It's wonderful to reminisce about the past, even though it's been nearly fifty years. I remember the time when the three of us, you, Samsudin Sueet, and myself, decided to undertake our practical training in Taiping.

Choosing Taiping turned out to be an excellent decision, as the Assistant District Forest Officer, Nik Anuar, was an incredibly hospitable host. He introduced us to the daily routines of a Forest Officer, and Taiping proved to be a fascinating Forest District. We had the opportunity to witness the well-organized mangrove forest plantations, observing the different stages of growth, from planting to thinning, and eventually witnessing the trees being harvested for various industries.

One memorable experience was witnessing the production of charcoal in kilns and the utilization of canals for transportation purposes. It was delightful to observe the diverse flora and fauna of the mangrove ecosystem during our training. Fishing was also a popular activity among the locals, and we even had the chance to explore Maxwell Hill, with the trusty Land Rover taking us up and down.

Another vivid memory was our visit to the match factory. As aspiring forest officers, the management kindly presented us with a bag full of assorted souvenir matchboxes, which sparked an exciting matchbox collecting hobby.

Overall, the experiences we shared during our time in Taiping, you, Waksam, and myself, remain well-preserved in our memories.@ariffin abdullah