I was a freelance camera man

　In 1968, I left Telok Sengat, I stood at the motor boat, glancing the indeterminate vast sea; where should I go? I had no home, if I went back to my village, it was an agony without job.

　The motor boat reached Changi harbor after 3-4 hours' journey. I noticed a small table with two immigration officers at the entrance gate. I stood at a corner and watched a while. Could I pass the checking? If failed, the jail was my home! I was a vagrant, I must try. Holding my restrict passport in my trembling hand; I handed over to a young lady, the girl opened and checked for a while; once she noticed my past entry records, she chopped my passport, I had passed.

　I followed the crowd and entered a bus, heading to my brother's studio shop near new world.

　The next day, my brother prepared a camera and a flash light; I went to Bugis Street as a free lane camera man. This street was decorated with many beautiful bisexual women, tall and charm with colorful dresses. They changed their dresses hourly, liked fashion show; they attracted many men. Foreigners sitting at the road side table to enjoy the free performance. When drinkers with good mood they would embrace the woman and instructed me to take photo. I used instant polaroid camera, each photo I charged 4 dollars (50% profit if not damaged); it took me 20 second to deliver the photo.

　Three were several camera men in the Bugis Street; starting they did not pay much attention to me, later they came and warned me: "young brother, don't put sand to our soup; this is our business site, you have to go to other place."

　"Where can I go?" I asked with a glimmer of hope.

　"Sembawang," they said with weary voice.

　This was my last day taking photo here; I walked from street to street; I begged customers to take photo. At a corner with 10 drinkers sitting at a table, a British couple instructed me to take a group photo; I took 2 photos to them, a lady gave me 50 dollars. I had no change, I went to the hawker stores, no one was willing to help me. I was hungry then, why not having a noodle soup, changed the money and gave to the British lady. After finishing my eating, holding the change I went back; the lady had left the table, I searched in vain. Holding the balance of 42 dollars; I was down-hearted, I should not cheat the kind English couple.

　The next day in the evening, I reached Sembawang, there were about 50 bars; when the ship reached the harbor, there were full of sailors in the street and bars. You could do any business or sold any souvenir you liked at the road side. There were policemen patrolling along the street. I was an unwelcome man, beside my short-sighted glasses, I added a sunglass to it. I strolled from bar to bar. It was dim with winos. Usual day it was quiet, once the big ship from America reached Sembawang, the business was booming; if the American and the British ship arrived at the same day there were crowd in the bars and street. Our photographing business was brisk.

　I had worked in Sembawang for 2 weeks; during these 2 weeks, the street was peaceful without disturbance and quarrying. Entered third week, one night, when I stepped in a bar, I noticed a weak and think young lady sitting beside a sailor, this sailor was a big and tall man with hooligan face; the girl was forced and embraced with kisses. I kept my eyes fixed upon the man, I walked nearer and murmured:"leave her alone! You should not force her."

　The sailor jumped up and seized me by my neck. I felt the sweat run down my head, I was out of breath. I struggled to release myself. Within a second, I received a punch and my glasses fell on the floor. Sirens began to wail; a group camera man rushed to help me and they attacked the sailor. I was rescued, but there was confusion with shouting in the street. Two policemen arrived; before they questioned me, I fled and jumped up a bus and left the site.

　My business in Sembawang ceased; where should I go? There were many night clubs in Singapore, I was not qualified to enter.

　I went to Kuala Lumpur by train. I stayed in a relative's house in Petaling Jaya. Day time I looked for job, night time, I went to Eastern night club to take photo. Eastern night club was a civilian night club, with hotel and restaurant attached. Mr. Teh was the boss of the night club, when he noticed I was weak and thin with old glasses put on my face; he did not demand any fee and allowed me to take photo in his night club. I worked in Eastern Night Club for a few months. One night a hooligan, his name was Peter, called me to take photo in the garden. I took one photo and passed to him, he looked at it without seeing it, he shouted:"Such a lousy photo you dared to give me?!", at the same time he destroyed the photo. I added another one for him; just had a glance, he roared:"my face is ugly!". I could not tolerate any more, I uttered:"your grimace, I can't change it.". All in a sudden, he dashed to me and tried to kick my camera. A captain of the night club, his eyes were petrified, he came to helped me and pulled me away, and he said:"he is a gangster, he has pistol."

