Try to recognise the familiar faces. I'd also suggest that you take note of the background scenes, where some of the old structures may not be around any more.
Photo 1
(Who can remember what that rock carving is?)
Photo 2
(Peace and Friendship under a Tree)
Photo 3
(Happy Buddies)
Photo 4
(Love the pants, John!)
Photo 5
(Monkeying around on the Bars)
Photo 6
(John showing off his Big Cannon?)
Photo 7
(Resting on a Rock garden?)
Photo 8
(Just swinging around)
Photo 9
(What a stylish pose!)
Wonderful pictures ... wondeful times ... wonderful memories ...
Thanks for the photos, John!
Posts
What precious photos these are! Wah, 38 years ago! John, you should be the curator of the Sarawak Museum. You sure know how to preserve old things.
ReplyDeletePhoto 1-Iban rock carving of a warrior I think, Museum Ground, next to Anglican cemetery.
ReplyDeletePhoto 2-Memorial Fountain infront of Aurora.
Photo 3-On the wooden bridge at Museum Ground.
Photo 4-Resting shed, Museum Ground, background is the aquarium-still there.
Photo 5-Monkey bar, Museum. The white arch in background still stands, building behind gone.
Photo 6-Infront of Museum building, one of the best in SEA back then. John's cannon sure is big man!
Photo 7-Rock garden at Memorial fountain, gov't rest house in background already demolished.
Photo 8-Museum ground swing,gone.Background former Yayasan Building demolished too.
Photo 9-Water Lily pond, Museum ground, pond demolished already.
Above info for those who are far away from Kuching.
Photo 3 might be a different day from the others? I see Cho Jueh with a different shirt.
ReplyDeletePicture 1 shows a mysterious stone carving. I am told this is a reproduction of the rock carving from the original one which was cut on the face of a huge sand stone boulder standing at the edge of the mangrove swamp at Sungai Jaong, near Santubong in the Sarawak River Delta, 28km from Kuching. Sungai Jaong was a trading centre as early as the 11th century.
ReplyDeleteCan you help name your friends, John? They look rather familiar but can't remember their names, except Cho Jueh.
ReplyDeleteWah... stripes pants was in fashion those days.All the boys looking very handsome and sexy....lah.Nobert you remember very well those areas look like you used to frequent those places before...heheheh.
ReplyDeleteJohn you are really good lah keeping all those pictures so well and share with all of us now.
How about the old pictures of your "old girlfriends"? Wanna share with us?...heheheh
There s a very sweet photo of teenage Ben you too, the posting akan datang. Right WJ ?
ReplyDeleteI see Cho Jueh and Lim Soon Huat, I think.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha .. so young, so innocent little guys!
ReplyDeleteAlamak! What amazing photos! How did ya keep them for so long, John! Maybe no rats or white ants in UK ha ? If got, sure chewed to pieces long ago. Like my old text books
ReplyDeleteSo next reunion will be with striped pants. Since WJ 'love' them, I think he's going to sponsor them.
ReplyDeleteNo lah, striped pants are TOO GROOVY for just anyone. You need John to teach you to attain the right groovy level before you can even attempt striped pants. An intermediate step is to practice with your pajama pants first. LOL
ReplyDeleteJohn, in Photo 4 , what's that white thing next to you? It looks like a very public urinal? Sarawak so "open" in those days, kah?
ReplyDeleteMaybe for "pondans" to wash up during their night time activities....hahahahaha
ReplyDeleteHi...ET
ReplyDeleteGood observation, somehow we must have been to the musuem grounds over a few days to have the photos taken. I honestly cannot remember what was the reasons behind that, mind you I remembered we went there on our "ancient" bicycles and during the hot afternoons.
To those who are still unsure who the "models" were in the photos:
In the first photo (left to right)
1. Tan Cho Joey
2. Sim Theng Hui
3. Lim Soon Huat (who sadly had passed away)
It was just fortunate that I still got some of these photos and brought them with me to England, I may have some more back in KCH but unsure of their present conditions AND I do not like to get "rid" of treasures like these.
Striped pants must be in fashion at that time (you can see that 3 out of 4 in the photos wore them), I wonder what Peter Tiong would say to that.
