Views of Kuching waterfront

Living Crafts

There is a tiny lane by the side of Carpenter Street in Kuching where I took these pictures today. Carpenter Street runs parallel to the Kuching Waterfront. Two subjects that drew my attention was a Chinese craftsman who seemed very adept in the art of making hardware items that has been mastered over generations. Along this narrow lane called 'Bishop's Gate' there is a small colony of these artisans who are still carrying out the age old tin smiting business. The early Chinese artisans who have honed their skills using tin have upgraded themselves through years of practise to newer materials like mild galvanised sheets and more recently thin stainless steel sheets. When I asked one of them ( pix above) how long he has been in the business, he told me in no uncertain terms " Fifty Years". Judging by his skillful hands ,deep concentration and precise execution I have no doubt that that he really talked the walk and walked the talk.
Further down the 'Bishop's Gate' lane a wall of paintings crowded the narrow five-foot way. Paintings by local artists were displayed for sale. By the look of it , the spirit of commerce is thriving well on Bishop's Gate lane. It's interesting to see how local artists have risen to the occasion too by demonstrating their talents in support of the growing tourism business around the Kuching Waterfront area.

Spinning Tops

Yesterday I came across a show and performance of spinning tops at the Kuching Waterfront's amphitheatre area. Most of the spinning tops were from the various ethnic groups of Malaysia. At the centre of the picture is one that is still spinning on a chair. A Kelantanese spinning top called a 'gasing' can spin for as long as two and a half hours.

Cobbler at Work

Daring the hot sun, this cobbler worked intently on a lady's shoe by the sidewalk along Main Bazaar Road, Kuching.

Street of Spices

Shopping for spices is made easy in Kuching. At Gambier Street are found many spices shops that are operated by Indian Muslims. Here spices from all over the world are sold in small outlets that encroached onto 5-footways and sidewalks. The place is bustling everyday and must have been like this in the early 19th century when 'gambier' a shrub widely cultivated in Sarawak was traded here for its extract used in dyeing and tanning of leather,hence its name 'Gambier Street'. Close up of a shop fully stocked with spices and related ingredients for making spicy dishes like curry.

Singing for your heart

Sometimes you come across this handicapped musician on the sidewalk of Satok, Kuching. With a rich repertoire of local Malaysian songs he attracts passers by who take kindly to his public performance by throwing in coins or notes into the donation box. It baffles me how he can manipulate the buttons and controls of the digital keyboard . Well, I guess practice does makes things perfect. 

Ethnic design on Sarawak pavement

This is a view of the designs on the pavement at the Kuching waterfront area. This is typical of native designs of Sarawak. A similar design is shown below which I took from a gallery of native designs at the Square Tower which I mentioned in my recent postings here.

The above design is drawn by the famous native designer named Tusau Padan ( 1930-1996) on bark cloth. Typical of such designs, the motifs are mainly floral, dragon-dog designs, lizards, birds or human figures. Anyway it is interesting to note that these designs have a certain harmony interwined in them. Though they seem asymmetrical at times but in the end appear balanced. Even on the pavement the designs seem to grow from spiral upon spiral, branch out of branch. In the end there are no missing links only a natural flow.

Night scenes in Kuching

I sent my daughter off to Kuala Lumpur this evening after spending her Hari Raya holiday here.
What surprises me was the long cues of passengers checking in at the low budget carrier counters. I imagine there will be more cues in future as more people are opting to travel the cheaper alternative in view of rising costs of living, inflation and more point to point travel. I understand beginning of next month there will be more direct flights to and from Singapore utilising Malaysian as well as Singaporean low budget carriers from Kuching. Presently there are direct flights from Kuching to Jakarta ( thrice weekly), Penang,Johore Baharu and Kuala Lumpur by the local budget carrier, Air Asia.


Then on the way back from the airport me and my Mrs stopped for 'Roti Canai' which is equivalent to a pancake at a corner restaurant. But surprise! there is an outside extension to the restaurant just across the road where customers can watch TV projected on a big screen and under a canopy just in case it rains.

Gambier Street sellers

Walking through the shopping area at Gambier Street (Kuching city), I noticed the shopkeepers have no qualsms about displaying their wares right to the very edge of the '5 foot way' here called 'kaki lima'.

A unique way of displaying and storing her goods. Never knew that a wheelbarrow can be used to sell canned or bottled drinks. In this case it would be easy for her to move places .

Selling on Kuching sidewalks

The King of Fruits, the durian is back in town.  Here at Mile 7 town ( formerly) and now renamed Kota Sentosa a trader pitch up camp temporarily by the sidewalk to sell his collection of durians. People gather quickly to check out the quality of the fruits, where they come from, the price obviously and perhaps to try their skill in selecting the best fruits to buy. In the case of the durian you cannot tell the book by its cover. They may look pretty outside but once opened  may reveal flesh that are unripe, stale, bitter or plain rotten. Ah, and that's why you just have to trust your skill.

A little distance from the durian's crowd I saw this assortment of artificial flowers made from plastic that overflowed from the shop into the sidewalks.  Mile 7 town is about 7 miles from Kuching city and even though considered small I find the business activity here very buzzling due the presence of five army camps that are spaced out from Mile 6 to Mile 11.  Mile 7 becomes the center of shopping for the army personnels and their family members. The army camps are the main economic generators for the Mile 7 township.