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| Friday, 6-Apr-2007 18:00 |
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SELINGAN : Lewat Petang di Kota Bharu
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Lewat Petang Di Kota Bharu ~
* Masjid Muhammadi, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
How I wish I had a better camera ~
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| Sunday, 1-Apr-2007 16:00 |
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MENGHARGAI WARISAN : Erti Sebuah Penyampaian
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AWWALAN :
Gambar gambar perjalanan kerja menukar atap jenis Bata Singhorra pada sebuah bangunan kayu lama di Jalan Sultan, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Tahniah.
Satu usaha yang baik dalam memulihara bangunan lama yang bersejarah !
Hayat atap bata Singhorra amnya adalah sekitar 20 tahun tetapi mampu bertahan lebih lama ( 50 ~ 100 tahun ? ) sekiranya buatannya berkualiti dan kayu penyangkutnya ( jerghia ) tahan reput.
Sehingga sekitar 1970-an, Bata Singhorra ( atau Senggora, Singgora ) banyak digunakan dalam pembinaan rumah rumah persendirian, khususnya dari binaan kayu di seluruh Kelantan dan Terengganu ( dan juga di Selatan Thai ).
Asalnya diperkenalkan dan dibawa masuk dari Singgora, sebuah wilayah Melayu di Segenting Kra ( atau politically correct nya " Songkhla ", Selatan Thai ), teknologi pembikinannya tersebar ke selatan dan diusahakan di banyak tempat di Kelantan dan Terengganu sebagai menampung permintaan yang kian meningkat ketika itu.
Apabila citarasa kepada rumah kayu beralih kepada rumah batu yang lebih kos efektif dan mampu menampung atap genting yang lebih tebal, kukuh, tahan lasak serta tahan lama, perusahaan atap Bata Singhorra jatuh merudum. Akibatnya, daripada berpuluh pengusaha atap jenis itu di Kelantan, kini, hanya tinggal satu sahaja yang kekal beroperasi iaitu di Bachok.
Keterangan lebih lanjut berkenaan atap bata Singhorra boleh diperoleh dari entry saya yang terdahulu : sekiranya berminat, sila klik ==> Distinctively KeLaTte : The Fish Scale Roof
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MENGHARGAI WARISAN :
Erti Sebuah Penyampaian
Alkisah, semasa di Jepun dahulu, salah satu aktiviti kegemaran masa senggang saya ( selain bermain Counter-strike online !  ) adalah melawat tempat tempat menarik yang berselerakan di sana ( walaupun selalunya jarang ada kelapangan masa dan fulus ).
Dahulu saya menetap di Osaka, bandar ke - 2 terbesar di Jepun selepas Tokyo, terkenal sebagai bandar industri dan pelabuhan yang terulung dan bersejarah. Osaka terletak di dalam wilayah Kinki ( Kansai ) yang dikenali sebagai the origin of Japanese civilisation, cultural and dentity - tempat asal identiti Jepun yang kita kenali sekarang. Osaka juga lebih awal diasaskan berbanding ibu negara Jepun sekarang.
 
Kiri : Peta wilayah Kansai ( atau lebih tepatnya, Kinki ).
Kanan : Sebuah pagoda lama di kalangan rumah rumah yang sezaman dengannya di pusat bandar Kyoto. Biarpun kabel elektrik bersawang di sana sini ( itulah harga sebuah kemajuan ! ) yang sedikit sebanyak menyumbangkan kepada " kecacatan ambience pekan lama" berkenaan, usaha memulihara yang ditunjukkan tetap mempersonakan dan menarik untuk dilawati !
Dari Osaka ke Nara sehingga ke Kyoto, dari Kyoto sehinggalah ke Himeji, terdapat pekan dan bandar - bandar bersejarah yang mana banyak berhimpunnya khazanah silam yang tersenarai sebagai World Heritage oleh UNESCO.
Malaysia juga boleh berbangga kerana Taman Negara Niah dan Kinabalu turut tersenarai ( dan kini ada usaha melobi UNESCO untuk mengisytiharkan Langkawi sebagai World Geopark ) - itu pun dalam kategori natural heritage ( alam semulajadi ) bukannya cultural heritage ( kebudayaan ). Walaupun ada cubaan untuk mencalonkan Pulau Pinang dan Melaka sebagai salah satu World Heritage bagi kategori berkenaan ( kebudayaan ), setakat ini, kalau tidak silap, hasilnya masih tak ke mana. Boleh jadi usaha yang kita tunjukkan masih belum cukup ? Atau pun mungkin kerana karenah politik dunia ? Wallahu a'laam ...
Berbalik kepada Jepun,
apa yang sebenarnya ingin saya nyatakan di sini adalah betapa di sana, warisan warisan silam begitu dihargai. Walaupun tenggelam di bawah arus kemodenan, ianya masih terpulihara, berterusan dipelihara dan disampaikan dengan gaya yang menarik perhatian segenap lapisan masyarakat.
Di Jepun, lawatan ke muzium dan tinggalan silam begitu menghiburkan dan mencetuskan imaginasi. Setiap pameran dipadankan dengan aliran peristiwa dan kronologi. Malah, pergerakan pengunjung juga dihalakan selari mengikut aliran berkenaan. Bahkan keterangan yang dibekalkan juga mudah difahami serta menepati bahan pameran.
Jikalau koleksi yang dipamerkan tidak mampu juga menarik minat sekalipun, ada tarikan sampingan yang pastinya tidak mengecewakan. Sebagai contoh, kawasan persekitaran dibentuk sebegitu rupa agar memberi kesan menarik setiap kali peralihan musim. Gugusan sakura pada musim bunga, momiji dan ichou pada musim luruh. Segalanya berlatar belakangkan kota, kuil dan kediaman silam dalam setting ( both natural and artificial ) yang begitu gah sekali. Keadaan sebegini secara tidak langsung menarik segenap lapisan masyarakat Jepun untuk mendekati dan mengenali tinggalan nenek moyang mereka, sekaligus berbangga.
Kita di Malaysia agaknya lain sedikit.
