Waterfront then 1974 and now 2008

Waterfront then 1974 and now 2008

1974 Waterfront of Kota Kinabalu Town (now city) . Mamutik Island (left smallest), Manukan Island (behind me), Gaya Island (big island at right) 

Photo Location :  near the present Marine Statue in front Hyatt Regency, Kota  Kinabalu City

Blue sea, islands with white sandy beaches, fishing boats with fresh seafoods passing constantly.  This spot was significant. 40 over years later that part of blue sea immediately beside me by now refilled and became the present Kota Kinabalu Waterfront with hundreds of tourists each day walk by to watch sunsets. (sea next photo below). Hotels and shopping malls were build on once upon the blue sea.

---------------------


One of the first COLOR photos of me. Looking for a scenic location to try out a COLOR film 40 over years ago, it was decided that this very sport was the most iconic in Kota Kinabalu. Yes, indeed iconic not only at that time, this water front went into greater significant iconic today.  

This marine area now bring great wealth in tourism industry recent years.
The location where I sited and gazed into the blue sea went through development of land refill and construction with the present Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Hotel.

The land refill went on and on and became now the location of Wisma Merdeka Building, Gaya Centre Hotel, Suria Sabah Mall, Wisma Sabah Mall.

Location of Gaya Centre Hotel, Suria Sabah, Wisma Sabah etc were once the blue sea in the above 1974 photo.

Back in 1974, no one ever thought possible that our blue sea and islands would later attracts hundreds of Chinese from China every day. 

Back in 1974, China was in the mid of 10 years  Cultural resolution. This poorest country 40 years ago was backward in many aspects. With people staved to dead without foods. Every one use bicycles while the very few cars the country had were reserved only for the country officials.  Every one wear old cloths of similar color either blue and gray. But the worst things about them was that the Chinese were our enemy, "the enemy of the world" as the American told and reminded us constantly  to against a rising Communism.  

Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia were far more advance then the China that time.

Those years, to think about them coming every day to my country to enjoy this blue sea and island beaches and see the marine life was a funny jok with no clue for humor.

But today its not a jok. What we comprehend of the Chinese at that time 40+ years ago could not be understood by our young generation of children. Today, most local tourist industries could not survey if the Chinese stop coming. Today thousands went without jobs if the Chinese withdraw their investments.


I am living in this part of the world that went through changes no one predicted. And the changed still going through with momentum.

----------------------------
Today's Kota Kinabalu Waterfront in 2008

 ---------------------------


Once overlooked as a destination for travellers, Sabah now ranks as a top 10 destination for the more than 6 million Chinese people who went abroad this festive season -
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST 2018


MALAYSIA LURES CHINESE TOURISTS TO SABAH STATE WITH SUN, SAND AND SELFIES
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/

OBITUARY - Wilson Wong Syak Kee

OBITUARY Mr. Wilson Wong Syak Kee aged 88 years was called home to be with the Lord at 3:45 am on 19 June 2008 (Thursday) leaving behind the following to mourn his loss: Wife : Liew Soon Tshing (Deceased) Sons: Wong F. Y. Wong Fook Foong Eric Wong Fook Lok Christopher Wong Fook Shen Henry Wong Fook Vui Daughters-In-Law: Shirley Claveria Alice ak Kiyun Joyce Huang Shi Chyn Catharine Lee Juk Chu Daughters : Stella Wong Siew Don Evelyn Wong Sons-In-Law: William Chung Yun Onn Yeo Seek Yong Grandchildren: Wong Chun Xing Wong Mei Yin Wong Yee Jin, Teresa Wong Shu Khiong, Jeffrey Wong Shu Liong, Dylan Wong Shu Khim, George Wong Shu Khing, Michael Wong Shu Kong, Matthew Garrick Yeo Wei Leng Jerolyn Yeo Vanessa Yeo Hui Eng The cortege will leave The Sarawak Thong Sim Siang T'ng, Gold Jade Road, Kuching on Sunday 22 June 2008 at 12:30 noon, and for funeral service at St. Thomas's Cathedral, Kuching at 1:00 p.m., and thereafter for burial at Nirvana Memorial Park, Siniawan, Kuching/Bau Road, Kuching. Tel: 013-8129106, 016-8005875 , 014-6815810, 012-8897875 Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though he dies," John 11:25

The Cotton tree on the hill

Cotton Tree
2 June 2008 Monday 4:18PM


Once upon a time behind this cotton tree was a steel tower.  Once in a blue moon warning sound rang out from a siren on the tower. It just a routine drill for the British administration practicing emergency.  A few times I saw pairs of armed solders took positions on several spots on the hill and watch out toward the town. This was also a routine drill.

