It might seem like a simple trip to many but seriously speaking, our kids nowadays know more of the cartoon characters and brand names in shopping malls than names of trees, even simple trees. On the way to the rubber plantation, the kids were so amazed to know the “Pokok Durian” as if it was some kind of mascott. They were also excited to know the difference between “nangka” and “cempedak” which happen to look alike and  share the same name in English, the jackfruit. It was really a long walk and we were all under  a hot morning sun.At each stop they made, they’d take the opportunity to drink from the tumbler. So really, it was not an ordinary walk for boys and girls who normally spend hours window shopping  in air-conditioned hypermarts or shopping mall. But no, they were not deterred by the inconvenience. In fact, they were so excited running about that teachers had to always call them, “Children, please walk in your group. Don’t run, walk”. Well, weren’t we all like that when we were kids – to walk means to run, to run also  means to run . Reaching the rubber plantation was of course the peak of the excitement. Some kids got the chance to try out rubber tapping (with their hands held, of course)  but most others preferred to be jaw-dropping and looking at the rubber milk streaming into the cup. They were reminded that the milk is not an edible yogurt drink of some sort. It was cute that some of them thought it that way.  Here’s a simple note we can share with our children about process of rubber tapping that they have seen: 1. Rubber tapping is hard work. It can starts as early as 2 in the morning. 2. A special tapping knife is used to shear off a thin layer of rubber tree’s bark.3.The latex flows into the cup attached to the tree.4. The rubber tapper will then go back to each tree and empty the latex collected in the cups into the tin5. The latex is poured into moulds.6. The formic acid is added to transform the liquid latex into a firm solid block of rubber.7. The rubber sheet is manually rolled using the mangle several times to make it thinner by squeezing out the water.8.  The drying of the rubber sheets then  takes place in a “smoke” house.9. The dried rubber sheet is golden brown as opposed to white initially.10. The dried rubber sheets are now ready to be sold and be processed as rubber bands, balloons, tyre, rubber boots, rubber stamps and many more. They might not be able to explain clearly what they saw but the exposure that they have gained was inexplicable. They might also not be able to remember everything but the time spent with their childhood friends in the tranquillity of  village life is acutely palpable. It is something that an urbanite may never get to  experience !

so this is called Durian tree..

“nangka” or “cempedak”..how do you describe the difference between these two jackfruits? This goes without explanation when we were small, we just knew it..but not to the kids of today..

Pandan leaves..this is what makes your nasi lemak smells so yummy…small daily things that we sometimes overlook to share with the kids.

rubber tapping.. dont try this on mommy’s trees at home!

from liquid to latex..it’s a magic showtime!

rolling the rubber sheets..cool!

rubber estate owners..