Aku kurang arif tentang Muzium di negeri lain tetapi di Kelantan, muzium yang ada, walaupun memiliki koleksi yang tidak ternilai, seolah olah ingin " menghalau " pengunjung. Hambar dan tidak menyerlah dari segi penyampaian serta persembahan sehinggakan ramai yang ke Muzium, hanya keluar dalam keadaan terpinga pinga. Boleh jadi, kalau tidak kerana dipaksa guru sekolah, tak ramai anak muda ( anak sekolah ) yang berminat untuk menjenguk tempat tempat sedemikian. Orang tua pula apatah lagi ! Jangan haraplah ( nampaknya lebih baik lepak di kedai kopi berbual isu politik ). Tak percaya ? Cuba bilang berapa ramai yang datang bersantai. Kalau ramai pun boleh jadi rombongan sekolah atau sekadar singgah bergambar sahaja. Persekitaran pun begitu. Walau tinggalan silam dijaga dan dihias rapi sekalipun, persekitarannya tetap berkecamuk dan mengusutkan minda. Boleh jadi persepsi yang kita pegang sekarang cuba menafikan hakikat sedemikian. Agaknya hanya melalui lawatan ke tempat orang ( saya sarankan Jepun ) sahaja yang dapat membuka mata serta menjadi iktibar ......
( Maaf. Aku baru sahaja dikecewakan dengan lawatan ke Muzium Negeri beberapa minggu yang lepas ... rasanya tak perlu diulas di sini. Betullah kata seorang warga Jepun kepada saya, Muzium Negeri Terengganu jelas lebih menarik ! )
Sejujurnya saya gemar membandingkan Kelantan dengan wilayah Kinki.
Secara umumnya, betapa banyak perkaitan yang boleh dibuat antara Kelantan dengan wilayah berkenaan. The Kinki Region ( or also generally being referred as Kansai ) is famous with the food, historical establishments, cultured people ( the "notorious" Kansai dialect ) and romantic old town ambience - very much like Kelantan in many ways I believe.
Maka, kenapa tidak Kelantan ? Kota Bharu ?
Ternyata dalam banyak brosyur pelancongan tempatan, Kelantan selalu dinyatakan sebagai " The Cradle of Malay Culture and Civilization ". So, why not continue to live up to that claim ? Paling kurang dalam aspek khazanah senibina seperti yang saya cuba paparkan di sini ?
Salah satu impian yang diharap menjadi kenyataan semasa hayat ini adalah untuk melihat satu sudut di celah bandar Kota Bharu, dijadikan satu zon eksklusif - Zon Warisan contohnya, di mana bangunan lama dipulihara ( jika masih tertinggal ) atau dibina semula ( jika sudah lenyap ). Satu kawasan di mana langkah saja kaki ke dalamnya, terasa seperti melangkau ke zaman silam ! Di Jepun, China dan saya yakin di sebelah Barat juga, konsep sebegini memang popular dan menjadi tumpuan ramai. I believe Kota Bharu deserves the same too and with the right intention, effort, commitment and move, I believe those are more than possible !
Apa apa pun, ianya tetap tertakhluk kepada pihak berkuasa dan awam, sejauh mana difikirkan perlu. Baru sahaja saya menyentuh perihal persepsi yang saya fikir wajar dikaji semula. Adakah memadai dengan apa yang ada sekarang ?
Entahlah.
Nampaknya buat masa ini, angan angan aku jelas lebih menggunung berbanding realiti.
Dan dengan melihat trend yang ada sekarang, aku tidak fikir akan ada apa apa positive outcome yang menyebelahi pandangan aku ini.
Nak gapai bintang di langit, tangan tak sampai.
Kail panjang sejengkal, lautan dalam hendak diduga.
Cukuplah setakat ini.
Sekian, terima kasih.
BACAAN RINGAN TAPI BERAT :
Isu Pemuliharaan Bandar Warisan di Malaysia
TINJAU TINJAU ALAM CYBER :
" Kota Bahru's architecture is modern and rather uninspiring
but it's an interesting place and we had a nice time ... "
From : http://realtravel.com/kota_bahru-journals-j4147999.html
SERBA SEDIKIT BERKAITAN RUMAH LAMA JALAN SULTAN
Sejujurnya saya tidak tahu apa selayaknya ia dipanggil kerana tidak pernah diberikan nama formal. Bahkan namanya sering berubah mengikut peredaran zaman dan fungsi.
Asalnya adalah kediaman Menteri Besar Kelantan sekitar awal abad ke-20, kemudian dijadikan sekolah dan pejabat Majlis Agama Islam dan terkini, merangkap "Muzium Islam Kelantan". Tak mengapalah, eloklah saya panggil " Rumah Lama Jalan Sultan " sahaja. Begitu agaknya lebih romantis .....
Rasanya tidak perlu untuk mengulas panjang lebar, sila baca petikan di bawah dan klik sumber asal untuk keterangan lebih jelas :
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Bangunan ini asalnya adalah rumah kediaman bekas Menteri Besar Kelantan, iaitu Encik Hassan bin Mohd Salleh (1900-1920). la dibina pada tahun 1902 dan berasaskan gaya dan ciri-ciri bangunan rumah Melayu Kelantan - Pattani model penghujung abad ke-1-9 dan awal abad ke-20.
Bangunan ini diperbuat daripada kayu cengal terpilih dan atapnya pula menggunakan bata buatan Singgora yang terkenal lebar, tebal dan kukuh. Berbagai-bagai jenis ukiran menghiasi setiap pintu, tingkap dan ruang. Pada setengah tempat pula ukiran-ukiran ini memagar ayat-ayat suci al-Quran yang digubah dalam satu seni reka dan khat yang cantik dan menarik. Daun tingkapnya pula dibuat sedemikian rupa (sisik angin) untuk mendapatkan udara walaupun tingkapnya tertutup.
Pengubahsuaian
Sebelum diubahsuai pada tahun 1991 bangunan ini pernah diubahsuai sebanyak dua kali iaitu pada tahun 1917 dan 1962. Pengubahsuaian ini terpaksa dilakukan bagi menyesuaikan sebuah rumah kediaman kepada ruang-ruang pejabat. Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa telah berlaku sedikit pindaan dan perubahan daripada rekabentuk asal semasa pengubahsuaian. Beberapa ukiran dan seni khat telah dibuang atau bertukar tempat, tetapi tidak sampai mengubah ciri-ciri utama bangunan yang asal.
Kerja-kerja pengubahsuaian pada tahun 1991 ini adalah merupakan ubahsuai yang paling besar pada bangunan ini. Walaupun ia rnasih mengekalkan ciri-ciri luar bangunan ini tetapi boleh dikatakan hampir keseluruhan ciri-ciri -dalaman seperti struktur bilik, tangga dan pintu telah berubah atau dibuang.
Dipetik dari situs Perbadanan Muzium Kelantan : Muzium Islam
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Ulamak Islam terkenal kelahiran Kelantan, Tok Kenali atau Awang Muhammad bin Yusof bergambar kenangan beramai ramai bersama pelawat dari Selangor, di perkarangan bangunan Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan ( kini, Muzium Islam Kelantan ) pada 1931.
