Monday, March 2, 2009

Kuching A to Z (Part 3)

Here's the list of "D" and "E" items people associate with Kuching. From your contributions, it seemed like there were quite a number of "D"s and very few "E"s ...

D
Diana Ho, an elegant and eloquent GP teacher at St Joseph's in the 70's, who obviously had a lifelong impact on some of our form mates. We're not sure where she is now. Ms Ho, if you happen to be reading this, you'll be happy to know that you're well loved and remembered.
.
Durian & Duku (Langsat), very popular fruits then and now. 'Nuff said.
.
Datuk - the honourific title bestowed on those who have made significant contributions to the state. As far as I know, two of our form mates have gotten theirs - warm congrats to Datuk Justine Jinggut, a senior political leader of SNAP and Datuk Firdaus Bujang / Anthony Macpherson, CEO of New Straits Times !
.
Dewan Undangan Negeri (D.U.N.) - that huge building that's being built overlooking the Sarawak River, and will serve as the state assembly when completed. Personally I think its location destroys the calm serenity of the river scene. Any architects in our group would like to comment on the design?
.
MV Doulos - a ship (I believe one of a number of ships, another called MV Logos) run by a charitable group which sails around and stops at different ports in our region, selling books and doing social work. The Logos & Doulos (and maybe some other vessel which I might have forgotten) visited Kuching a few times during our secondary school days. I'm not too sure about the details of their social work, but I do remember they carried a lot of interesting books that we couldn't find in Kuching (at that time anyway).

E


Electra House was Kuching's very first "shopping mall" - long before Kuching Plaza, Sarawak Plaza, Boulevard and Spring were even conceived. It was built on (naturally) Jalan Power in the late 60s (I think) and housed the SESCO main office. A bit run-down these days, but still sees a lot of human traffic because of its very central location. Back when we were in school, we probably spent quite a bit of time there. I was very familiar with an Indian bookshop on the top floor.
(photo contributed by Leonard Sia)
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Escalators - I remember the time when the first escalators in Kuching were installed in Kuching Plaza. Many families went there just to have a look at it, and hesitatingly try it out. Up, down, up, down ... went many, and not just the children. Invariably, there were the few little mishaps, like some kid falling off or someone getting their pants caught in the moving parts of the escalator. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

.
Well, guys & gals, that's all for this part. I invite you to start suggesting the "F", "G" and "H" of Kuching ...

35 comments:

  1. F for Fata Hotel
    G for Grand Margherita (formerly Holiday Inn Kuching)
    H for Hilton Hotel

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  2. How many people remember or know that, at one time, there was a nice airconditioned chinese restaurant at the top of Elektra House. After dining there, we used to come out onto the balcony and look out over the open air market and across at the Sarawak River - remember, there was not many tall buildings around at that time. I cannot remember the name of that restaurant now but I recall that I enjoyed eating there.

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  3. 'D' DUN building - the DUN is a waste of public funds. Costing over RM300M to destroy 'the calm serenity of the river scene'.

    The govt says they have no money to build the Lanang bridge that costs RM180M. Hence, it was given to the private sector who build it, and allowed to collect the tolls charges.

    Imagine, not spending RM180M for a project that is used daily by thousand BUT having over RM300M to spend building this DUN building that will be used by just 71 DUN members and only for a few days a year.

    I rest my case.

    PS - hope I do not upset any quarters here with my comments and understand it perfectly well if Website Jaga exercises his discretion to censor this comments.
    Cheers.

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  4. George Lo - no, we never knew about the nice chinese restaurant on top of Elektra House, cos you never invited us for dinner there, lah!

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  5. Nah, no censorship needed. I think this is a common view in coffeshop conversations.

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  6. I was in Primary school when I went there,lah. Too young and too poor to 'belanja'. It closed by the time I reached secondary school, I think.

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  7. Electra House - so namedbecause it was than own (or is it still) by SESCO. From the word 'electric' I guess. Also the 'power' from Jalan Power.
    And thanks for the photo credit which should actually go to you know who. Someone from St. Mary's. Haha.
    Leonard

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  8. D:
    Dewan Masyrakat@ Jubilee Hall, where live bands and rock concert used to be held..Had great times dancing & minum sikit lah...

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  9. Waaa, got picture of Miss Ho alredy !

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  10. Old pic of Ms. Ho (Mdm. Ho it should be now). But serves the purpose best. Its been over 30 years on, hmmm.... how does she look like now? though I am sure her reatin her elegance but still, it may comes as a shock to some if we see her now, so it is best that we keep that pleasant school-day image of her in our memories.

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  11. James, I have to take issue with 'elegant and eloquent'. The original comment from Anonymous was [quote] 'Ms.Diana Ho, the gorgeous and sexy Form Six GP teacher with the intoxicating smile and voice.'

