An article based on a true account of a student excursion with some interesting happenings. Some reflections at the end of the article. The texts are in English.

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In the 1990s we used to organize trips to various places in
Malaysia for the students in our community guidance and
motivational classes and also the student librarians in our
community library. One such travel trip I remember quite
clearly was the trip to Penang. The bus load of people
comprised students from Forms 1 to 4 and there were three
teachers accompanying them.
We started our journey very early in the morning. The
students were very excited. There was much talking, joking
and laughing. In the bus we had lots of fun singing, telling
jokes and playing some travel games.
Our two-day tour was packed with many visits to popular
places in Penang. To save on cost, we put up for the night at a
Buddhist temple managed by a few nuns who were kind
enough to let the teachers and students pass the night in the
two halls of the temple. The boys occupied one hall and the
girls the other. The teachers and a few student leaders had the
privilege of sleeping in the temple rooms.
Among the interesting places we visited were China Town,
Little India, Komplex Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR), the
Burmese and Thai temples, Gurney Drive, Botanical Garden,
Ayer Itam, Bayan Lepas, the Snake Temple, the Explanade,
Fort Cornwallis, the streets of Georgetown, a couple of
beaches in Tanjung Bungah and a few other tourist spots.
In all trips that we organized for students and also adults,
there would be a thorough briefing before the start of the
journey on the do’s and don’ts. This was to ensure that things
would go on smoothly with no untoward incidents.
PBHP

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In this Penang trip, there were three unforgettable incidents
that happened. The first took place in a coffee shop where we
had our lunch. A few girls followed the teachers to try the
hawker stalls in and around the coffee shop. The other
students, moving in groups, ate at other coffee shops and
stalls not far away from us.
At the coffee shop, we ordered our food and drinks. About
three or four Form 1 and 2 girls told us that they had to go to
the washrooms situated at the back of the coffee shop behind
which was a back lane. It was not long before we heard some
screams coming from the back of the shop. A teacher friend
and I rushed to the back to check what had happened. By then
the girls from our group who had screamed were sobbing. I
asked, “What happened? Is any of you hurt?”
“There was a man,” one of the girls said in between her cries.
“He came in front of us before we entered the washroom.”
She started to sob again. “What did the man do?” I asked. The
crying girls did not say anything. After much persuasion,
another girl told us what happened.
“This man, this man,” she started to speak in a barely audible
voice. “This man …he, he ..took off his trousers …and, and
…showed us his private parts. When we screamed, he ran
away!” “So it was a crazy flasher,” I commented. We
reported to the shop proprietor before leaving the shop.
Later when the whole group gathered at a spot to wait for the
bus, news of the incident was spread by one of the girls. The
boys were all ears…it was such exciting news to them . I
heard some amusing questions and comments.
Coffee Shop

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“Was it a big Bengali man?”
“How long did he give the show?”
“Wah! You 4 girls are very lucky to get a free show!”
“Was the man a hairy one?”
“ Luckily the man didn’t die of shock when you screamed?”
At the bus we reminded all the students to be extra cautious
and careful. They must always be mindful and remember to
follow all instructions and rules. The unfortunate happening
at the coffee shop was soon put away from our minds as we
continued with our tour program. The girls who fell victims to
the flashing event, were soon back to their normal selves,
enjoying themselves happily away.
The second incident happened at the temple where we put up
for the night. That night we had dinner at the many eating
places around the Komtar building. After dinner we toured
the Komtar Complex, with some of our tour members
shopping and others window shopping. At around 10 pm we
made our way back to the temple all ready for a good night
rest and sleep so that all could be fit and refreshed for the
following day’s full tour program.
At the temple we took our showers and washed up and then
the boys and girls went to their respective halls to sleep. We
teachers too went to our rooms to retire for the night.
It must have been past midnight when I heard a loud scream
coming from the outside of the temple. With a torchlight, I
immediately rushed out of the room to investigate. When I
was outside the temple, I saw two nuns in a state of shock.
They were the ones who had screamed.

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On the grass patches which were alongside the pavement lane
leading to the temple main door, I found 5 of our Form 4 boys
with only their short pants on! After I had talked to the nuns
and questioned the boys, I found out what happened was this:
It was a hot night. The 5 boys could not bear with the hot and
humid conditions in the hall where they were supposed to
sleep in. So they decided on their own to sneak out to sleep in
the compound outside the temple building. The two nuns had
earlier in the night gone out to do some chanting in a religious
ceremony elsewhere. After the ceremony they were sent back
to the temple and had started to walk into the temple ground
when they got the shock of their lives when they encountered
5 half-naked boys lying down on the temple compound.
I apologized profusely to the nuns. It was really embarrassing.
I gave a short ‘pep talk’ to the ‘culprits’ and made them
apologize personally to the nuns and ask for forgiveness. The
nuns were very kind and compassionate and did not display
any sign of anger or disappointment. I suppose they were just
shocked at what they saw! I asked the boys to go back to
sleep in their places.
The next morning after thanking the nuns and doing some
donation to the temple, we continued the tour program.
The third incident happened at one of the beaches in Tanjung
Bungah. There are beautiful hotels and beaches in this area. It
was around 4 pm when we went to the beach, a beautiful long
stretch of golden-color sand with lovely palm trees spread out
at the rim providing welcome shade from the sun.

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After the briefing and instructions, the students were allowed
to play and have fun on the beach for an hour or so. I found
for myself a shady spot under a palm tree and sat there for a
good rest and take things easy.
After about half an hour, three of our Form 2 boys came
running excitedly to me apparently to report on something
important. I shall refer to these 3 boys as Kwai Keat, Teow
Kooi and Hor Lek (not their actual names). I listened intently
to what the boys had to say in their Manglish or broken
English.
Hor Lek: Sir, just now Kwai Keat do something bad. He
commit sin.
Teow Kooi: We jalan jalan far away and Kwai Keat see
something. He ask Hor Lek and me to follow
him.
Kwai Keat: Don’t bohong! You two want to follow me.
Hor Lek: Sir, Kwai Keat see two orang putih women
with no clothes on.
Kwai Keat: Bohong again. The two women were topless
but they got wear underwear.
Teow Kooi: They lie on the beach and Kwai Keat go near
and look look at the women naked bodies.
Kwai Keat: I did not go near, sir.
Teow Kooi: You go near. Don’t tell lie. Sir said lying is
a wrong thing you know.

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Hor Lek: Kwai Keat, don’t bluff. I also see you go near.
Kwai Keat: Ok, Ok lah! I go near. Boy sure want to see
girl one. Right? But I don’t see much. The two
white women, their front sides on the sand.
Teow Kooi: You staring so long near them!
Kwai Keat: You two also stare, you Hum Sup kwai!
Hor Lek: Ya, but Teow Kooi and I short while only go
near and look. We then walk away. You stay
there for so long! You commit sin! Sir tell us
before: No sexual misconduct.
I was really amused and entertained listening to their
arguments. I enjoyed their talk in their horrible English!
We started our journey back for home after dinner. What a
terrific trip we all had!
Reflections
* It’s kind of sad that today we have more and more suffering
from psychological problems and mental illnesses. Flashers
and others who behave in bizarre ways have problems of the
mind. Dhamma education can be very benefical for those
afflicted with issues of the mind.
* Many youngsters often act impulsively with no clear and wise
thinking. We need to guide and educate them well in the
Dhamma right from an early stage.
* A more all-round education is important – we should not just
focus on the academic. Education should also address issues of
morality, sexuality, psychological and emotional well-being.