Foto ihsan Arkib Negara Online. Sila klik foto untuk ke sumber asal.
Penjelasan foto oleh Arkib Negara adalah seperti berikut :
" Gambar diambil di hadapan Bangunan Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan pada masa lawatan Sheikh Al-Islam Selangor ke Kota Bharu pada (28hb November, 1931). Warta Ahad 23.2.1936. "
Pejuang bangsa, Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy bergambar di hadapan bangunan Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan ( kini Muzium Islam Kelantan ), semasa lawatan beliau ke Kelantan pada 1937.
Foto ihsan carian online Arkib Negara. Sila klik foto untuk ke sumber asal.
Penjelasan foto oleh Arkib Negara adalah seperti berikut :
" Group taken on 7th January, 1937 in front of Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan. Second from left is Tuan Haji Abas Toha (Chief Kathi, Singapore) and on his left in coat and necktie is Dr. Burhannuddin Al-Helmy (Assistants Section Majlis Ulama Singapore). "
Dahulunya kediaman pegawai tinggi kerajaan Kelantan ( istana ), kemudian menjadi pejabat Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan dan kini, Muzium Islam Kelantan. Foto dirakam sekitar 1960-an.
Foto ihsan carian online Arkib Negara Online. Klik foto untuk ke sumber asal.
Selepas banjir besar 2004. Klik foto untuk keterangan lanjut.
BERKAITAN :
SAMA TAPI TAK ( BERAPA NAK ) SERUPA
Konsep yang popular pada masa lampau ?
Saya tertarik dengan "signature design" bangunan - bangunan ini, iaitu anjung(?) yang berbentuk semi-octagonal. Cukup unik dan menarik, agaknya tidak terdapat ( atau sudah lenyap ? ) di lain lain tempat .....
Adakah ini hanya unik bagi Pattani - Kelantan ?
 
 
 
 
( 1st row from left )
A Court House and a house of a Malay Noble, photos from the book by W.A. Graham ( Kelantan : A State of The Malay Peninsular 1908 ), taken around 1905 in Kota Bharu. Exact locations, unknown.
( 2nd row from left )
The well known Istana Jahar and the entrance to the main hall of the famous Istana Balai Besar. Both located side by side at Jalan Istana, Kota Bharu.
( 3rd row from left )
The Muzium Islam in Kota Bharu ( edited ( poster effect ) with Adobe Photoshop ) and an old but well preserved private residence at Jalan Post Office Lama in Kota Bharu.
( 4th row from left )
Private residences at Jalan Atas Banggol ( one of the main roads leading to Pantai Cahaya Bulan from the town center, off Jalan Post Office Lama ).
" DEKAT " TAPI JAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH
Istana Kenangan of Kuala Kangsar, Perak ( completed 1931 ) :
Click image for photo's caption and original source. More on Istana Kenangan HERE.
SELAMAT MENYAMBUT MAULIDUR RASUL
& HARI PUJA UMUR SULTAN KELANTAN KE-57
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| Sunday, 25-Mar-2007 12:26 |
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KELANTAN : The Doors To Nowhere
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Leaning against the wall was this ..
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An old wooden partition with intricately carved door ..
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Perhaps a hundred years old or so ..
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THE DOORS TO NOWHERE
A week ( or so ) ago, I spent my morning at a service center at Jalan Sultanah Zainab,
in Kota Bharu. For a routine car service of course.
Waiting for them to finish things up would normally take a few hours so after a while, I got
bored and decided to take a stroll in the direction of the town center, hoping to find new
" interesting " stuffs along the way. Those small but interesting details of Kota Bharu that
I often overlook when behind the wheel.
So, there was this antique shop just down the road where I was heading to.
Nothing much to see from the outside as the shop itself looked rather old and dull,
besides the interior was dark and not so inviting. I was thinking of taking a right turn at
the T - junction ( just a few steps further from the shop ) and was walking pass by it when
something on the pavement outside, caught my attention - four wooden partitions with
carved panels and doors, which I strongly believe were taken from old, late 19th or
early 20th century traditional Kelantanese Malay dwellings, houses of Malay aristocrats
of those days. Perhaps too big to bring inside, they were left there, placed leaning
against the walls by the shop owner.
In fact they were there for already quite some time, noticed their presence at the spot
many times before while driving along Jalan Sultanah Zainab, one of my few regular
routes into the town. But I only saw them from afar, didn't feel the push to enquire the
owner about them. Now that I had came this close, overwhelmed by curiosity, I decided
to proceed to the shop for some Q & A.
I was trying to get in but the front door was locked from inside.
I was about to leave, thinking of another day, another chance, when a female caretaker
( well, she didn't look like the owner ) probably in her late 30s quickly came and
answered the door with a "surprised" look ( and a bit reluctant too, I wonder why, maybe
she didn't expect people to barge in like that ? at that hours ? Maybe she was having her
morning Nasi Berlauk .. he he .. if so, sorry for that )
So, not to arouse unnecessary suspicions, I made my purpose clear at the door step :
ME : Assalamualaikum .. errr ... Hok tock luwwaa nih nok juwaa kor ?
( Assalamualaikum .. err .. Those things out there, are you going to sell them ? )
SHE : Waalaikumussalam ... Oh, maemae nok juwaa
( Yes, those are for sale )
ME : Ambik manno belako ? Kelate kor Tganung ?
( Where did you get them ? Kelantan or Terengganu ? )
SHE : Kelate belako. Dekak dekak nih jah. Hok ghumoh ghajo tuh.
( All from Kelantan. Just around here. From the old, torn down houses belonged to the royal families, you see ... )
ME : Berghapo letok ?
( Okay. So, how much you are willing to sell them ? )
She went on explaining the prices, which really surprised me to the bone.
Quite a sum for badly maintained, decaying old stuffs ( but fairly in good condition ).
I was a bit confused with her description, which price for which, as she just pointed them
roughly ( I think she knew that I couldn't afford one .. ha ha ha ).
But, getting the idea on how much she expected for those pieces, I had to scrap off my
initial plan of securing them .....
( yes, I did think of that in the first place ~ * sigh ~, if only I got all the cash )
However, feeling a bit " worried " about their conditions, I asked :
ME : Takpo kor letok luwwaa lagu tuh ?
( Wow, and you just keep them outside like that ? )
SHE : Takpo, takdok orghae nok churghi
( I don't think people would like to steal it ..... )
ME : Hujae, panah pulok lagu mano ?
