Patches Dickie Lee

Dancing Balls of Fire

When I first joined the rubber plantation in Taiping,I resided with the plantation Manager.When I was hardly three months there, one late evening the Manager knocked on my door only to be told to witness a ball of fire floating just  out side the fenced area of the bungalow.

It appeared around the area just in front of the Manager's window.From there we could see it floating slowly around as it was lifted or carried to waist high level  by some one. Only thing scary was there was no one seem to be around assisting it. 

The ball of fire was no bigger than a football.  All fired up burning brightly.At a glance we had suspected some one was carrying it around but no - no one was present.It just simply floated lightly around without any aids whatsoever.It knocked against the fence once or twice but to no avail as it could not come through it.But as it crushed against the wire netting fence there appeared to be a slight crashing sound though never loud enough to attack any attentions.We saw that.

That ball of fire circle round  nearly half an hour or so before it floated away leaving us to marvel and wonder at its sight>Later I was informed the ball of fire dancing around at night were actually  minor ghosts.Ghost bred by some "bomohs"who were residing around the vicinity.Those ghost were released in the deep of the evenings to search for food.They roamed about usually in the form of balls of fire and would return "home" once they were satisfied with their outings.Normally these ghosts do not harm any one.

On another occasion about two months later I had another encounter with another ball of fire.One week end I made a trip to town and had to return to the estate that very evening.I arrived at he entrance road leading to the estate past 11,00p.m.The taxi could not send me further as there was a locked railway gate obstructing the way,so I was forced to walk home.

Wah!!! just imagine having to walk the next two miles of laterite road and at night.I have not done that before,that would really be an experience.The whole stretch of road seem very dark but I could still make out the road without much problem as my eye sights were still excellent.Actually it took a lot of guts to endure that long and lonely road at night.

I had at least expected some one would be like me going back so late at night but sad to say there was none available.Initially I bravely walked at quite a steady space.Both sides of the road were old rubber stand.The inter-rows on both sides were covered with thick growth of shrubs and wild rubber seedlings.There was fear of meeting with some wild animals along the way.Wild boars or "musang" were common.Well scared maybe but with no choice I had to struggle on.

Everything around seem so quite except for some crying sounds made by insects and crikets.On the way there were occasion where I stumbled upon some night birds flying about.All these does not frighten me  and I surged ahead with half heartedly.Almost half way through my my journey home I suddenly became astonish at the sight of a ball of fire,dancing some twenty meters away from me.

It was the size of a football,kept afloat about waist high from the ground level.It drifted across the laterite road way ahead me.That really shook my guts out of my wits.There was nothing I could  do as now I was between the devil and the deep blue sea.Oh,no !!!,I meant that I was half towards home and an equal distance towards the main road.That sinister thing had to be in between me and home.

Fortunately that ball of fire did not drift or advanced towards me.It was on the road for a few seconds before floating into the thick "belukar". Seeing  that I decided to make a dash home .There was no choice because should I retreat out to the main road I would end up disastrously with no shelter for the night Taxi were rare at those hours.

Armed with no alternative I decided to make a desperate dash ahead.That night I think I ran the fastest 100 meters of my entire life.I think I ran that under fourteen seconds or so.What a dash really?.In haste I passed the spot where the ball of fire had floated.The ball of fire had gone into the bushes and I did not notice whether it was by the side or because I just surged ahead as fast as I could. Passing every thing without eying side ways to  check what were around.

The ball of fire did not come out of its hiding place to frighten me.So within minutes I was safely home at the bungalow.However the lighting were all out as it was almost twelve o'clock already.Having that experience I just went on to my own bed room and rested for the night.It surely was a very tiresome night.

The Cries Of A Baby On rainy Day

I joined the planting sector in early 1960 just after my school Certificate Examinations.The rubber plantation was situated some ten miles from Taiping town.In  actual fact the entrance road to the plantation was 8 miles on the main road from Taiping to Batu Kurau.From the entrance road  we had to travel another two miles or so further into the interior on laterite road to reach the plantation proper.

While there I was given a front room of the Manager's bungalow.The Manager occupied the other main bed room.All my life I had never the privilege to  have a bed room all to myself.Sleeping alone in a strange,strange rubber plantation really gave some eerie feelings especially the dark dark and silent nights  when the lights were all out.

Plantation normally  switched off after ten o'clock in the evening.Thereafter I would had to sleep alone.All the windows were opened on all three sides.No mosquitoes could get to  me because all of those windows were covered with mosquitoes proof netting.The evening air  could still  breezed through those netting.

On a rainy night those wind blowing through were really cold.Should the blanket be not thick sufficiently then the evening could damn cold.On  rainless nights the singing of insects of all sort could be heard loud and clear.When used to them  it sounded pretty nice but the hooting owls give cause for alarm. They sounded like a ghost lurking nearby.Rumours had it that  once there was a owl crying at night in the neighborhood could mean that some evil lies around.

