The Life And Times Of A Padi Girl...

Looking at the pictures above brings back fond memories of my days as a farmer... yes, you read right! A farmer! Back in the old days, my sisters and I helped our parents at the padi field. We had two fields back then, one belonged to us and the other which we took care off for my uncle. It was all really hard work and to me it's more of a man's job because if you're weak, you don't belong in a padi field! I hated going there because it was hot, humid, tiring, and you'd feel itchy all over. There were times when I feigned sickness because I really didn't want to go there:(. Then I would end up babysitting my little nieces... and I'd thought I'd escaped from doing anything!!!

My classmates never believed me when I told them I helped my parents harvesting the padi. All they'd say was 'yeah right.' They said I didn't have the look of a farmer!! I didn't do the actual planting because the padi field had loads of leeches, and it scares the hell out of me. Most of the time, the padi field would be dry during the harvesting period. My sisters and I would be garbed in long sleeves, long pants, a big wide brimmed hat, gloves and we made sure we covered ourselves thoroughly from the sun. We really looked like farmers!

The harvesting is only done once a year but it would last a few long arduous months because the cutting and separating the padi from the stalks process was tedious. We didn't have the luxury to buy a harvesting machine back then. Sometimes we'd be lucky to have some relatives coming over to lend a helping hand and the place would be so noisy because of the chit-chatting!!

The fun part was riding the buffaloes:). Those days there were a battalion of buffaloes leaving a trail of buffalo dung behind! Now, I don't even see a single buffalo roaming in the kampung (village). Even padi fields are dwindling because people are more interested in building houses on them. It's all hard work toiling the padi field, sometimes when it floods the padi would be destroyed and you had to start all over again. The younger generation are more interested in getting jobs in the cities (me included). It's sad but I guess that's the reality of modern life!

Thinking back, it wasn't all bad. I had fun with my sisters at the padi field. There was one time when my sister was playing with a match and she accidentally burned a 'karung guni plastik' (a plastic gunny sack) and she had an earful from dad. I had my fair share of mischief too.

I remember the time I was playing on this rickety 'bridge' (well a branch really) running up and down when all of a sudden I slipped and fell into the ditch drenching myself from head to toe. Thank god it was just shallow waters (I can't swim la). My sisters sure had a great time laughing their heads off. Mom wasn't too pleased with my stunts though... hehehe...

I also remember my mom had this amazing ability. Every time she whistled (a very distinct kind of long drawn out whistle) she would actually achieve in generating the wind! I used to think she was some kind of super heroine... hehehe ... I would try to imitate her but I had no such luck. Maybe my mutant genes not powerful la. LOL!

The best part was the 'makan' time or eating time. Even if you had only rice, it tasted real good! Sometimes we caught grasshopper and my dad would roast them over a fire and eat them, but I wouldn't touch the stuff with a ten foot pole even. After eating, we would rest on a small hilly area and take short naps under the trees because after that we'd be right back slogging in the field... grooaaaannnn...

That was 20 years ago... what I'd do to relive all the lovely memories again.