( What about the elements ? the heat ? the rain ? dirt and dust ? )
SHE : Takpo, kayu chengal belako tuh ..
( Not to worry, those are Chengal wood, you see .... )
ME : Oh, gitu kkor .... takpo lah, terghimo kasseih la daeh ..
( Oh ... okay ... Well then, thanks a lot )
I left the shop with lots of questions in mind.
Where exactly did they come from ? What really happened to the houses ?
The house owners who sold them, what were they thinking when they sold away those
valuable heirlooms ? Do I know them ? Close relatives perhaps ? It would be really great
if only I could at least casually trace their origins but the caretaker seemed reluctant to
explain where she got them ....... or maybe she just doesn't have the idea.
Nevertheless, the visit to the antique shop was a sad one.
The house that my late father ( and his father too ! ) grew up in ended up much in the
same way, only luckier perhaps. Maybe I will elaborate that later, in my future entry.
But most importantly, it reminds me of the " inconvenient truth ".
The truth or reality that much of the real Kelantanese architectural treasures are left to rot
and decay out there under the sun, on the vast Kelantanese northern plain.
My growing up days in Kota Bharu were littered with the sight of many magnificent old
houses, ornate wooden gates and doors, fading silently into oblivion and disappearing
from the very land that brought them up.
Even at present, old houses with priceless historical and cultural values are left to
crumble, or relentlessly torn down from existence, leaving only barren spaces that stay
unchanged for years and years. For the note, some empty lots you might find in Kota
Bharu were not empty from the start. There used to be great, beautiful works of art on
them. I would love to give some examples, but let me keep that for my future entry.
However, those who do care ( ironically, in most cases, not the owners ), rescued them
from the hands that neglected them, had them beautifully restored or rebuilt - some even
ended up outside Kelantan. A praiseworthy move but nevertheless a very sad thing to live
with. Like giving away your only, beloved child for adoption ....
Still, many are counting their days
and resting their fate on attitudes of their current owners.
Who knows what I would find at the same antique shop next weekend ?
( only God knows ... )
Foot Note :
( 1 ) Chengal or Neobalanocarpus heimii, a species of tropical heavy hardwood, very resistant to termite attack
and fungal infestation, in the past used mainly to line railway tracks and for bridge constructions, also the most sought after,
excellent housing materials.
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Only God Knows
Muslim believes that everything, both seen and the unseen, animate and the inanimate,
are all govern by the will of God and to continuously reassuring, reminding oneself of it
and to testify wholeheartedly, is the most triumphant thing in a Muslim life.
The Malays, being Muslims, often incorporated quotes from the Holy Quran and the
Hadith ( words of the Prophet Muhammad ( p.b.u.h ) ) into their decorative
metalworkings and woodcarvings for such purposes. Often on items and places that
are significant or meaningful, representing aspects of life such as the doors - movable
barriers which not only separate but also connect living spaces with different living
spaces, joining life many activities.
Emm ... what a nice place ( way ) to be solemnly reminded !
بسم الله عَلَى نَفْسِي وَ دِينِي
Read : Bismi Llahi a'la nafsii wa diinii
( In the name of God, ( to Him I submit ) my soul and my way of life )
لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيم
Read : La hawla wala quwwata illa billahil aliyyilazeem
( There is no Might or Power except with God, the most High, the most Great )
سبحان الله
Read : Subhan'allah ( God, The Most Supreme )
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An old, mentally challenged woman ( very sorry if I got that wrong ) was also there when
I was snapping these photos.
She sat there on the cold floor, muttering words that I hardly could catch.
At the same time, rifling through the contents of her " countless " plastic shopping bags,
stuffed with unknown items that didn't look like any merchandise.
She deserves our special attentions, love and respect.
The old door too.
" There is
nothing new in the world
except the history you do not know "
Harry Truman
( 1884 ~ 1972 ; U.S President, 1945–1953)
RELATED : Speaking about old doors !
* Click photo for details.
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| Tuesday, 20-Mar-2007 00:00 |
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SELAMAT TINGGAL " AbSoLuTeLy KeLaTTe " ....
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SELAMAT TINGGAL " AbSoLuTeLy KeLaTTe " ....
Setakat ini sahaja ...
It was very nice being with you ...
Dan Salam Perkenalan kepada,
KeLaTé : ~ A Self Rediscovery ~
Entah,
rasanya begitu lebih tepat menghuraikan keadaan aku sekarang
dan lebih tepat dalam menjelaskan mengapa aku masih mahu terus tercongok di ceruk cyber ini, sedangkan rakan sezamanku sudah lama menyerah kalah .....
( the dude who introduced me to Fotopages gave it up a year ago .. so it seems .. )
Lagipun best jugak main tukar tukar " Header Photo " nih.
Kena pulak dengan hari baik, tarikh baik macam 20 Mac 2007 nih.
Fuuh,
korang tatau apa yang best ngan 20 Mac nih.
First, di Hemisfera Utara, Jepun contohnya, seluruh negara cuti semata mata nak " ambik berkat " Spring ( Vernal ) Equinox ( atau di Hemisfera Selatan disebut sebagai Autumnal Equinox ). Err .. sebenarnya tak semestinya 20 Mac, dan mengikut perkiraan tahun tertentu, juga jatuh pada 21 Mac. And then, sekadar trivia, Zodiak Pieces setakat 20 Mac sahaja sebelum memberi laluan kepada Zodiak Aries.
Oh yer.
Dan juga hari ini, penduduk Iraq ( dan seluruh dunia jugak ), sedang termenung mengenang ulang tahun ke - 4, pencerobohan ke- 2 tentera terrorist Amerika dan sekutunya yang berlangsung tanggal 20 - 03 - 2003 ... ( emmm ... pandai mereka pilih hari )
Tetapi yang paling best adalah
pada hari ini bulan ini, 4 bulan sebelum Tun Mahathir mula berkuasa,
ada seorang jejaka hensem lagi tampan
muncul dengan bergaya di permukaan bumi ini.
Perghhh ...
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| Monday, 12-Mar-2007 08:00 |
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SELINGAN : Nasik Dagae Dalae Klosong
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Kelantanese Nasik Dagae : A dish made from semi polished rice & glutinous rice mix, soaked in coconut milk and steamed, often served with sliced hard boiled egg and Bonito curry.
( Just a " selingan " or filler entry )
Nowadays, most Nasi Dagae takeaways are wrapped in paper, often brown in colour, lined with a thin piece of plastic on one surface.
