the gone landmark of Kampar

Photo taken on 21/10/2012 at 5.33pm.

This is the 'after' photo of the fire in Kampar. You can see the difference in the 'before' photo at the post below or here http://oh-chineng.blogspot.com/2012/10/heritage-row-in-kampar-burnt-down.html

Glad to be back to Kampar and capture this. 

Heritage row in Kampar burnt down

This photo was taken on 18/1/2011

To those Kamparians and UTARians, I’m sure you know where this place is. I just want to let you all know that this row of shops/houses in Old Town, Kampar has destroyed due to the fire that broke out on Monday morning/Sunday midnight.

My heart crashed into pieces when I heard the news. I have fond memories of that place. This is the oldest row of wooden shops/houses that is still around in Kampar. It’s older than the pre-war houses at the surroundings. It’s a historical place. The tin miners used to stay here too.

Do you know that the film “Kinta”, if you jeard of it, was filmed here?

I’m still sad with the loss. I just love that place because of the feel. I have lots of good memories in Kampar and that row of shops/houses. I remember there were bicycle shops, kopitiams, grocery shops, a fresh vegetarian shop and some residences.

The structures are testament of older generation that still living in the developing Kampar. Every morning you’ll see market goers and senior citizens dropping by this place, have a sip of coffee, hang out and chit chats with their friends.  

I haven’t captured and documented the shops in details. I guess I don’t have the chance anymore now.

But at least I had conversations with the people living or making business in the units. And I have the senior citizens’ photos are in my Ah Kong Ah Ma album too. =p

If my memory does not disappoint me, there was a talk in year 2010 that the row of shops/houses and other rows of houses at the back will be taken back by the land owner for development puposes. The other rows have been demolished in 2011. But I’m not sure why this particular row remained until today.

I’m humbly glad that I’ve captured this place in panorama. At least we know how it used to looks like before.

The structures may be gone, but the stories, souls and spirits live on.

When I’m back to Kampar this Saturday, I’ll go there and have my last documentation of it. 

*You can read the news of the fire here http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/15/nation/20121015112007&sec=nation *

This is one of the photo I took at that place.

ahhh July 20 in Penang

"Sbaek Thom" Khmer Puppet Theatre

Photo 1

Photo was taken on July 7 at Khoo Kongsi during Live Heritage event to celebrate the 4th anniversary of George Town's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing on July 7, 2008.

kuala lumpur

Photo taken at 10.36am 4/7/2012

dusk

Photo taken at Market Street, Penang. 

cloudy Sunday

Photo taken at 12.51pm on Sunday 15/4/12 at Cannon Street, Penang.

Lim Jetty panorama

eh eh i got NICE photo to show.

But not here la. hehehe.

Because the photo is too long ma.

Click the link below to see ya. tq. =p

http://oce-thephotojournalist.blogspot.com/2012/04/lim-jetty-panorama.html

Magazine Circus, George Town, Penang

Magazine Circus? Ever wonder what is that? Before that, have you ever heard of it? I only knew about it when I was in high school. That time I was helping out with Penang Heritage Trust and involved with Anak-Anak Kota.

I just posted a panorama shot of Magazine Circus at my second blog  http://oce-thephotojournalist.blogspot.com/2012/02/magazine-circus-george-town-penang.html

Click at the link to view the photo and to read on what is it all about. =p

my first watermarked photo!

Finally.. finally! Oh yes finally after being nagged so long by caring friends to have my own watermark to protect my photos from being used without permission and without proper credits, today I made my own watermark. wohooo sexy!

Ayooo creating n putting a watermark is really hard when you are not good in technology. So mahuan.  But what is not hard when you start learning them, right?

Now I know how to put a watermark. And jeng jeng jeng let me show off a bit my first photo with my simple watermark and it’s a panorama shot! How? Comment a bit, not on the photo, but the watermark. Er.. like that lo. Nothing special also..

It took me at least 30 minutes just to learn and put that GREAT watermark ok!

Aiyah this blog’s design is too small for my panorama shot la. Click at this link to view it bigger lah. http://oce-thephotojournalist.blogspot.com/2012/02/panorama-first-watermark.html

Yes OCE is proud of himself cuz he made it by his own effort. Aih.. you know, if you really want something, it’s really possible to get it if you put your heart into what you are doing.