Once upon a time the present bright concrete building behind this cotton tree was a wooden white structure where the Treasury Office was.  Facing the tree were the back doors while the front doors were on the other side. Wong Syak Kee, my father, his office was somewhere in the middle facing this tree.  His desk was just couple meters to the back door we could see him from afar when we send him drink during tea breaks. His tea break refreshment was hot Millo made by my mother using a glass bottle as container. Those day there was no such thing as PVC Plastic bottle.

Once upon a time my house, a colonial government staff quarter wooden, was just 100 meters walk toward this cotton tree. Whenever I look out toward the blue sky from the windows (with mosquito screen), this is the cotton tree I saw.

Gone was the tall steel tower.
Gone was the wooden Treasury Office of the British colonial.
Gone was also the wooden house I grew up.

Today, after 40 years, upon my return this cotton tree still standing tall before me. The tree saw me left as a young boy and sees me return as a soon senior citizen.

I do not have another 40 years. But this cotton tree has another 40 years……. follow by another 40 years…… and perhaps another……

So please you who dismantled the tower, you who rebuild the office building and you who destroyed my childhood home, please let this cotton tree continue to grow……for another 40 years……..follow by another 40 years…….and perhaps another forever.

Big Trees of home town

2 June 2008

I grew up in a small town with big trees.

I return to see with joy they still standing tall at the very same location as I left them 40 years ago in 1964.

40 years, it a long long time. Like friends waited for 40 years standing at the very same spot for my return.

Big trees of home town, how I wished some one could protect them for another 40 years.

Rajah Charles Brooke built Fort Alice in 1864 as a defensive structure controlling the Lupar River.

This is a fort built entirely of ‘belian’ (ironwood) timber with thick walls to withstand attacks.

All of the original structure remains mostly intact, but in extremely dilapidated and run down condition.

History can not be left to ruin. Fort Alice needs restoration.

Fort Alice

1st June 2008 Sunday

I once lived only 200 meters to Charles Brook's heritage. So closed to history yet realized this only recent years…….

Photo above : Fort Alice 1 June 2008 SUNDAY 5:09PM





The oldest heritage building in Sri Aman, the Fort Alice, was build in 1864 by Rajah Charles Brooke the second Rajah of Sarawak

The name derived from that of Charles Brooke's wife Margaret Alice Lili de Windt.

The structure was built on a strategic hilltop position and had a commanding view of the river with cannons bearing down to stop any threats coming from upriver.

With a fort served as a defensive structure controlling the Lupar River, Simanggang town  played a major role in suppressing piracy, slavery, and head-hunting, while encouraging trade and development and expanding the authority of the Rajah.

Fort Alice was the Simanggang administrative center housing various government departments and even served as a prison.

It was in this fort Rajah Charles used to preside as judge settling disputes among the local Ibans during his visits to Simanggang.

It was built entirely of belian (ironwood) timber. Much of the timber used was taken from an earlier fort, Fort James Brooke, earlier built further upriver in Nanga Skrang.

Today most of the original structure remains substantially intact, but it is in an extremely dilapidated and run down condition and in need of urgent restoration work.  Restoration did began in May 2013.

…… and this Fort Alice is only 5 minutes walk from once a wooden house I grew up in. That wooden government quarter, build much later then the Brooks period during the colonial time, however never preserved as a heritage but torn down to make way for concrete government office in the modern Malaysian era.