　Leaving Eastern Night Club, I went to Azigo night club which located at Ampang Road. This night club was the only one in Kuala Lumpur with striptease show. The well-known singer from Taiwan Yau Surong stationed in Azigo night club; every song she sang, she was paid a thousand dollar, she would sing 5 songs a night with five thousand dollars paid. It was big sum then.

　Later, I left Azigo and I went to Robinson Night Club. In 1969, Robinson Night Club was famous, with stage, dancing hall and a Chinese restaurant attached. After 10pm, lights off (with dim light on table for eaters), music on. Customers enjoyed food, drink and dance. Besides dancing there would be show time at 11pm, the elegant dance group from Korea, Europe and Latin America. The popular Taiwan singer Chen Fen Lan was stationed, she was pretty, conservative without going out with customer for supper (her mother escorted her). Miss Sakura was famous then, she sang Japanese, Chinese and English song, her show attracted and supported by many fans. Later the manager Mr. Xu(from Hong Kong) brought in the 18 years of age, Miss Xu Xiao Feng from Hong Kong. The first night she sang, Manager Xu instructed me to take two photos for her; but I dared not collect money from them.

　Usual day, I concentrated to my photographing business, I did not pay much attention to other; even the big boss of the Robinson Night Club Mr. Lee Yan Nian, I did not know. One-night Mr. Lee instructed me to take photo for his friends and informed me to collect money from manager Xu; it was curious, why should I collect money from manager? I refused, but he ordered me to collect from manager; I insist to collect from him. Mr. Lee stood up, looked me full with his angry eyes and he scolded me seriously. Captain Chew came and informed me that I would be in trouble to make the boss angry. I thought Mr. Lee would chase me out of his night club; on the contrary, he did not take action against me. After this incident, I respected Mr. Lee very much. He was a gentleman with merciful heart.

　In order to increase my income, One-night club was not sufficient for me, I expanded my business; I went to the high-class restaurant Le'codor. Mr. Lim was manager then, without any condition, he let me in. This restaurant in the week end, it was crowd with European. Some rich bachelor engaged modern beautiful young lady to escort them for dinner. Most of the customer wearing coat for diner; in order to upgraded my personal image, I put on tie, some time with coat.

　During new year eve and Christmas eve, the restaurant was full of foreigners and local couple, they drank, dance and sang. My business was brisk.

　During May 13 disturbance in 1979, curfew was imposed in Kuala Lumpur area, my photographing business was down; I could not earn my living. My relative raised me when I was in difficulty, he put me to his work site in Ampang Jaya. I worked as laborer to shift material by using condemned lorry or dumper. One day I was dismantling roof timber at the store, Mr. Hoh the big boss stopped his Mercedes and said:"I was told you had been well educated; laborer job is not suitable for you, why not be a site clerk?"

　"Ok." I replied and nodded my head with thanks.

　The next day, I was called in the managing director's room. Mr. Ho prepared an employment letter and I became an official site clerk. I worked in Mr. Ho's company for four years and I started my own construction in 1974. After submitting my resignation letter Mr. Ho declined to let me go, but I had to go, as I had secured a sub-contract work then.

　Mr. Ho looked stern, but he had a soft heart.

　Mr. Ho was old and weak. In the beginning of 2014, I invited Mr. Ho for a lunch as a token of appreciation. When we parted, I passed my book "a contractor's diary" to him as a gift. Mr. Ho and his wife glanced me with sweets smiles; I had received an invaluable gift from them.