Never thought of writing another blog this month but driving pass my beautiful city makes me so eager to write. Got to squeeze some moment to write. Expressing my heart out. LOVE YOU "A N" . Anyway, this time I want to write a short but my beautiful wonderful journey to my work place, daily. Hahahaha. You read it right. Wonderful and historical journey daily throughout my route. Come. Let me take you there.
The journey started from my house. It's a very old housing estate. Age about more than 30 years. I can still remember when I was a kid, I always dream to have a house in this area. I pass by this area every day on the way to school, car pooling my auntie's car with my cousins. It was and still such a beautiful housing area, built with bricks. 35 years ago, most of the houses were built with wood. I still can't believe it that I finally own a house in this area. My first historical place. Driving down to town, I will pass by one of the oldest bridge in the city. The Satok Bridge. There used to be a suspension bridge in this area on the right and also a ferry terminal on the left. I ever had a chance to experience riding the ferry and also walked on the suspension bridge. That was a sweet memories. Now, the suspension bridge has collapse and the ferry services was terminated.
It is a wonderful sight daily watching the Sarawak river from the top of the bridge. I never miss to have a glance at the river everyday. High tide. Low tide. It is beautiful. Afer the bridge located one of city's oldest village, Kampung Kulas. It is sad to see the village is in the midst of dissapering. A lot of houses already demolished in the name of development. There was a semi D house that always attracted me before since I was in kindy, and it is no longer around. Same goes to a tennis courts. It's gone. The Malay settlement in this area is losing its place. Sad but true.
Going up the flyover, on the right, I always notice this under construction building. The Rumah Dayak. My childhood playground. There use to be a badminton court there. I always play there with my fellow friends. I lost count on how many years already that building is under construction. Until today, it is still not fully completed. From far you can see Civic Centre (I'll come to that on the way home later in my next blog). On the left, is Mahkamah Syariah building. I call it as an upside down pyramid. Behind it, is Wisma Hopoh. A place that full with sweet and bitter memory for me. Shame to say the bitter but the sweet memory is nice. Used to buy KFC chicken at Rm1.20 a piece there. It's not easy to get that much money when I was a teenager. With a 20 cents pocket money a day, just imagine how long I have to save fir a piece of fried chicken? Saving10 cents a day also seems impossible. Driving straight along this road, on the left is RTM. Not so much story on RTM but the side walk next to RTM is full with unforgettable memory. If I'm not mistaken, when I was at the age of 5 or 6, I got lost here. It happened due to following friends wondering around from the police quarters to pangkalan batu (a sampan jetty), now waterfront, I was left behind by my friends and I have to find my way back to home. I still remember the stonewall next to Dewan TAR (museum) and also at Padang Central fountain (now Padang Merdeka and the fountain is gone) that guide me back to the traffic light. I remembered the route because my parents used to bring us to Padang Central whenever there is a celebration there. This is where as far as I can remember. The rest is just very blur. Maybe I was picked up by people or maybe I walked home safely but I remembered that I was beaten by my mother very badly that night.
Museum Sarawak is the greatest place on earth. Maybe a lot of Kuchingnites don't realize it but for me it is. My grandfather used to work here. He ever brought me to his work place, riding on his bicycle from the nearby village and I'm always very proud with his masterpiece in the museum display. I never told this to my wife nor my children. It is a very touching moment for me. I like to visit the museum every now and then. My wife on the other hand don't like it very much. The place give her the creep. My children started to like the place.