Summarized from "Bringing the shine back to Fort Alice – BorneoPost Online" December 2013 FORT Alice has been left to the mercy of the elements after outliving its usefulness as a military outpost, built by Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah, more than 100 years ago to defend Simanggang (now Sri Aman) against attacks by warring tribes. After being abandoned, its dignity as the Division’s bastion of defense during a turbulent period in Sarawak’s history descended to the crass level of “a local den for drug addicts.” And parents were quick to warn their children to stay away from the crumbling building for fear they may get injured by falling shards – or harmed by drug addicts hanging out there. The long-forgotten over a century-old Fort (kubu) has also been passing through different hands and transcending time. The Fort had been given several facelifts to suit the needs of different owners follow prevailing trends. Some added rooms and some added extensions, thus upping the ante for the restorers to bring the original shine back to the worn-down Fort. The Fort resembled a two-storey wooden bungalow although there are ample proofs to show it was a wooden structure built on stilts. During its heyday back in 1864, Fort Alice was the centre of Simanggang town, bringing life to the surrounding jungles and riverbanks. Identifying the different add-ons and dismantling the Fort is a delicate procedure so as not to damage the existing architecture. The original structure is hardier than the newer added on materials, making it easier to tell the old from the new. The dismantled parts were carefully inspected and labeled while some of the rotting timber replaced and the still hardy materials reused. The restoration project started in May, 2013. The whole Fort has been dismantled and replacement parts fitted together piece by piece – like building a house from Lego blocks. The renovated structure sits on a new reinforced concrete pad footing and some of the buried decaying lower parts of the columns which have spliced on the existing woodwork, have been replaced with new belian materials. “The columns have irregular connections because when the originals were coated with modern acrylic paint or bitumen, it was not permeable (the timber can’t breathe) and rotting started to occur from the inside, moving upwards. That’s why we are replacing the bottom parts of the columns........We cut away the rotted parts bit by bit until we reached the solid part of the old column. Then we made a new piece of timber with the same shape and slotted it in like a jigsaw piece,”   Mike Boon explained.  Architect Mike Boon 溫志堅 is the consultant for the Fort Alice restoration project.

10 km before reaching Sri Aman town from Kuching is a surfaced road leading to Batang Lupar River with its three tributaries of Batang Ai , Lemanak and Skrang .

Reconstruction of Fort Alice : http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community
Bringing Back the Shine to Fort Alice :  http://pamsc.org.my/wp-content/
Fort Alice Conservation : http://johntingarchitect.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html
FRIENDS OF FORT ALICE : http://friendoffortalice.blogspot.com/2013/08

“Where were you on the historical day of Malaysia 31st August 1963 ?”

Simanggang Theatre Inn photo taken on 1 June 2008 SUNDAY 8:27PM.  On the night of 31st August 1963 around the same time,  I was standing in front of this building. There was a procession in celebration of the independent of Malaysia from the British Colonial rule

No. 2, Bangunan Panggung Wayang,

Lrg 3 Off Jalan Club,

95000 Sri Aman,

Sarawak

“Where were you on the historical day of Malaysia 31st August 1963 ?”
I was in Simanggang schooling 10 years old.

(Or, some say, 11th September 1963 )

I did not know back then what was going on. The wooden shops in Simanggang were suddenly stuck with postal.  Small slim vertical postal in Chinese characters stuck on all main polls of the wooden shops.  At Primary 3 that time I could read 2 words “Tungu” and “Independent” but none I could fully understand.

That day every thing went on as usual except the night has a big event of procession in the town.

My whole family went to watch the procession.  We stood in front Simanggang Theater.  The not too long procession passed from the left (the shops area) and process toward the right (the hill where Simanggang Club was)

All I could remember now what I saw that night was the front leading the procession were 2 tall big human figures constructed with bamboo frame in paper covering and painted with colors.

Simanggang Theater was just 5 minutes from our house down the hill.

The concrete building of Simanggang Theater remain till today and converted to Theater Inn.


From British Colonie to Malaysia a new nation was born. And I became a Malaysian from a British citizen.

The First Chief Minister of Sarawak was Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan from 1963 - 1966

Kalong Ningkan was born in Betong which was then under Simanggang.

Simanggang

June 2008

I decided to come to visit my childhood town for a day or two alone leaving my family members in my parent house in Kenyalang.

After I left Simanggang in mid 1964 at the age of 11 I have not been back to this childhood town.  Except passing through twice before.

How is this little Simanggang town now aday?

The bus of Sarawak Transport Company depart Kuching bus terminal at 13:00PM. and arrive Simanggang late afternoon. Soon after I put up at the nearnest hotel  I start walking to the location of my old house.

My greatest hope is to see my old house again, and the guava tree I used to climbed up, and a hill slop on top of which a bushy tree with sour fruits.

My worry came true, the wooden house has long gone and on the location are 2 block of government buildings.

I asked the guide to let me into and see the compound because I grew up here once upon a time there was a wooden house here.

The guide let me in but he curiousely told me he never ever saw a wooden house here and that ever since he was a child he has been seen these 2 concrete buildings.