Haih.. so now I have to watermark all the good photos before I post it online ah? Aiyah.. Someone help me do la…

*NOW YOU ARE YOU GOING TO STEAL THIS PHOTO? eh u can take away the watermark ka??*

unhappy with Penang government!

Penang Municipal Council aka Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP), wat the heck is goin on with u. Or shud i say wat the fark is it with the state gov? y ar all the good unharmful trees n shades r gone. u mana sakit with sampai mau cabut n tebang pokok yg sihat?! u say wana make Penang green? oh come on.. Penang is so BOTAK nw! besides the heritage buildings r demolished! some don't even hv the license n permit to carry out certain renovation job that will destroy the elements of heritage on their house bt dey still do so. n what action hv u taken? stop order?? pls dun do drama so much la. at the end of the day, Penang is being destroyed slowly day by day. CAT government.. aih..

simple to be happy

 Oh yes I am happy today. Sometimes it’s just so easy to be happy.

I realized I am that kind of people that easily feel satisfied and contented.

What’s so happy about today?

Happiness is when Nathan slept on my bed last night soundly and we missed the concert by Olivia Ong.

Happiness is when I brought Nathan to the hidden delicious Curry Mee in Air Itam where only local know where it is.

Happiness is when I saw the Curry Mee aunties are still around and they smiled at me.

Happiness is when I got to know that my loved one is called for an interview at The Star.

Happiness is when I bargained kao-kao and bought antiques aka unwanted items aka rubbish cheap-cheap at Armenian Street ‘thieves’ market. 

Happiness is when I got updates from Pei Suang.

Happiness is when I got to know that Ai Loon is now working in a newspaper company in Penang! Wohooo!

Now I know why I pokai – food, books, travel, antiques.

*isn't it simple to be happy*

oh, Penang state government..

OIK Penang government and municipal council!! U want to develop Penang but keep on demolishing old buildings. Tell me how many heritage buildings have you demolished? Don't talk about buffer zone or whatsoever zone. Whatever old but still functional and preservable buildings shud be protected and not to be sold to developers.

Development is not about more buildings or more highways, but the wellness of its people. It's useless if u have Grade A1 facilities or buildings but Grade F9 citizen and income!! i am so farking pissed off that some buildings are demolished again this week. And in few days time, some trees will be chopped off to widen the roads. Widen the roads can never ease traffic congestion la oik..
My Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, I hope u heard me. I think you do.

You often talk about transparency but you are not transparent enough! Sorry, but i dare the authority to make it public the buildings that they plan to demolish so that the public and NGOs are aware of it. Isn't this part of democracy where the people are consulted and their views taken into account? More citizen participation please.

i hate it and couldn't stand the fact that heritage buildings, nature, people, cultural and the source of income of people being sacrificed in the name of development. Penang pls don't do whatever you like.

TOlong la.. My beloved chief minister, don't forget to listen to the voice of your people.

Development is not destruction or devastation..

Jalan Sultan shophouss will not be demolished!!

Don’t you feel happy by just reading at the title??

I am happy!

Finally an assurance is given by the government. I hope they keep their words.

Last month, a government agency, SPAD said it won’t be demolished. But it’s just an agency, they don’t have much say. Read this http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/8/nation/20110908204912&sec=nation

But today the good news came from a minister. The good news can be read here from The Star.

Jln Sultan shophouses won't be demolished for MRT, Govt assures http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/13/nation/20111013185045&sec=nation

Alternative MRT route looked at to save KL heritage buildings http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/22/nation/20110922183224&sec=nation

So  betul ya?? sure ya?? BN, u wont say different things if u won the next generl election right??

My Prime Minister, Najib Razak u noe abt this, don't you??

Don't demolished la k.. tak baik roboh bangunan lama yang masih elok.

Dengarlah cakap, baru orang vote sama  lu. Heheh. =p

Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association

hehehe sorry there's nothing here. please click on the link below to read and see the photo of the building. =p

http://oce-thephotojournalist.blogspot.com/2011/08/yan-keng-benevolent-dramatic.html 

Survey to decide fate of infamous cobblestone road

Penangites, a good news for us. Finally the road is going to be tarred. Say thank you to the current state government by Lim Guan Eng. Only moron designers, architects and government can come up with the idea to put cobblestone on the road. Zzz.. They thought bapak dia olang mia jalan. Hotak letak kat lutut, maybe atas jalan kot. wahahah!

read the news from The Star below.. 

