Some Changes in Kuching

Its good to be back for the long holidays. This is the time to catch up with the latest among relatives, meeting new members in the family, seeing nephews and nieces getting a year older, meeting old friends from the schooling days, getting to taste local food which brings back good feelings and memories. Kuching seems a little more bigger in scale in this return. From the little travelling done, plying on common routes familiar to me since young, some notable changes were evident. New roads around town even made it seems foreign and would question if a GPS would be needed. Yet, the charm and warm Kuching-ish feeling never fade away.

Ok, a little exageration there especially the GPS part. As if I have left Kuching for many years. But trully, the little changes here and there are quite evident.

The road from Tabuan Jaya to Kota Samarahan has been widened into a 4 lane carriageway. Now, it is an ease to for Samarahan dwellers to commute to Kuching, forgetting about the unforgiving jam they have to endure in the morning for work and in the evening after work.

The Semariang roads too has been widened into a 4 lane carriageway. In a sense of relieve, I know some of my buddies from Semariang will not have to leave home early in the morning at 6 to reach SGH by 8am.

There is a new shorter route from the airport to Samarahan. Thus, one does not need to travel via BDC, bypassing the jam in that area plus saving up on fuel. I have not personally tried that route yet, but I think that road is not open yet as barricades were still in place. If thats the correct road that I saw and think it was.

There is a new main road that connects the airport to 4th Mile. In the past, there used to be a junction which is prone to jam and danger. Motorists from 7th Mile and those coming from the direction of the airport need to negotiate at this junction as both are crossing into each others path. The 2 lane road leading to the 7th mile is still there, passing through the Penrisen Camp, which is less congested now (due to the holidays?).

The waterfront has been slightly extended to the old poultry market, which is near the entrance to the India Street walk. That area is now jam free. Just for note, the people who used to sell in the market has been shifted to the new Stutong Market. In those days, Gambier Street were filled with a hive of business activities, as it was a meeting point in another. Outstation folks and Kuchingites came here to get  their spices and do their shopping before the days of Electra House, Wisma Saberkas, The Spring, Kuching Plaza etc. It was the main taxi point and and bus station to get around town and beyond Kuching. I used to go there to get my earthworm as fishing baits.

These are some of my observations on Kuching City. Hopefully I can supplement it with pictures in the future as a record.

Merdeka.... 53rd!

More than half a century already it has been.

Some where in Kay Bee...

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A group of youngsters on bmx and mountain bicycles with the Jalur Gemilang attached to it were making their merdeka rounds. Slipshod riding, care less of the traffic and rowdy, this is accident waiting to happen.

Wonder if their parents knew about their whereabouts?

Wonder of they knew the true meaning of merdeka? or just for the sake of fun?

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The final 10 nights of blessed nights of ramadan.... hurry! we can! its now or never.

garble garble... burp..

tuut tuut..... tuut tuut....

hello, good evening.. bretnosson nerhorthel, reshhapeson brrrrrr..ter...how may I assist you?

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What in the world is this German doing working at the counter of a 5 star hotel in Kay Bee? Or is this a navajo code awaiting to be deciphered?



Even the Germans speak slowly with crisp clarity.

meletup...kepala atas pokok...

mercun meletop..

budak 6 tahun mati..kepala putus..naik atas pokok.

adik mati dlm perjalanan.

rumah jiran bergegar akibat letupan mercun modified tersebut.

Ayah..penjual mercun.

kreatif budak zaman ini. Takziah kepada keluarga berkenaan.

Late UPDATE: 26/8/2006
Above was the description by the victim's neighbour who was working in the same place. The unfolding news the days after the event differed slightly from the above. It can be read here from the Star. Condolences to the family.

More news of youngsters mutilated by modified fireworks began to appear in the local newspapers after the above incident. Nobody seems to deterred by the dire consequences it could bring. Worst, the fathers are setting the examples on how to create the mother of all blast. Children will quickly learn. Before too long, making home made fireworks will become the tradition in the family.

If played according to the "Standard Operating Procedure", these fireworks should be low risk. Banning fireworks serves to prevent the "unlicensed bomb expert" to create their own deafening bombs.

If only such overflowing creative juices be put to good use.

Excuse me Mr Wall...

At the counter of one goverment agency reads "tempat bertanya"..

2 officers were there, one male and the other female. Both had computer screen in front of them. Both had their eyes glued to the screen. Engrossed.

Goor morning! Salam..

"..."

Asslamualaikum..

" ..." Eyeballs turn to look.. body posture, still the same, facing the screen.Something urgent it must be, on the screen.

Suddenly, a small whisper.."waalaikumsalam..",, Great...! A descent reply at last.

Can you please tell me where XXX office is? I need to see him..

1 second, 2, 3 .........15.. silence. Again, eyes glued on the screen. Wonder what could be so important in the computer at 810am, for a public relation's officer at the "information counter"?

Then,... a final tap to the "enter" button..

"Yes sir, what can I do for you?".... blistering barnacles...!

Patiently enough... Can you please tell me where XXX office is? I have an appoinment with him..
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Before leaving the waiting counter.. a peep at the screen... no wonder there was some delay in replying to me, a client at this gomen agency.... The FB has turn them into a wall. Please, rakyat diutamakan, not FB diutamakan!