Simanggang Recreation Club
http://limasen-lbucks.blogspot.com/2010/05/simanggang-recreation-club.html


FORT ALICE,SIMANGGANG----140 YEARS AGO
http://limasen-lbucks.blogspot.com/search/label/FORT%20ALICE-Simanggang-140%20Years%20Ago

Green Road

Green Road



I was born in the year of the snake in 1953 in Jesselton, my father was 32+ years old. Joblessness forced him to leave his home town to Kuching where with the help of his sister (my aunty) and relatives found him a clerical job with the British Colonial Government.
The Batu Lintang government quarter we lived in was just a kilometer from this St. Paul School. Naturally, I was sent to this Roman Catholic missionary school to begin my education.
My family migrated from British North Borneo (Sabah) since 1953 and permanently settled down in Sarawak.
By the time I entered this St Paul Chinese Primary School, 2 brothers were born.
My father as a government clerk, financially was not well to do but was able to scrape along.
In those days, the Chinese community was composed of 3 major classes, the Business (the Hockien and Teochew), the Agriculture (Foochaw and Hakka) and the Government services (The Hakka).
Those in government services were minority and considered middle class. My father as a government clerk fall in this middle class. We are Hakka.

While those Chinese children in the agriculture families spared of the hard life of agriculture works, my childhood living in the government quarters was a simple one.
St. Paul's Primary School was situated at Green Road, very near to our home at  Batu Lintang Government Quarters. St. Paul has 2 schools, the Chinese School and the English School.
The normal traditional practice of the Hakka government employee has been to send their children to English Schools. A sign of loyalty to the British government and not to Chinese Schools which were Anti-Colonialism and pro communist.
My father somehow enrolled me at the Chinese school of St. Paul.  A mistake many of the relatives indirectly pointed out to my parent. A mistake which my parent often brought out during their argument.
A mistake became obvious to my parent in the later days when all the English educated relatives have a well to do professional and migrated to Western countries  living a comfortable life while I from the Chinese schools has no “futures”……………
But things make a drastic turn in this new century when Chinese language play a leading edge in a new world order………………..

Day 1 From Tawau to KK to Kuching

Day 1 - 25th May 2008  Sunday From Tawau to KK to Kuching

10:45 am AirAsia flight left Tawau to Kota Kinabalu

14:30 pm Left Kota Kinabalu airport for Kuching

17:30 pm by now we were walking along the Carpenter Street not far from Jalan Green Hill where we stay

18:30 pm Watching sunset at opposite river

20:00 pm Enjoying a monthly dance showcase at Waterfront Godown Amphitheatre 

21:30 pm More performance at Feng Shan Temple Wayang Street

8:30 am Tawau Airport luggage check in

By 8:30 am we already reached Tawau Airport by taxi.

Flight AK5834 depart as scheduled at 10:45 AM to Kota Kinabalu.

We have only 4 check in luggage total 34 Kilograms. (By the time we return the same 4 luggage totaled 43 Kilograms - not too much)

Tawau Teacher's Training College view from the air

Flight departed as scheduled at 10:45 AM to Kota Kinabalu.

Below the white cloud one could see recent development by  the joint effort of Sabah Government and Federal Government.

On the left hand side (see above photo) is a huge orange color building group. This is the largest and newest teaching training college in Sabah - the MAKTAB PERGURUAN TAWAU [ Tawau Teacher's Training College ]. This college was completed in 2005 and first batch of trainee teachers arrived in 2006.

On the right side of above photo is a group of flats with red roof tops. This is the Taman Sri Balung, an  apartment-style low-cost housing units of the Government declared opened in 2005. According to news report Taman Sri Balung is part of the People's Housing Programme  which cost the Governments RM54.18 million for these 17 blocks of 972 house units.  

The main aim of People's Housing Programme is to achieve the "zero squatter in 2010"

(Remark : As on 1-1-2020 the goal of "zero squatter in 2010" still yet to be achieved. There is no sign of reducing of squatter in Tawau, instead, new squatter huts are being added by the population.

Lunch at KK airport

KK airport aquarium

Our connection flight to Kuching is at 2:30 PM. We have plenty of time in Terminal 2 of Kota Kinabalu International Airport. After lunch we explored each corner of this new terminal which was opened only in January 2007 last year.
The small aquarium is interesting with many species of ocean  fishes we never seen before.

Asajaya Town formally was called Nonok.

Coconut plantation in Semarahan

3: 40 PM the plan started ascending.  The sky is clear and the landscape could be seen clearly. We are some where above Semarahan division. There is a small town beside a small river. This could be Asajaya Town.  A town not too far from the sea cost.  Asajaya formally was called Nonok.
The area surrounding this town are coconut plantation.

