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.