Being new planting life I was really scared of them initially.Fear of ghosts maybe but when your position is at stake you just had to bear it,ghost or no ghost.Beggars were no choosers in any case jobs were difficult to come by then.When in such a wretched position the beat option would be to cover without peeping out to find what lies beyond.

I was only there for  just about a fortnight when the inevitable happened.That evening as I turned in for bed it was raining cats and dogs.Very heavy rain storm with the strong wind blowing ferociously.It was nearing midnights with all the lights off then.I tried my best to close my eyes but sleep allured me and I could hardly sleep a wink as the wind was quite cold.The extra clothing I put on did not help much.The noise of the rain storm was lashings all round strongly.

There I laid on my bed trying to sleep.Amidst those rainy sound there came suddenly from the distant rambutan trees the cries of a baby.That send a horrible child throught my spine that very minute.Hearing it for the first really scared me.For in that direction of the rambutan trees were no housing - nothing at all except a few rambutan trees,surrounded by some old rubber on one side while the other side was a nursery filled with young rubber seedlings.

No one were living in that direction either.So a cry from a baby r in the middle of a rainy night  really frightened me.The baby cried some couple minutes and when those cries subsided I slowly peeped out my blanket.Raising my head with eyes running on the direction those cries  came from  I could find nothing or saw any movements.The night was pitch dark with rain falling down all round.However the cries of the baby never  repeated again that night.That relief me to certain extent,

The next morning  I told of my encounter to the Manager.Well,as that was the first time he heard of that he simply shrugged his shoulders in disbelief.Many others too shared his thoughts.That because none of them had heard those cries before.Others belived that those the cries of a baby ghost.Not harmful really as it had not disturbed me either.so allow it be.

Subsequently I herd it on a number of occasion there after especially on rainy nights but I just ignored them.I believed should we not interfere with them they would simply also not disturbed us..Later some one told me that he suspected that some one might had buried a dead baby there,that was why the the crying of the baby existed.The baby could be crying out for the mother.

The Haaaaaaaaaunted Houses of Teluk Anson

Ever since a kid living in Teluk Anson I had always learned to fear ghosts.And why not as we lived just opposite the General Hospital.To us then hearing of death in the hospital was a common daily event because my Auntie and Uncle worked at the hospital.We were very young therefore frightful of all these happening in front of our house. 

We were also forbidden to go near to the river bank as it was rumored that the river ghosts were always looking out for replacements of their death .It was reputed that those ghosts take at least a soul every year.There many stories circulated round that the ghosts would attacked by pulling their victims down the river by the leg.

There were many whirl pools in the river which could swallow anyone around down easily.Such stories really kept us away from the river banks for good.Come to think  of them now I think thee ware no truths whatsoever in them?.Just tales to frightened us kids from playing around those dangerous river banks.

That were the ghosts of the river.Teluk Anson was an old town dotted with many old huge buildings which were haunted.With the Japanese occupation many places were used to chop off their enemies and spies' heads.That was why we always knew of many areas where headless ghosts used to roam.Many maybe rumors which were not true at all but on cold cold nights should you ventured into such places the areas seemed eerie  and made your hair stand on ends.Do not believe just try it.

The old market where they sold pork was one notorious area where many were tortured and had their heads chopped off.When I was young I often heard of stories of headless ghosts roaming those areas seeking their heads.So should anyone want to find them they can actually seek them out there.Well with the correct chanting of prayers you might be lucky to see them.

Another  notorious place was the back of Sam Min Chinese School,the side along immigrant road.Presently that area is a building covering it.I used to have friends residing opposite that place and according to them many had seem headless ghosts walking around.Many claimed that they were searching for suitable replacements,.So should anyone be unlucky to meet with them he or she could end up being one of their replacement in Hell.

Now that there is a school building over it the ghosts seem to have soften its stand.They apparently had disappeared.Maybe the school Authorities had pleased those ghosts before the constructions of the extension of the school.When we were young we never had the guts to near that area even on the road.

The playing field of that school was haaunted,Lately has anyone seen strange figures playing in that field passed mid night.No, no, you have not then those ghosts must be on holidays.This field was the killing field during the Japanese occupation.Believe me it is true.During my childhood days I have heard many stories about those roaming ghosts coming out and scaring people.Many if them covered with blood or bloody.

The famous clock tower can not be denied was haunted as well.Here the Japanese were reputed to have their headquarters with big guns mounted on its very top.Many were tortured and then slaughtered here.Thereafter many feared going into that tower.Another  reason was its flooring were rotting away, in no excellent condition and  might give way because of our weight.So not many dared risked going up there,Of course then you also required permission to enter that tower.

Next in line was the residence of the Raja Muda of Perak.A magnificent palace constructed on a vast piece of land.Its back faced our secondary school.Though a beautiful house but seldom occupied by the Raja Muda.Only the guard s at the giard house and servants were seen around there.Some how it was reputed to be haunted even during our time.

Somehow that building was abandoned and left to rot and later demolished for good.Presently although vacant that place apparently was seem eerie if not haunted.Should you want to check it out yourself ,be my guest.I think no one would stop you.Go after mid night and you would not be disappointed.