The basin of Samarahan River

The basin of Samarahan River and Sadong River covers an area of about 900 sq km (352 sq miles). The area at Kuala Samarahan (river mouth) is low lying and is constantly subjected to 1m to 1.5m of tidal flooding.

Tiger-prawn farming in Samarahan

Because of the fertile Samarahan River Basin and Delta, Samarahan Division is the main agriculture area in Sarawak famous for production of  coconut, sweet oranges, cocoa and  pepper. 

Recent years, Samarahan is also a preferred tiger-prawn rearing zone among aquaculture entrepreneurs. As the plane decent lower and lower we could see clearly the tiger-prawn ponds below us (see photo above). A closer look at the green vegetations surrounding the prawn ponds review the huge area of coconut trees.   

3:46 PM we are now above lower Samarahan River. Kuching International Airport will be in sight within minute. My seat was at the left window and from the air I could see a new road already completed linking the river mouth to Kuching City (see photo below).

Samarahan River

------------------------------------------

Harmony Arch at Carpenter Street 

From our hotel in Jalan Green Hill we walked to Open Market via the Ewe Hai Street+Carpenter Street.

Harmony Arch beside the Post Office building is new to us. It was completed only last year in February 2007.  The last time we came to Kuching in November 2005 this arch was not built yet.

Beside the golden arch is the General Post Office, a building built in 1931 reminding Kuching's colonial pass. A colonial era when my grandfather, together with thousands other Chinese, came from China.

唐人街 是"拉者"時期著名的老城區. 海唇街、中國街、亞答街、大井街等都是昔日華人到古晉拓荒時的落腳地。

亞答街也稱木匠街，這條街擁有三座百年古廟，鳳山寺、天后宮和上帝廟. 供奉著不同神明的三座古廟由華族三個不同籍貫人士興建。

Electra House - First Shopping Mall of Kuching in 1960s 

Electra House the earliest shopping mall in Kuching in the 1960s.  Adjacent to the mall is an interesting 'open air market' with a watch tower. (right of above picture)

That is the view tower of the old fire-station during the WW2. That view tower of the fire station was once the highest point in the town  to watch out for fire in Kuching. That was 50 years ago. Today the tower remain as a remembrance. The fire station has been since converted into an ‘open air’ market of  food and drinks stalls.

These stalls in this outdoor dining place offering various local dishes. The food and drink stalls are divided into two wings : the right wing is Chinese food and drink stalls. Those day the foods stall here housed the best beef noodle and 'Pau' (Bun) in town.  The left wing is where you find the best (in those days) Malay cakes 'Kuei' and fried banana.  Here is the place for Halah foods for an afternoon tea break with your Muslim friends for a nice cup of pure local coffee.

In between separating the 2 wings of food and drink stalls is now the mini bus stations.  But in 1960s was the Chin Lien Loong city bus station where I took bus no: 8  between school and home in Batu Lintang almost every day.  So this location in the heart of Kuching Town (now a city)  is very familiar to me.

On the left hand side of the above photo you see beneath  the commercial advertisement 'GO FURTHER!'  are two windows. These are windows of a dentist clinic many years ago. The entrance to the clinic is below and in the photo we can see is grilled locked and with no sign board now. 

Both Electra House and Open-air market were popular hang out for young people during my secondary school days in the 1960s.  The glory of these area in the 1960s is now fading. Yet the open air market and Electra House still attract patrons as they are located in the heart of the city. The Petrajaya bus stop nearby and mini bus  station the vicinity make this area lively during the day. 

Poultry Market (build 1959) at Gambier Street

Gambier Street Market was built during the Brooke era, the Gambier Street Market actually comprises the Vegetable and Fish Market (1924), Pork Market (since destroyed by fire in 2002) Poultry Market (1959), Long Jetty Hawker Centre, and Fixed Stall Hawker Centre.

In the early days, the markets were of rudimentary timber and ‘atap’ which faithfully supplied daily provisions to town folk till this day.

Over the years, these have been upgraded to what they are to this day.

Farewell ! Gambier Street !

At that time on 25th May 2008 while we stroll pass Gambier Street.  I did not realize the scene of Gambier Street Market we saw then would soon become a part of history.

Only months later in August, I read about that the markets along this street were closed for ever and moved to a new market complex.

Farewell ! The Old Gambier Street Markets!

Old court house built in 1874. Now Sarawak Tourism Board building. 

