Balik Kampong (Nov 2017)

This trip back to my hometown was mainly to attend the wedding functions of one of my (late) brother-in-law's sons. I also took the opportunity to catch up with relatives, classmates, and other old acquaintances. A return visit to the Sandakan Rain Forest Discovery Centre was also on my schedule.


9 Nov 2017 - Brunch at Restaurant Sea Food Sim-Sim 88

The day after my arrival, my first appointment was to drop by the Sim-Sim low-cost area for some morning coffee and sea food noodles with my wife and her sisters.

Trying to take a selfie after our orders are delivered

Not that long ago, these belian piles were supporting a portion of the extended floor of the next flourishing and well patronized sea-food restaurant. This portion was apparently deemed illegal and had to be demolished. Notice those old tyres at the bottom of the furthest piles. 

The tide was out and the fishermen bringing in their catches for the day had to anchor their boat some distance from the landing platform of the fish vendor's shop at Catwalk No. 8, Buli Sim-Sim. From there they had to carry their fish to shop.

The fishermen trudging back to their boat after offloading their catches to the vendor.

Perhaps due to the low tide, the egrets and other birds which usually frequent  the proximity of the restaurant were absent today. This little kingfisher had the whole stage to itself.

See the markings on the board? This is my kingly perch.

Like my blue kingly 'gown'?

A side-view of my 'gown'

Ping-pong, anyone? ... before the tide comes in.

11 Nov (A) -- Sandakan Rain Forest Discovery Centre

The planning was to go to this centre as early as possible, as rainy spells were predicted for the later part of the day. However, just before we leave the house, a sudden call was received, informing us that a wedding group photo session was scheduled at 9 a.m. at the Golden Dragon at Indah, and we had to make a diversion to this studio to participate in this event. This activity did not feature in my schedule earlier as I thought that new couple these days tend to forgo this event. Their expensive wedding photo shoots were usually carried out long before the wedding day itself.  (See the next section of this blog.)

At about 10:15 a.m., we finally arrived at the SRFDC. At this 'late' hour, we were not expected to encounter many birds. We had expected a good weekend crowd, but the place looked rather deserted. At the entrance, the only other visitors were a group of Sandakan primary school kids. At the herbal garden, we only bumped into a couple of visitors, mainly foreigners.

I feel that the SRFDC needs to do more promotions to attract local visitors. To begin with, probably they should reduce the current entry fees, which was set at RM 7.00 per head, irrespective of age, and citizenship status. (By contrast, the Lok Kawi Wild Life Reserve in Kinarut offers free entry to all Malaysian senior citizens.)

Here I am, at 10:24 a.m. on 11 Nov 2017

A group of students heading for the Gazebo shed to view the displays

May be we should open this capsule in 2016

In the absence of activities, the calm water in the lake produces wonderful mirrored images

During my earlier visits, this "jetty" was a hive of activities. Now the various boats and other pleasure vessels seem to be stored high and dry, somewhere on the bank.

A group of visitors taking their selfie photos on the cable bridge across this lake.

Some flora and fauna shots

Close-up of bamboo branches emerging from one of the nodes

Busy bees

Dutiful ants

Nature working in harmony

Wild fruits on vines twining round an old tree trunk.

It's a terrific idea to have these benches where one can sit to rest or to contemplate

Orang utan sighting

Who is watching who?

Dare to arm-wrest with me?

Glad to see this cafe (the only one?) where we visitors can recharge themselves after all the "jungle" walking

As there were no other patrons in the Keruing Cafe, it's a good time for me to practise selfie shooting.

What a great atmosphere to sit down, relax and sip my coffee before leaving the Centre.

 11 November (B) - The Wedding Functions

➧Photo Session at Indah Commercial Area

I do not expect this activity as most young couple generally choose not to have group photos at a professional studio with family and friends. The last wedding group photos in a studio I participated in was in Dec 2003, nearly 14 years ago.

The wedding invitation

The Bride and Groom have just arrived

For the next half an hour or so the photographer (in white singlet) will have a tough time trying to position all the relatives and guests into the picture.