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THE cobblestone road along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling in George Town may soon be removed and replaced with conventional tar surface.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Muncipal Council (MPPP) had received numerous complaints from road users on the cobblestone road since it was resurfaced in 2006.

He said the rough surface made driving uncomfortable while tyres wore out faster, especially for motorcycles and trishaws.

“It is also slippery when wet thus making it potentially dangerous,” he said, adding the council would conduct a week-long survey from now until Aug 23 to get the people’s feedback.

Chow said the input would be taken into account before any decision could be made.

He said work on the project, estimated at more than RM100,000, could start in about three months if it was approved.

Speaking to newsmen during a press conference on Monday, he said the cobblestones would be reused to cover the surface of a car park at the Penang Municipal Park.

“As for the concrete imprints, which also formed part of the road, they will be left untouched,” he said.

Survey forms will be distributed to residents and commercial operators along the road.

The public can also voice their opinion by calling Rohayu or Anne Loh from the council at 04-2592200 or email to mdrahizan@mppp.gov.my before Aug 23.

The survey form can also be filled online at the council website, www.mppp.gov.my.

Pensioner Lawrence Rajoo, 64, who was among the first to take part in the survey, said it was a good idea to replace the road surface.

“The rough surface of the cobblestones makes riding uncomfortable,” said Rajoo, who travels around on his motorcycle.

Shopkeeper Phoon Ah Hoe said the project would encourage more people, especially motorists, to come to the area.

“I have seen motorcyclists skidding and falling on the ground on rainy days when the road is slippery,” said the 64-year-old.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/8/16/north/9304949&sec=North

Panorama of Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur

Do you guys know that some century-old shophouses in Kuala Lumpur will be demolished? Slowly Kuala Lumpur will turn into a full concrete jungle.

I feel sad actually.

I went to Jalan Sultan today and to explore the place.

To know more and to see the panorama shot, go to:

http://oce-thephotojournalist.blogspot.com/2011/08/jalan-sultan-kuala-lumpur-malaysia.html

YOU are quoted

"You people should know where you people come from."

~ Mr. Chye Kooi Leong
~ Historian from Kampar
~ 22/2/2011

got money, cannot bank in!

Aih..

Speechless la..

3 bad things just happened. But okla got 1 good thing. Hehe.

You see. I received a RM50 cheque from The Star in January and I forgot to bank in. I misplaced it. Yesterday I found it. So I went to CIMB bank to bank in the cheque. CANNOT!! Why? Because a cheque can only be bank in within six months. The cheque now is called DULL CHEQUE. Die lo.. I have to call The Star HQ in KL to request for a new one. If la they will issue me a new one.

Ok second story. I took photos for a painter and I got some pocket money from it. So I went to RHB Bank to bank in my money. Spent 5mins at the two Cash Deposit machines!! CANNOT! It says TRANSACTION REJECTION! Arrghhhh! Why?? After some checking, the banker said it’s because I didn’t touch my account for more than a year already. It has become DORMANT ACCOUNT. Arrrghh! You see la, now I have some pocket money, I wana save and bank in but CANNOT!

So fine. I have to activate it again. I gave my IC for verification. and guess what. The IC reader CANNOT READ my IC. The chip is SPOILED! Walaueh.. and I need to apply for a new IC in order to activate my account.

What is this la.. yennadei.. but hahah luckily something made it up for me. Ever since 2006 I have tracking and documenting old road name signs in PEnang. Riad name signs or street signs are part of the streetscape of a city. It’s part of heritage as well. I’ve found a lot of these. And as far as I know, no one ever document it before. So im kinda proud of it la. Hehehe. Anyway I was so shocked when I found a one today. And im more surprised because I never expect there is such kind of street sign and it’s still there today. The name on the sign is Prangin Road in the developed and modern KOMTAR enclave. This is history man.

Wohooo.

old people #30

24/12/2009 8.17pm Little India, Penang

An Ottu Kedai's owner sitting and sipping away his cigarrette while waiting for customers.