6:10 PM We walk pass the Old Court House. An edifice with the ornate engravings on the roof that are based on traditional tribal motives. Within this old court house behind this white concrete clock tower is the Sarawak Tourist Office where tourist make accommodation booking the various national parks of Sarawak. That is the office I came back the next morning when office open to confirm my booking for the 2 night stay at Bako National Park.

100 over years ago this Old Court House was the administrative and ceremonial centre of the White Rajahs. Constructed from ironwood, it is an impressive edifice

In front of the Court House is the Brooke Memorial, a tribute to the White Rajah James Brooke and his nephew, Charles Brooke. Brooke Memorial is a 6-metre tall granite obelisk in front of the Court House in Kuching. The Brooke Memorial was put up in honor of one of Sarawak's white rajahs, in this case, Charles Brooke, the second rajah. It was commissioned in 1924. At each corner of the four corners of the Brooke Memorial is a bronze figure representing the Sarawakian community: Dayak, Kayan, Malay and Chinese. See following images:

 Brooke Memorial - Dayak, Kayan, Malay and Chinese

At each side of the four sides of the Brooke Memorial is a bronze figure representing the Sarawakian community: Dayak, Kayan, Malay and Chinese.
These bronze figures were the work of J. Wilcoxson of London in 1924

The 6-metre tall granite obelisk Brooke Memorial is  put up in honor of Charles Brooke.

The 6-metre tall granite obelisk Brooke Memorial is  put up in honor of Charles Brooke. He shaped my family history begin in Borneo Island.

The Brooke administration in Borneo brought in many Chinese from Southern China including my grandfather.

"........After the First Rajar, the administration was handed down to Charles Brook. Charles is a great reformer bringing big construction and development to Sarawak. One of his plan was the agricultural development of this land. Huge number of skilled farmers and labors were needed for the plan. Charles Brook's administration made arrangement with China and had a continued flow of young Chinese pioneers from Southern China landed at the Kuching Sarawak River Warf just 100 meters in front this Old court house....." "......Among these young men was one short and skinny Hakka from Bao- On district (today the Shenzhen City) in Canton Province (today  Kwang Zhao). He was to develop a pepper farm beside the still existing big rock beside the Hindu Temple in Rock Road. But unable to bear the hardship, this young man escape to North Borneo (today Sabah) and found a batter life as a employee of the North Borneo Railway Company in Jesselton (today Kota Kinabalu) and few years later through arrange marriage of a friend, a young girl arrive from China to become his wife....." ".....One day the couple stumble  upon a  water source of spring water in a hill slop walking distance from Jesselton town.  With water as a source of life it is an ideal piece of land for starting a homeland, They cleared the surrounding jungle and build a wooden hut (latter a high stilted legs wooden house) and started a new family life of continuous coming of offsprings......The British North Borneo Government granted them land title to this 2 acres of sloppy hill side for annual tax of One British Dollar....... " The above quoted from Wong Family History by George Wong. In 1953 I was born in the wooden hut mentioned above.  There is another history fact may be why my grandfather and his Hakka people came to Borneo:Hakka actively took part in the boxer rebellion in China. After the movement failed many of them escape to Malaya and Borneo and started a new life with new identity.......

 The Old Court House - my wife Shirley, son Xing and daughter Yin

Sarawak Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) complex

On the other side of the river is the new Sarawak Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) complex that has reach it final construction height. When we came in 2005, that site was still an enpty ground under foundation preparation. 

The New Dewan Undangan Negeri, Sarawak would be an icon of  Kuching. Standing tall overlooking Kuching's main City, the DUN is sign of unity and progress of  Sarawak's new era.

"Baba, I want to go over there !" said Mei Yin.  

"Why not, " I replied, "Lets go."

Taking a boat to opposite river

We took a boat  together with few other passenger we went across the river to the other side of the river.  The last time we went over was in November 2005.  It already well over 6:00 PM. 

Oh! Its another beautiful sunset in Kuching. Beautiful colors and tranquil scenes. We enjoy a beautiful sunset passing  from daylight into darkness with beautiful glow of the after sunset light.

Sunset  view from opposite river

Watching sunset with entire family is a precious moment though such moment last a mere minute.

When the sun sets, it leaves behind it streaks of colors on the clouds while the blue sky lingers at the other direction.

We stroll around near the boat jetty watching the setting sun, the boats and the lights in the distance. The sky and the horizon were full of intense colors: orange, magenta, dark blue… What a fantastic way for the sun to end the day.