However the traditional style is always by having it wrapped in banana leaves ( of larger and tougher leafed variant, Pisae Ggalor, which are first lightly withered over fire for better handling ) then shaped into a cone ( a Klosong ) before sealing it with a pair of toothpick sized stick ( actually, a lot shorter ) derived from dried coconut leaf bone. An art in itself.
Getting rarer these days.
No, not the Nasik Dagae, the old school wrapper I mean.
RELATED :
SELINGAN : Nasik Dagae & Puyok Tanoh
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| Saturday, 3-Mar-2007 07:00 |
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THE PASSA BESAA THAT I KNEW
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THE PASSA BESAA THAT I KNEW
The Passa Besaa (*1) that I knew
was a three storeys octagonal shaped concrete structure
which opens up in the middle, topped with a sunroof.
Beneath the semi transparent roof, bathed in feverish yellow hue,
laid a scene cut from the Kelantanese laid-back kampung life,
where women traders in traditional colourful attires, batik sarongs and matching headgears, gilded with gold ornaments of interesting shapes and sizes,
gathered and sat among myriads of battling colours and textures of their goods.
Not a single space left unoccupied, other than what is reserved for their would-be customers.
The Passa Besaa that I knew was simply " picture perfect ".
Natural but unique. A class of its own. Views of which could be found donning many postcards, tourist brochures, magazines, personal photo albums of many visitors and shutter bugs, and on the strangest place imaginable. (*2)
Descriptions alone won't help.
So, let me help you with the "picture" :
Photos taken around 15 years ago.
Images borrowed from Lovelos' Malaysia Photo Album. Click image for the original source.
Back then it was called Pasar Besar Buluh Kubu
and the Laman Siti Khadijah as known today, was a busy road, crawling with vehicles of all sort with a small but often very crowded bus stop cum "bus station" at one side.
The Passa itself was lively and filled with an assortment of activities.
From the sight of vegetable / fruit traders, fishmongers closing deals, trishaw peddlers attending to market-going middle aged ladies, to occasional beggers drawing attention by chanting Quranic verses from memory, there were indeed much more things to see other than the goods displayed.
I remember the scene underneath the sunroof being so beautiful through my viewfinder as I did my Kajian Geografi Tempatan on the Passa ( the one that you need to do to pass your PMR Geography paper, at least it was in my time ). Taking shots here and there, mapping the stalls by type of merchandise sold, even went asking the mokcik for the "cukai pasaa" receipt stub ( the one given out by duty collector for payment made ) to be attached as reference together with the report that I later compiled, submitted ( got an A ! yay ! ) and still have it nicely kept to this day.
Well, those were the days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # ~ # ~ # ~ # ~ # ~ # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, the Passa is still much like before.
Generally as lively and as busy as it was if not much livelier and busier.
Though lots of changes came by with the passing years,
starting from the name change, to renovations here and there, new Muslim praying facility, PA sytems, additional commercial block and all sorts of improvements and new things done but perhaps, nothing seems greater, more outstanding .....
.... than this one particular outcome, to this one particular spot :
Honestly, with the exception of the all-new cleaner looking tiles and raised platforms, I found this new look rather disturbing.
First, the sight of misplaced containers, empty baskets and empty trays ( trust me, those are not on sale ), despite being an eye sore, is already screaming with a tragic tune. That much of the activities, had flowed out from this most picturesque part of the Passa, either to outside sidewalks or to the newly added block next door, leaving this spot now, clinging to its life.
Note that, this photo was taken not in the late evening but on Friday, quite early in the morning ( 0930 hrs to be exact, see foot note (*3) ). Being a person who loves prowling the market place during weekends and having this observed since the past few years, I am pretty sure that they were not "away on holidays" either. In fact those hardly related stuffs are there to serve a purpose that already explained all - to make use of empty spaces left by former traders.
Well, I have to admit that those people are not there just to pose for the tourists ( except if tourism is really the main priority here ) and this is "business world" we are talking about. For that, I should learn to accept and live with this whole new reality.
Que serra, serra ~ whatever will be, will be !
I decided to dedicate this entry to the Passa Besaa that I once knew,
with the thought that for the better or for worst,
things there won't ever be the same again.
See the market place in Old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too, and blue ...........
~ Michael Buble, You Belong To Me ~
( * sigh )
 
Left :
Vehicle problem or just lost your way to the church ?
A newly wedded couple ( it was then ) with their totally new, revolutionary, different definition of " wedding photograph " - Click image for details.
Right :
Even the Mokciks would not expect where they would end up in
A wall decoration at the Malaysian owned, Malay Satay Hut restaurant in the United States ( Portland, Oregon ) - Click image for details.
FOOT NOTE :
(*1) :
Pasar , Malay for " Market ". Passa Besaa, Kelantanese for Pasar Besar or literally " Big Market " ( Central Market ).
(*2) :
The Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah is unmistakably the MOST PHOTOGRAPHED market place in Malaysia, for artistic, tourism or even romantic (!) purposes, with the above referred spot being the most favored and most publicized.
(*3) :
Friday morning is considered the best and most favorable time of the week for many Kelantanese to go out for their groceries. The day when workplaces call the day's off and public parking spaces are free. Thus, more Kelantanese come out for their groceries on Friday morning than any other day.
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| Sunday, 25-Feb-2007 15:30 |
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KELANTAN : It's Summer Time !
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KELANTAN : It's Summer Time !
Nearing the end of February. Next is March.
Should expect a little "atmospheric turbulence" in the following month
due to the changing of seasonal winds, but that usually won't last long before the real " summer " sets in.
But the smell of " summer " is already in the air.
The hot and dry scent. The smell of dry grass and ... errr ... bad drainage too.
Soon, the air will be filled again with the humming sound of Wau Bulan and the APFT fleet .....
and the beach
never so inviting, as it is now ........
A lad and his trade.
A boy selling kites on the sand of Pantai Cahaya Bulan ( PCB ) in Kota Bharu.
Less than two months ago this stretch of sandy terrain was under the waves and the rock
by the boy's side was the point where the sea met the shore ( see photo below for comparison ).
( Pantai Cahaya Bulan ( PCB ), 9th January 2006 - Click image for details )
COASTAL KELANTAN : WEATHER TALK
The weather at this part of the Peninsular could, most of the time, be against you.
The Monsoon, unlike the one experienced in the West Coast, is readily gruesome and the heat during the short dry season, could as well be unbearable to some. But knowing the weather pattern very well before embarking on trips to the East Coast, could be rewarding and very enjoyable, provided that you know exactly WHAT to do and WHEN to start.
