately, I have not enough time to explore more into this part of town. Maybe in the future, I get my friend as a guide. (He has been a regular visitor to Sekinchan and he says he already plans to visit in December)

I’ll be back. Hasta la vista baby! (Means want to see you real soon)

My old primary class photo, I wonder where they are now?