We feel the cooling evening breeze while watching the sunset.

I looked at the magnificent view, trying to seize the moment with my camera to capture it knowing that it would never be the same again.  Yesterday is just a collection of experiences. Tomorrow is about discovery and new development. I suddenly realize that our time is not limitless, to recognize how precious it is and to live every moment to the fullest.

Dance Showcase Kuching Waterfront Godown Amphitheatre 

Our first evening in Kuching was an eventful evening.

Happen to be the day of Monthly Traditional Dance Showcase 

25 May 2008 Time 8.00pm-9.00pm Kuching Waterfront  Godown Amphitheatre. Event Organizer is Kuching Waterfront Management 

--------------------------------------------

Feng Shan Temple at Wayang Street

After the Traditional Dance Showcase at the Kuching Water Front we walked a 5 minutes toward Wayang Street for another stage show at Feng Shan Temple

At the left of the photo is the 凤山寺 Feng Shan Shi (Hokkien Temple)This is the temple dedicated to the Chinese god, Guang Ze Tian Wang (广泽天王). It was built in the year 1848. It was first renovated in the year 1897.Hong San Temple has beautiful Ceramic Artwork, ceramic Carp Fish, and other Creatures decorated the rooftop.

At the right of the photo is the temple hall where we watched the stage show. The stage show is an annual event as a thank giving to the God.

Today is an eventful day. In 1 day we experienced and seen many things.

Getting ready for Harvest Festival Holidays 2008

24 May 2008 Saturday

My office 2008 - I am a computer technician

Tomorrow the whole family will begin a 10 days trip to Kuching.
I just hope the computer system ( my job responsibility) will have no trouble during these 10 days.  While enjoying the holiday, an emergency call from office reporting computer trouble may ruin the rest of my holiday.

My office used to be very messy in the work days but today half hour before I leave my office things are tidy up (Above photo)

I maintain the office's Window 2000 Server with 40 users. On the left is my work station with a notice ' Automatic Back Up scheduled at 12:00 noon every day'.  Backing up of data is part of my every day job.

Day 7 Down the memory lane

Day 7 - 31st May 2008 Saturday  Down the memory lane

I took a stroll around Kenyalang Park. Not knowing this indented short walking walk turn up to be a half day of down the memory lane walk and seeing great changes.

Kuching has been declared “Garden City” by the State Government on the 21st July 2003 with  the availability of abundant natural beauty within and out of the city.

Formerly Government Building, now Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

9:00 AM I walked along Jalan Simpang Tige passing this former government building.  Today the building has turned to a campus of an Australian University with many  international students from Asian and African countries.  The nearby Spring Mall is a frequent place of these Universities students.

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is a branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. 

This Sarawak campus opened in Kuching in 2000 in partnership between Swinburne Australia and the Sarawak government. 

The above building was the former Sarawak State Office Complex.

Swinburne Sarawak will be extensively developed into a city campus with a  budget of RM110 million.

The expanded campus will feature several custom-designed buildings to accommodate new courses and the increasing student population. 

Construction started at the later half of 2005 and completion is expected in 2008. Upon completion, the campus has a capacity for 5,000 full-time students.
------------------------
Jalan Ong Tiang Swee 王長水路

Sarawak Islamic Centre at Jalan Ong Thiang Swee Road

Sarawak Islamic Centre

10:00 AM As I turn toward Jalan Ong Thiang Swee I saw a blue roof top of a very unique building under construction.  This is the new Sarawak Islamic Centre where the worker are still busy constructing. When this religious center  open  its doors in August to other faiths, the building will foster a better understanding and appreciation of each other’s belief systems.

Sarawak Islamic Centre in Kuching will be opened to the public on 17th August 2008,

The is a  unique architecture  featuring a combination of the various ethnic identities, will be the first physical confluence of ethnic designs and matrices – underlying a bedrock of the true Islamic universality

The centre is half kilometer from Swinburne University. Construction of the Centre began in 2003 with a budget allocation of RM2 million. 

The Centre will become a resource centre for Muslim converts to get counseling as well as those of other religious background who are interested in the Islamic faith to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Islam religion. 

------------------------------

The Sarawak Melanau Community Charitable Trust Board

---------------------------

RESCUE 911

----------------------

Pertubuhan bagi Ibubapa Kanak Kanak Keperluan Khas Sarawak 

Pibakat (SARAWAK SOCIETY FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS). An NGO (non government organization)

Pibakat is an organization formed and run by the parents of children with special needs - children intellectually or physically challenged.