It's time for the Bride and Groom to take up their seats

It's about time that I, too, should join in

Watching the photographer and his assistant doing their orchestration

Putting in the final touches

Our participation has ended. We are now ready to leave for the next destination: The Sandakan Rain Forest Discovery Centre. (See the foregoing section.)




➧Wedding Dinner at Equatorial Sea Food Restaurant

I am always wary about attending dinner functions at this restaurant off Jalan Leila, especially since the last kidnapping by insurgents from the neighbouring country some years back. (That incident took place at a major restaurant by the sea a few kilometers down this same main road.) There are always refugee kids and teenagers loitering in the vicinity of the venue in the evening. It tends to give patrons an uneasy feeling. Nevertheless, it is the best restaurant for such functions in Sandakan. The visible deployment of a large number of security guards that night did give one a sense of added security.

The Bride and Groom welcoming guests just outside the main entrance to the Banquet Hall

 

The Dinner Menu

The newly wed about to make their entrance

Posing with Mr. Tan and his wife, who are seated in the same table. Mr. Tan was a scout with the Chinese Middle School Sandakan when I was the ADC Sandakan (c.1970). Further back, our families were close neighbours along Singapore Road. 

Others on the same table include my wife and her sisters.

On another table is my St. Mary's School classmate Mr. Tang Kwang Teo and his family. I have not seen since a class reunion function some years back. It's good to catch up with him again.  Through marriages, we have become members of an extended family. 

 Catching up with relatives, classmates and friends

 ➧ 9 November

Lunch session with David (L) and Lawrence (C) at Cafe G-Burger in Prima Square. We were all ex-St. Mary's (2nd Sandakan) scouts. David was also my football mate in Hotspur Football Club, Sandakan.

➧ 10 November

Arranged to have mid morning tea with brother John and Virginia at the Futsal Food Court. However, due to sudden, very heavy rain, the tea session was extended to the lunch hour

While at the Futsal Food Court, I also chanced upon my Ming Sing Chinese Primary School classmate Tan Sri Lau (Centre) and his wife(red). We both graduated from this school in 1954, 63 years ago. 

➧ 13 November

Thanks to Fung Ket Wing, I was able to meet some of my St. Mary's School classmates for dinner and an evening of pleasant chatting at the Kenalan-mu Seafood Restaurant at Mile 5. (The restaurant seem to be known as the Kerana-mu Restaurant also, as signs at different part of the restaurant indicate.)  

(L-R) Stella Koh, Frederick Chu and wife, Lam Ying Fan

F. Chu, Lam YF, Alex Koh and Fung Yew Ling

Fung YL, A. Koh, Phua Kiok Nyee and Fung Ket Wing

A last shot, to get myself into the picture

Miscellaneous Down-Memory-Photo Shoots

As I was taking my evening walk in the Prima Square Commercial Area on the day indicated on the photo, I came across this inspiring cloud play.

The four photos below were taken from the pedestrian catwalk over the North and Labuk Road just outside the Kim Fung Commercial Centre. It is always interesting to see what has become of this initially 2-lane main trunk road.

Looking in the direction of Sandakan Town Centre

Also shot in the same direction as the foregoing pix, with me in the foreground.

Looking towards the Labuk direction, this section is much greener. The next major urban centres (Indah &c) are still some distance away.

It is a wonder that one can still see patches of greenery from this overhead catwalk. Half a century back, this would be a common scene when we roamed this area care-freely.

My wife and I decided on 14 Nov to have breakfast at the Karamunting market, a stone's throw from the Nam Tung Commercial Centre. The stall owners were mostly those relocated from the Tanah Merah market after the local authority closed down the facilities in Tanah Merah. (The market site is several km from Kg. Karamunting and it is a mystery why this market is so named!)

Unfortunately, we were out of luck as the food stalls were closed for cleaning, So, we just roamed and took a few shots before embarking on another venue for breakfast. 

Early morning scene, Sea Front near Karamunting Market, Sandakan

 

Father and son, about to begin their daily activities

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