As for coastal Kelantan, here are my two cents :
MARCH ~ JUNE
What To Expect ? :
Hot days & nights, Windy, Brilliant blue skies, Dry & Dusty, 26 C ~ 35 C
Great For :
Fishing ( Sea & River ), Kite Flying, Beach & Island Retreat, Outdoors
Bad For :
Night Sleep ( concrete houses ), Health ( Thermal shock, Heat Stroke )
JULY ~ SEPTEMBER
What To Expect ? :
Hot days Cool Nights, Windy, Blue Skies, Late Evening Thunderstorm, 24 C ~ 32 C
Great For :
Tropical fruits, Lazing, Outdoor Cafe, Waterfalls, Beach & Island Retreat
Bad For :
Night Fishing at sea
OCTOBER ~ FEBRUARY
What To Expect ? :
Cool days & nights, Strong wind, Cloudy, rainy & gloomy, 22 C ~ 30 C
Great For :
Watching the violent monsoon waves, Flood Fiesta, Ubi Rebus & Ikan Budu, Hibernating !
Bad For :
Going Seafood ( prices go up ), Outdoors, Beach & Island Retreat ( off -season )
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| Sunday, 18-Feb-2007 00:00 |
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ORGHAE CHINO KITO : The Kelantanese Chinese
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Pasar Pokok Pinang at Jalan Suara Muda, Kota Bharu
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A back street makeshift wet market turned permanent
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The only place (right) where fresh pork is sold openly in KB
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In respond to Ms. Ong Hui Thing's comment. Thanks for the tip off :
ORGHAE CHINO KITO :
The Kelantanese Chinese
Chinese in Kelantan constitute roughly 4%
out of the entire 1.4 million Kelantanese in which the Malays alone make up 95%.
Though very small in number compared to other states in Malaysia, their presence is undeniably very significant and contributes much to the state's prosperity.
The Kelantanese Chinese are historically, culturally and demographically unique compared to their cousins in other parts of Malaysia.
The earliest confirmed arrival was of the Hakka Chinese who came and went up the Kelantan River roughly 400 years ago, going deep into the interior, eventually settling down at a remote post now called Pulai in Gua Musang.
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Pada 400 Tahun dahulu, iaitu lebih kurang tahun 1600 zaman hamper keruntuhan pemerintah Dynasti Ming, terdapat segolongan rakyat cina mula berhijrah ke Kampung Pulai melalui Sungai kelantan dan Sungai Galas untuk mencari gali emas. Apabila tiba di Kota Bharu, ketua golongan ini pergi mengadap Sultan kelantan dan mereka dapat mengenalpasti bau air sungai Kelantan pada ketika itu di mana di satu tempat yang terletak di kawasan ulu,pendalaman bukit-bukau dan hutan rimba itu, iaitu di Kampung Pulai kaya raya dengan emas. Mereka menaiki kapal kecil (Tongkang) mengikut Sungai Kelantan dan Sungai Galas yangmengambil masa 2-3 minggu baru sampai di Pulai.
From : SEPINTAS LALU MENGENAI SEJARAH KAMPUNG PULAI ( Kenny Chee Sien Chen )
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There, they engaged in gold mining ( it is well known, since ancient times that the Kelantanese interior is littered with gold ) and though, such large scale activity is no longer existed today, the people continue to reside there in rather isolated manner from the mainstream Chinese. These Hakka Chinese, confined to the extreme reach of the interior is however, smaller in number compared to the Hokkiens that followed later.
The first Hokkiens came down to Kelantan through the Isthmus of Kra soon later or perhaps around the same time as the Hakka of Pulai. They scattered all over the Kelantanese plain, living side by side with either Malay or Thai neighbours, working the land as farmers, adopting local customs and languages in the process. Amidst hardships on the adopted foreign land, they thrived very well as the then " Siamese-appointed " British Advisor to the Kelantanese Court, W.A. Graham, noted in his guidebook on Kelantan ( 1908 ) :
The Straits Chinese followed much later ( some a hundred years ago ) during the beginning of British takeover of Kelantan in 1909. They sailed up from the Straits or Singapore and are easily distinguishable from the early Chinese settlers as they prefer to stay in towns, indulging in trades or working as labourers instead of farming.
The terminology, Cina Bandar and Cina Kampung came to being later from such differences in economic activities as well as the level of social interactions they show in regards of the native population. Still, both mixed well with the locals and many placed in their daily lives the Kelantanese identity as their favorable forefront identity.
( TRIVIA : The Kelantanese Malays refer the Kelantanese Chinese as Chino Kito or Chino Kelate while those from other states as Chino Luwaa. Such reference is made since the Kelantanese tend to see the Kelantanese Chinese as a part of themselves thus giving them a special place in the closely knitted, culturally sensitive Kelantanese society, compared to the non-Kelantanese Chinese aka Chino Luwaa )
So to speak, the Kelantanese Chinese are so well assimilated ( without the expense of their own cultures and religions ) and well immersed in the local atmosphere that many speak fluent and beautiful Kelantanese far better than the non-Kelantanese Malays who had spent much of their lives in Kelantan ( believe it or not, even better than some native Kelantanese Malays themselves ! ) I heard one who can even perform Wayang Kulit in the local dialect ! Either it comes from deep interaction with the larger Malay populations or simply because the Kelantanese Malay dialect is " pronunciation-friendly " to the Chinese speakers, I have no idea but to wonder.
Well, it's Chinese New Year.
Wishing all the Kelantanese Chinese
( Yay ! Hidup Kelate ... errr .. oh well, to all Malaysian Chinese too ),
Gong Xi Fa Cai, Kong Hei Fat Choy or in whatever dialects you have there as long as it means something like :
" May the new year brings in prosperity, good health, happiness and harmony to our lives "
and isn't it interesting,
when the word " Kelantanese " and " Chinese " rhyme with each other ?
Pasar Pokok Pinang, Kota Bharu, Kelantan :
A typical morning scene at a back street wet market, much favored by the local Chinese.
Pasar Pokok Pinang ( top image ) seen from Jalan Suara Muda in Kota Bharu.
The wet market started from a typical Kelantanese makeshift markets where peddlers trade their goods by the street sides, to passing padesterians. Gaining popularity, it later turned into a permanent market place, which caters mostly to the Chinese kitchen needs and perhaps the only place in Kota Bharu where pork is openly butchered and sold ( the premise at the right ).
Normally closed from dusk to dawn, the area would only come to life at night once a year, on few nights before Chinese New Year ( below image ).