    Exercising some editorial licence now, are we? ;-)

    If Ms Ho were reading this now, I think she would not mind being remembered as that gorgeous and sexy teacher with an intoxicating smile. Hey, how many teachers get that description, huh?

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  12. Ahhh, I see I've been caught by the trained legal eye. I plead guilty as charged, your honour. Just trying to tone it down a little for the "family audience", George :-)

    Anyway, you've said it all ... and twice to boot.

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  13. I am given to understand that 'the gorgeous and sexy Form Six GP teacher with the intoxicating smile and voice' & 'elegant and eloquent' teacher that is Ms. Ho is now in UK. Married of course. I am sure that we will come up with something and get in touch with her sooner or later. I lay my $$$ on sooner though.

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  14. Anybody remember this other popular female teacher named Lucy Lau? I think she was a temp teacher in 1973 or 74.

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  15. Lucy Lao is married to Gerald Read. She's an accountant. Often seen at the Sarawak Club. Still very slim and tall. She was our art teacher after she finished her Form 6, if I am not mistaken. And yes, she was popular too, as I recall. I will send her the link and warmest regards from the boys of '76. :-)

    Btw, Anthony Goh our former PE teacher is now at Lodge School. My son, Nigel, is in Form 5 [as I was 33 years ago] and he is teaching my son PE. The clock has turned one full generation. Anthony is still looking good.

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  16. I remember Gerald Read. I believe he had a brother in our cohort named Joseph Read.

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  17. H for Hornbill, that bird that's supposed to be national bird of Sarawak, but I have only seen one time in my life, and in a foreign zoo. Maybe it's already extinct

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  18. H for HORSE RACING. Not so common now I think but once the Sarawak Turf Club was a very popular and important venue for races. I remember attending a few when I was in Primary School. Anyone still involved in horse racing ?

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  19. heeyy boys, Lao should come under L , ha ha!

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  20. G for Gambier Road, where the poultry & wet markets used to be. Now most of them have been moved away.

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  21. Ooooo... did you change Diana's pic? This one seems clearer and better...

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  22. What can I say ... this website is committed to quality.

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  23. H for Cikgu Hol, our long-suffering BM teacher
    who had the unenviable task of teaching a subject of no significance whatsoever to us and thus endured our inattention and pranks with his perpetual sad smile.

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  24. Yes, Cikgu Hol. Long suffering I agree being bullied by us students.
    And we extended this torment of his after our school days.
    You see, there was a group of us '78 jokers who decided to enrol in BM classes for adults a few years later. And guess who was the teacher? Yes, you guessed it right, it was Cikgu Hol... xxx

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  25. cikgu hol? is he the same as cikgu bujang?remind me if i'm thinking of the same person.

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  26. ysterday i heard on the radio a very old song "Feelings". Do you remember the song? During the time we were at St Joe secondary school, it was so opular . Almost evey singer on every TV show would try to sing it.

    Therefore i propose: F for Feelings.

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  27. No, Cikgu Hol is not the same as Cikgu Bujang.
    He taught Form Five BM whereas Cikgu Bujang
    taught Form Three at that time.BTW, any news
    about him?

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  28. i remember now. Cikgu Hol was the more quiet chap. Cikgu Bujang was louder & always talked about football.

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  29. My wife just took a trip down memory lane and had kantong and angtau peng at the little canteen next to jubilee ground. You all remember the place which we used to go particularly during sports day? She says the guy's name is Ah Yau - I can't remember, to be honest.

    Kantong is not sold nowadays, but the boss lady there will specially make one for the old folks who want to remember what it was like to suck on the ball of shaved ice with the multi-flavoured syrup. Used to cost 20 sen in our days.

    Bring your kids and let them taste what it was like in the good ol' days - gives the Starbucks frapeccino a good run for its money, I reckon ... LOL.

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  30. there you go ... K for Kantong :-)

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  31. Its time for A-Z Part 4, James?

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  32. F for FUN FAIR. Do you remember when we were in primary school or maybe form 1 or 2, there was a school fun fair almost every year? It was done in area behind old Catholic Centre and near St Mike's. i remember the game stalls - hoopla, fishing (for packet gift), horse racing, shooting balloon, throw ping pong ball into cups, dart and mnay other game.there was DJ playing music. i still remember a very popular song "Congratulation" by Cliff Richard that gets played over and over. Fun fun days.

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  33. Sinos said:

    On my recent trip back to KCH, I had some goo bak mee and ang tau peng/cendol at the old open-air market, walked around the Electra House and noted that the bomba watch tower was built in AD 1927 !!!...

    It look all so different now when we saw it at our younger days.. Love Live Kuching !!

    Cheers..

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  34. No wonder u were quiet for so long ,Sinos. U balik kampung and makan and relax, while we all just look at the pictures on this site and drool

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  35. I came across Ms Diana Ho recently in London and yes, she is as elegant and beautiful as we all remember her. Married though, as stated in previous comments. Good to see so many boys have such wonderful memories of her.

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