At the entrance of Speedy road is a huge mansion.The Woo Saik Hong Mansion .It was a family house of the Woo but no one live in that building for many years.It is still left as it was.Though being so the house and its garden  were well maintained till to day..All its windows were shut all the time.It is the most famous ghost house in town.This house could be considered a heritage of Teluk Anson.Most said it was haunted nothing more because everything seemed so toned down and hushed up.It surely was and still a mystery.

There was another house along Batak Rabbit Road, another huge bungalow which faced the river. That was believed to be haunted because people called it the "Rumah Hantu". Whatever it was there were people staying there until demolished.During our schooling days a beautiful girl used to live there.Many boys went crazy about her and often cycled passed that house almost every evening,ghost or no ghosts.I was never one of them but I think my brother and friends were,Ha,ha,ha,.

Today many of those old haunted houses had been demolished to make way for modern housings.Especially along Changkat Jong Road there were at least three or four of those haunted houses that had been demolished.I remembered an old tobacco company which was haunted.In stead of allowing it to wither away,the owner rented it out to a number of poor people who converted it into living quarters.Apparently there after no ghosts bothered with them.

My family used to rent a tiny hut just behind two shops along that road.It was quite cheap but haunted but after we shifted in there seem to be nothing maybe that was just pure rumour that it was haunted.The bungalow behind was haunted. No one dared to reside on its second floor except the ground floor.To them that bungalow was haunted as there were strange sounds from the tp floor especially during the night.

It was left vacant for many years until an old friend of mine shifted into that floor.However their stay seem quite peaceful as nothing unusual happened to them..But when you were out and poor no ghosts would even bother you that for sure.People normally said "poorer than the devil", so how can they harm you?

That was only a saying any how.Now that development had over taken all these buildings all the ghosts apparently had also lost their abbots, now where had they disappeared to?



To be continued when inspired.

The Female Ghost That Made Love To Me

There was once a female ghost that came to me in mid 1996..................................





to write when inspired.

The Horrifying First Day At The Cancer Ward 6D

My initial warding at the University Medical Centre with a very very bad compartment.Later I found out that newly warded very sick patients were boxed in a single compartment for easy supervision by nurses and doctor alike.

I was housed together with four others extremely sick patients.I was placed next to the wash room and opposite me was a very very sick Malay patient.Oh yeah I could see him clearly.He was indeed a sick man with deep sunken eyes ,dark complexion.He gazed deeply at me when I looked at him and there I raised my hand to wish him but he could not even response but just look emptily on back on me.He appeared ghostly.

Later the screens of his sick bed were  screened up all round .Through out that night I could hear people chanting prays from within.Later in the early hours hours nurses were called and following doctors were rushed in to examine that very sick man..

The poor sick man was pronounced dead as the doctors left.Following all screens partitions were drawn to a closed tightly.A beehive of activities followed
from within the dead's area and within minutes all traces of that dead were removed.
All these were blocked from our view but all of us knew very well what was going on?.

Lying on my left was a woman seemingly very sick with cancer.She had a maid taking care of her.Directly opposite me was a very young girl also seriously ill with Luekaemia,poor little girl.She was so young.Accompanying her were her brother and sister just slightly older tan her.Apparently she was not eating well and vomiting every thing she consumed,

With dead and the sick around it really took the guts of me.The atmosphere so threatening and frightful.Although I had the company of my wife watching over me the situation did not augured anything well.So I requested my son to bring along a transistor radio to me whereby I could at least be entertained with some music.

Well,while entertaining myself with rock music softly,with the one opposite me chanting of prayers and on my left that woman was playing Budhist prayers on her cassette.Earlier there was the Koran chanting from the dying man's bed.Well,come to think of it,the whole setup seemed so whirled and funny.I could sleep well all those nights,partly because of my sickness and partly because of that sickening envirolment.I could feel creepy things moving around, in that cold cold atmosphere.With so many dying daily there why not?


to be continued.

The Angel Of Death Came To Me

People about to die normally see the angel of death before their death,so should your kinsmen be very sick and seen a pretty woman in white rope you can be sure his time was due.I have met many friends who claimed that as soon as their sick saw that Angel they die off.True and frightening in deed.

It happened in one late late night while I was doing my second Chemo therapy
that the Angel of Death came to me.That night was extremely quiet all around me and I actually did sleep well that evening only to be abruptly awakened by a figure of a pretty woman adorning white robe, standing above me,apparently afloat in thin air.

There were no sense of fright within me but astonishment in seeing her.My first thought was that she could be the Goddess of Mercy but on second thought not so because I had nothing to do with her at all.She smiled and floated up above before vanishing.

That figure appeared in my mind for sometime before I realized that that was never the Goddess of Mercy - it was the Angel of Death.She had actually came to take me away.But left because she discovered that it was not time for me to go for the Good Lord had extended my life span on earth.

Yes,praise the Lord for relieving me and extended my life a bit longer.




to be continued ...................................