The premises is an old government bungalow at Jalan Bisaya off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee in Kuching. It is the headquarters and teaching centre for the children in Kuching.
------------------------

Wooden armchair of old government quarter

Wooden armchair of old government quarter
At Jalan Ong Thien Swee was another abandoned old government staff quarter. Quarter Number: 1. (The quarter of my father was number 66).
These early days government timber house are now been torn down to make way for new development. (unfortunately).
This chair at the balcony is exactly the same style we had when we had in our quarter many years ago. Except that the weaven rottan seating was replaced by plywood.

----------------------

Wisma Hong

When I reach the junction of Jalan Ong Thien Swee, it is Batu 2.75, Jalan Rock Road. In those day, between this point (Batu 2.75) and 3rd Mile (Batu 3) were swampy bushes with a big stream water of tea color with where I cycle several times to fish. Today the stream could not be seen, the landscape completely changed.

These is a new huge office building the Wisma Hong.

----------------------------

Old wooden houses along Rock Road

Along Rock Road, there are 2 familiar weathered wooden houses still standing tall as fascinating portrait of life and times long since changed. There is a third wooden house in between but missed out in my snap shoots. The above two wooden houses were dismantled few years later, while the third house in between still remain as in 1-1-2020 however abandoned.

Both are located on the Western side of Rock Road. One before Rock Road Restaurant and after the restaurant.  These two wooden  are Classical-style of the 1950's of the middle class of those day (a small plot of land with fruits trees and a double story wooden building in the middle)  It is the equal vent of today upper middle class who own a semi-detached double story house with a wide garage for two cars).

Today these type of classic disappeared one by one following a routing formula - the cline of the house owner would hand the property to a developer to develop the land in a more profitable way. The developers would usually build concrete double or multi story commercials building or residential houses with bank finance. And in return the land owner get partial of the new development such as a shop lot or a unit of the house.

Some of the old  abandoned wooden houses still exist in Kuching are masterpieces of  British Colonel wooden architecture. These are token of my environment where I once grew up.

The young generation live in terrace houses or apartments because land is in short supply and expensive. Those who have bungalow houses have probably either inherited them or pay for the house for most of their working lives.

The old Chinese tradition idea of permanent house and emphasis on the long-term land has gone challenged  today. In this modern age, young generation routinely relocate their working location , selling their old house and buying a new one.  Houses become "disposable" item like old shoe and out of fashion clothes.
------------------------------

 Rock Road Seafood Restaurant

This block of shop houses was build in the 1966-1967 and Rock Road Restaurant was among the first shops opened for business when the shop lot completed. Near by  b
Behind the shop block is a terrace housing and the at the left side nearby are Government quarters,
In the 1960s, a shop started operation as a small coffee shop selling kilo mee to the residents. This noodle restaurant has developed in the last 40 decades into today  Rock Road Seafood Restaurant that occupied 3 shop lots famous for their fresh sea foods dishes.

One of the shop lot now occupied by this Seafood Restaurant was originally a sundry shop. When this sundry shop first open in the 1960s, the towkay (owner) frequently went from house to house to acutance with the neighborhood and to invite them to visit his newly opened shop.  Our house was just 100 meters further down on the left.  I was at home that day when he first made his first visit to the government quarters where we stay, he chit chat with my mother in Hockien (or Teochew)  telling my mother he is opening up a shop and politely asked my mother to 'support' his 'seng-li' by buying from his shop.

My mother did.

My mother was the one who responsible in acquiring home rations. When ordering heavy item such as rice, the shop would provide delivery to our house through a young shop assistant using a bicycle. Those days rice were packed in 'guni sack' of about 100 kilogram.  The 'guni sack' of rice would be placed on the bicycle's main frame bar and the shop boy would push this bicycle with rice sack  to our house.  There were couple of time the 'towkay' (shop owner) would delivery the rice by himself when shop boy was not available.

---------------------------------------

Recall fond memories of bus stop

Recall fond memories of bus stop opposite Rock Road Restaurant

Bus stop shelter where I stood under every schooldays morning 1966 to 1971. The shelter old design was green square shape. Today is replaced with a nicer circular shape blue shelter.

There was no Bas Skolah (School Bus) during my time.  Most boys cycle to schools. Many of my school mates live in town shophouses and they walk to schools. Only few have family cars. One of my classmate family operate a bicycle workshop beside opposite the Feng Shan Temple at Wayang Street.

---------------------------------