Caption reads "Chinese Joss-House, Kampong China" ( from Kelantan : A State of The Malay Peninsula , W.A Graham, 1908 ).
Unfortunately, the source didn't mention anything about it other than this old photo which was taken around 1905. From from the look, location and probability, it looks very similar to the 200 years old Tokong Mek of Kampong China ( present day photo, below ). Is this really Tokong Mek a hundred years ago ?
* Click image for detailed view of Tokong Mek
Let's see, I got Oranges ( they call it "Baby Honey Mandarin" . Wooo, how sexy ! ) but got no Gold ingots to go with them. Well, I guess the new Kelantanese Gold Dinar will do ! Ha ha
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR
THE YEAR OF THE PIG ( BOAR ? )
GONG XI FA CAI !
RELATED :
THE PERANAKAN CHINESE OF KELANTAN - Culture, Language & Identity of a Chinese Sub-Community in Malaysia
HAKKA PATTERNS IN PULAI : 1978
PUSTAKA USM : Kampung Or Town Chinese ?
KAIHONGS : Is pork available in Kelantan?
THE STAR : The Grand Old Lady of Kota Bharu
THE OTHER SIDE OF KELANTAN
UPDATED 26 MARCH 2007 :
| Quote: |
A MARRIAGE OF TRADITIONS
The old Chinese houses of Kelantan are different from those elsewhere in that they are an interesting blend of Chinese and Malay influences.
Wee Ah Mek of Pasir Mas, Kelantan recalls her growing years in her village, Kampung Kasa, a Chinese settlement on the banks of Sungai Kelantan. Taking a short stroll from her parent’s wooden house, she used to observe the daily bustle on the river – the “highway” of those times.
“I remember the Malay traders plying budu (fermented anchovy sauce), salted fish and ikan pekasam (fermented freshwater fish) as they travelled upriver in their wooden boats,” says Wee, 59, who still lives in Kasa.
“Even to get to Kota Baru (a 20-minute drive today), we needed to take the boat.”
Like many early Chinese settlers, the Chinese in Kasa were mostly farmers who reared pigs and grew vegetables. Some ventured to town and became shopkeepers, Wee adds.
A fifth-generation Chinese, Wee has only a vague idea about her family roots. According to historians, most of the early settlers hailed from China’s southern provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Guanxi.
“My grandmother was born here and my mother still lives in the house her great grandfather built,” says Wee, a retired teacher.
Today, what makes Kasa, like other early Chinese settlements in Kelantan, unique are its clusters of Chinese houses that are more than a century old. Some 4km north of Pasir Mas town, Kasa – along with two other villages, Tendong and Saka – constitute a settlement of about 600 residents. There are 50-odd Chinese settlements in Kelantan that were founded in the 1800s from Tumpat, Bachok to Gua Musang.
“I believe most of the early Chinese settlers preferred to live near the river because of its easy access since boats were the main mode of transport,” says Wee.
Quoted From :
Leong Siok Hui, The Star Online : Sunday, March 24th, 2007
( Click the above URL for the rest of the article )
* Alternative Source at allmalaysia.info
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| Quote: |
From The Holy Quran ( 49 : 13 ) :
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ
لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
" O Men! Truly We have created you from a male and a female, and made you
into nations and tribes that you might get to know (and be kind to) one another.
The noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one most deeply conscious of Him
among you (not in accordance with the nobility of lineage or ethnicity).
Truly Allah is Most Knowing, Most Aware (of your state and deeds). "
- Surah Al Hujuraat ( Verse 13 ) -
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" One of the greatest losses to the world
is that we don't share the secrets of our hearts
with others "
John Henry Newman ( 1801 ~ 1890 )
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| Tuesday, 13-Feb-2007 10:19 |
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STAY ( STAND ) TALL AND BE PROUD
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KG. LAUT : A modern kampung house with a traditional touch ..
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KG. LAUT : A Flood Siren set up by the Hydrology Dept
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KG. LAUT : Houses in the neighbourhood, all with raised floors.
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BEFORE I PROCEED :
I have this in mind for already quite some time but only now, after having read about the very recent floodings in the Malaysian southern states ( mainly Johor ), the global warming induced freakish weather, the melting polar ice caps etc, I decided to write this down.
Read : The Malaysian Meteorological Dept Report on Johor Floods
STAY ( STAND ) TALL AND BE PROUD
I have this tendency to pass my time looking through ( yes, just looking through ) printed materials, especially of those with lots of photos / images in them.
( and no. Not the skin stuff .. ha ha )
Often, by doing so, I found various useful stuffs or even interesting points to ponder.
I remember one side-note from a book ( a 1965 edition of LIFE Science Library series ) on " Health And Disease " :
While the author didn't elaborate further the manner of the dwelling, I managed to find an article on the net that explains more :
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The best feature of East Coast Malay houses, like other Malay houses, is their good ventilation. Building wooden houses on stilts, and creating huge windows and small gaps in between the strips of wooden flooring encourage good airflow and reduce heat. Air-conditioners are not needed and it is more environmentally friendly.
From : " Marriage of old and new " by Loh Foon Fong ( AllMalaysia.info )
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* A pre war, perhaps 90 years old Malay traditional house at Kubang Pasu, Kota Bharu. Click image for more details.
Our forefathers engineered a comfortable living space that blends harmoniously with the elements, based only on a simple know-how of the natural surroundings. No academic papers or journals, just actual presentations from real life experiences. Indeed, they have proven themselves competent in both architectural and engineering fields and for that comes such recognitions.
Pretty amazing I think.
But what amaze me the most, are the stilts.
Aside from contributing to good ventilation, they also help to keep off terrestrial creatures and not to forget - the FLOOD too !
The Stilt Factor
I noticed from the telly and newspapers that many if not all of those forced to seek shelters during the Southern Big Floods, were those whose houses / premises ( both living & commercial spaces ) were built with floors very close to the ground.
The flood was disastrous and it happened twice in less than a fortnight, the second hit with the same destructive force as the first. To the extent that the government decided to relocate villages with the highest risk of future floodings to higher grounds :
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Flood-hit village to be relocated to higher ground
By Marsha Tan and Md Hanafi Hanafiah
KOTA TINGGI: Kampung Tembioh, one of the hardest hit villages in the recent floods, and other high-risk villages here will be relocated to higher ground.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Johor government would identify the other villages and residential areas that were prone to floods and submit a proposal to the Federal government for allocation.