Mentioning of girlfriends?....mmmmmmm. I do not really want to comment on that except that I do fancy many unfortunately they may not know it....lol. You boys will know...Takut lah...to express our love!!....hehehe
To those who regularly visited the musuem or played in the grounds, there must be many stories you can recalled with fond memories. From the "location" of the photos above, I can tell you the "adventures" and fond memories I had during those times. I am sure many of you did similar things as I had done. One very good example and I dare you to admit it too - can you remember one of the wooden native statues in the museum that received the most interest and many of you would have "stroke it". Hahahahaha....know which one I meant?.
ReplyDeleteGerard mentioned previously about the light timer switch that you had to press and the light would come on? - I never missed that too, I always go in there and played with the switch (partly because it was one of the rooms where it had air condition, may be the only room).
Another one: can you remember the huge crocodile kept in the smelly cage just outside the aquarium who always seemed to be sleeping. Inside the aquarium, I remembered there was a huge fish with thick lips and ugly face? I would attract it by rubbing my handkerchief on the glass tank? Did you do that too?
What can you guys recall besides taking girlfriends there....lol or did YOU??
Yes John, I remember which 'interesting' wooden native statue you are refering to. Everyone 'stroke it' until it was very shinny and glossy. Once the 'thing' was broken, someone must have 'karate chop'it but it was glued back. Now, it is covered up with a piece of cloth.
ReplyDeleteThe huge fish with thick lips and ugly face must be the 'kaloi' fish. Not there anymore, must have died due to old age. The huge crocodile already removed, think it was released into the wild.
I for one did not take my girlfriend there John, only walked pass the place.
Time to show Ben's teenage photo now WJ. The one taken with his bicycle, at my old house?
I believe that wooden native statue with a stiff shiny appendage was a fertility symbol.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of things made shiny thru lots of touching, I remember in Angkor Wat (Siem Reap), there were stone carvings of Apsara dancers on many of the walls, and certain parts were also very shiny. Norbert also pointed this out to us. LOL
Did you know that?
ReplyDeleteThere was a "hidding" place (I suppose there must be many and only if you know where they were) for lovers in the night in the museum grounds. This particular one was on a small hill hidden away by a tree and shubbery, overlooking the road downhill leading to St Thomas/St Mary's schools. If you were a regular visitor to the museum grounds, you would know that during the nights, most visitors were soldiers from the army, bringing their partners for romantic strolls or activities. (Apart from the pondans who turn up a bit later in the night). We came across by this hide-out by accident. We were playing quite late into the night and whilst we were in the vicinity, we could hear noises from the shubbery which at time sounded like someone shooing us away as well as trying to scare us. We left eventually to let them get on with whatever they were doing. Hahahaha - things we kids got up to in those days.
You're very right John, the small hill is the highest part of the Museum ground, under the big trees and the soldiers you are refering to are from nearby army camp. You would be quite surprise what you would find around the place the next day!
ReplyDeleteAre you sure the noises you heard sounded like someone shooing you away or trying to scare you all away John? Didn't the noises sounded like something else?
John, Norbert and all, do you still remember the Indian fler selling the best cucur rode (Wa-day), and kacang putih near the aqaurium? He's always with a makeshift table to support his goodies. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteNote: rode should read as ro-day. I just love his roday those days. Any good roday (waday) in Kuching town? Cheers
ReplyDeleteThere's good "cho ro day" at Kenyalang Park shop.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kuching kia for the info.
ReplyDeletejohn lee hi, tidak ada comment. bells was fun then and you all strike a pose. but now it's low hipster skinny pants ...
ReplyDeleteYes Gerard, I remember the Indian guy there. In fact the stall is still there and I think the wife is managing it or was it their mother? It's a bigger stall now so if you have the chance, drop by. Not sure whether they still sell 'ro -day' or not. I'll drop by tomorrow and see.
ReplyDeleteWhere in Kenyalang Park shops can you find 'cho ro day' Kuching Kia? Exact location please.
Well guys, Indian guy still there, stall still there. but yesterday he wasn't selling. I went and ask the attendant at the aquarium and he told me it was his off day. He's NOT selling ro-day anymore, just sweets, candy, drinks, etc, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou know what Gerard? That Indian guy is going to get married soon and he's older than us by 3 years. Don't know whether we are talking about the same man or not.