Turning to Padang Merdeka, or famously known as Padang Central, is another historical place in Kuching. The place used to have a fountain and heroes Memorial. Now it's only an empty field with occasionally some government event held on it. Turning left, you'll see a lot of historical buildings. Central Police station. Pejabat Residen. Yayasan Sarawak. Poliklinik Kerajaan. And shops that aged. From here it is all down the memory lane. Electra House, the first biggest shopping complex in Kuching. Open Air market. You can get the best crunch mixed ice (ABC) drinks in the city. Rojak Sotong. Noodles (non halal). The market itself was the first fire brigade station in Kuching. The place also was the city's bus terminal. Every single resident must have once in their lifetime step their foot here. This is the place where most of old activities happen. Traders. Customers. Wet goods. Dry goods. Spices. Wooing girls. All happened here. Ships will dock here for trading. Here is also the place where ships were built. Brooke Dockyard situated only a few meters from open air market. Here also the place where used to be Sarawak first and only train started. Behind all the building here, situated a cinema, Cathay. I believe every single young resident ever enter this cinema. I remember, the ticket used to be only 50 cents, front row....hahaha. No 3D.
Moving forward following the traffic flow, there's a row of shophouses, old fashion. This is the famous Gambier Street, where all type of spices and food can easily be found. Spices traders mostly is an Indian Muslim. Hidden behind this shophouses located the oldest mosque in Kuching. We call it as Masjid Tambi. Real name is Masjid Bandar Kuching. One have to look carefully to find this place. On this street used to locate a wet market. But now it was demolished to give way to Kuching waterfront extension. Here also lies one of the first shopping complex. It was named Pasaraya Pertama. Also demolished. Just across the river, one can see clearly Astana where Head of State stays. Used to be James Brooke Palace. Waterfront extension beautifies the city centre of attraction for tourist. We can see tourist scrolling the downtown daily as early as 7 in the morning. This is the place I do my weekend morning walk. I love seeing the river flows relentlessly. It is such a calm feeling. Always dream that one day, I'll have a chance to walk this beautiful place with you someday. Just a walk. No talking. No conversation. Just hold each other hand and walk. ... ok. Enough the bullshit....dreamer.
Further up, right at the end of Gambier Street, you'll find a monument, marks the administration of the town hundred of years ago. We call it as Old Court House. This is where the town Court House used to locate before moved to a new place across the river. This building is the heritage of the city. There was a rumors years ago saying that the government wants to demolished the building but because of objection by the people, the plan was canceled and the building was given a face lift. Now it station the Tourism Board and some restaurants. Opposite the court house, there's a small fort we call it a the Square Tower. A place where prisoners were held before execution during Brookes era. Straight ahead, Main Bazaar. Why main? This is the earliest trading point and one of the busiest place 100 of years ago. The stretch of this Waterfront roads (from Lorong Dock to Leboh Java to Gambier Street and Main Bazaar) was and still a Centre of attraction to Kuching people. Main Bazaar, row of shophouses, now full with souvenir shops. The five foot way is also busy with petty traders activities. Selling "kek lapis" and gambier is the most famous. Kek Lapis (Layered cake) is easily found here with lots of choices. Gambir Sarawak is very famous among tourist, male especially. Most of the usage of this Gambir Sarawak is to stay longer and harder during sex. It can prolong the climax. Try it and I'm sure your partner filled with satisfaction. Careful on tips how to use it. Right at the end of Main Bazaar Street, there's an old temple, the famous Tua Pek Kong. The origin of why all Chinese Temple is called as Topekong by locals.
From here we entering another tourist attraction centre. The great statue of Cats. It welcomes you to the place we call as Golden Triangle. Why? I have no idea. All the 5 stars hotel located in this area and just behind or not far from the place, there's a very famous and historical road, the Padungan Road or famously known as Padungan area. It is actually a commercial area with rows of double stories shophouses. Majority the traders here are Chinese. They have been dominating this area since James Brooke era. Buildings here can be recorded as old as hundred years. What can we found here? Basically everything. I mean everything. You name it, they got it but of course, rare item is not easy to look for. Just before the roudabout, there stands a big white cat statue. The cat that always change its costume following the religious festival all year round. Just across the road, there's a Fire Station. This is where the wet market in Padungan used to be but wad demolished for unknown reason. The monument, clock tower is still there, less it's plaque.
And there you go. I've reach my office. The tall building just next to the roundabout. Going home will be another different route and another different historical adventure of my beloved city.
Adios.