©The Sunday Star ( Sunday February 4, 2007 )
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In the US, people do relocate their houses and properties away from the Mississippi flood-plain after years of losing battles with Mother Nature. Like this dude who came up with a " better " idea, but not for long as the Big Brother quickly had it gunned down.
I do think however, that relocation is not a great solution.
Other than the need to overcome personal problems ( accesibility, livelihoods, sentimental values etc ), our country being small and with ever expanding population, suitable spaces should be very few. Besides, at times when rising sea level becomes a clearer threat and more global-warming-induced unpredictable weather patterns are showing up at our doors, who could simply assure the new site would be safer anyway ?
So, in this case,
instead of seeking refuge, why not adapting ?
Our forefathers did,
by having an invention as simple as the STILT !
======= ## ======= ## ======= ## ======= ## ======= ## =======
Every year we hear stories of how Kelantan is badly hit by flood.
Behind those well spinned stories from the media, there is a fact that many have yet to understand or have under estimated, which is the local's ability to cope and adapt with flood.
Kelantanese living on the flood plain are of flood-hardened breed.
They had learned to adapt rather than escaping from it.
Take the people of Kampung Laut ( in Jajahan Tumpat ) and Kampung Penambang ( in Jajahan Kota Bharu ) as examples.
Though many had resorted to modern style dwellings and building materials, they would still build elevated houses, often supported with concrete stilts in respect of the annual flooding. Those who do not wish to have stilts, would have their houses built with daily activities centered mostly on the second floor while leaving the ground floor less furnished to give room, funny it may sound, for the flood.
Thus, even in the event of great flood, few feel the need to seek higher ground and most choose to remain in their houses. Most even have boats long prepared ( under their houses ), to ease in moving around in such times. In fact, people still live there comfortably with large traditional populations of Tumpat and Kota Bharu still congregate within and around the areas, for generations.
And no ... no one think of relocation.
I am not saying that the Kelantanese are the only people with such adaptation.
Instead, there are lots of other similar examples mainly among people living by the great rivers throughout Malaysia, and also throughout the World :
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Flooding is a huge problem for residents who live around flood banks or otherwise close to the rivers since the all water from the surrounding highlands collects into the Amazon Basin. Resident have had to adapt to the large amounts of rain by making their houses on stilts so that if they are flooded, water passes below their houses. Many build houses on rafts so that the whole house rises during a flood and comes back down when the floods recede.
http://library.thinkquest.org/21395/textonlyb/climate.html
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Nope. I am not against modern housing practice either.
Only that I think it is somewhat regrettable that we still fail to see the importance of understanding and considering the nature of our surroundings when it comes to building a place to live.
We tend to put weight on cost ( profit ! ) and styles rather than practicality in regards of the local climate and condition. When disasters struck, we tend to blame our surroundings rather than blaming ourselves for poor adaptation ( oh yes, bad environmental management too ! ).
Our forefathers lived in the hot and humid belt of the World,
frequently cooked by the steamy tropical sun and frequently washed by torrents of heavy downpours. Amazingly, they learned to cope very well, to adapt and show us how they did by bringing us up in houses built from their ideas on adaptation.
Of course we don't built wooden houses with wooden stilts anymore nowadays like what the old used to build, especially when a kilogram of Chengal these days would cost more than a pile of brick. In fact, cheaper and modern materials and techniques could as well compensate as long as we understand the whole concept that our forefathers wished to convey.
The native people of the Arctic ( the Inuit etc ) don't built igloo out of ice because that is their only material. In fact, they have whalebones and animal hide, simply at their disposal. But from real life experiences, they learned that solid water, being lesser in density, is a good heat insulator thus making the inside of an igloo to be incredibly warmer than the outside. Which is proven to be much better than hitching up a tent, especially when they also have to deal with the unforgiving Arctic wind. Indeed, they are Arctic masters of adaptation.
But we decided to take a different twist.
Thinking that jumping on the global trend wagon would make us look cool and globally accepted, we chosed to adopt what against our own natural born values.
We go to work under the blazing Malaysian sun, with a choking necktie ( sometimes with a complete suit too ), we gorge down dairy produce which hardly digestible by our Asian stomach, and we built houses by Western standard without considering that their climatic conditions are none like ours -- and we blame our surroundings when they go wrong.
No, not that I am against everything Western or foreign,
of course there are lots of good things that we could learn from them
( should give another meaning to " adapting and coping " )
but isn't it the time for us to be at least a little more ...
... self confident ?
| Quote: |
Raja Bahrin lamented that there is a lack of confidence among Malaysians in their own architectural heritage.
“In 1979 and 1980, the government imported a lot of prefabricated materials from Japan without realising that we already had that in our traditional architecture. Why do we have to go so far and not look into our own heritage? There is a lack of attention and self-confidence. We need to change this perception,” .......
From : " Marriage of old and new " by Loh Foon Fong ( AllMalaysia.info )
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An example of how structures in the old days were built in the best possible way of adaptation to local environment - The Old Masjid of Kampung Laut ( *click image for more details )
( as seen here from a photo taken in 1960s as it tilts dangerously into the Kelantan River, at its original site in Kampung Laut, Jajahan Tumpat, Kelantan ).
Thought to be the oldest in Malaysia ( built around 400 ~ 500 years ago. Note that the famous Batu Bersurat of Terengganu is dated 1300s which is long before Melaka ! ), the mosque were built on top of long supporting stilts which helped it survived the annual flood for hundred of years. The stilts however, finally gave way to silt build-up and the whole structure was pulled closer to the ground, exposing it to the damaging floods during the later years. It was nearly destroyed by the elements before the authority decided to relocate it further inland, to Nilam Puri in Jajahan Kota Bharu.
Unfortunately, the reconstruction work didn't take count the soul design of the original craftmanship and had the tall stilts cut short to ease up the relocation work, then had the entire structure rebuilt with floor very close to the ground ( short stilts ).
To me, it is like having the legendary Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Michael Jordan "reborn" with their legs 2 feet shorter .....
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The traditional Malay house is an elegant example of indigenous ingenuity, practicality and a monument to the wonders of tropical timber. A seemingly simple wooden structure, it was built to dissipate heat, withstand monsoons and stands as a reflection of Malay living. Primarily made of chengal, a dense rainforest tree, some of these classic houses are over 100 years old.
Quoted from :
WILDASIA.NET : Rebuilding the Wooden Ways of the Past
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* Click image for original source ( wildasia.net )
" The dead might as well try
to speak to the living
as the old to the young "
Willa Cather (1873-1947)
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| Wednesday, 7-Feb-2007 22:45 |
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KELANTAN : Mencerahkan Hati dan Mentaliti ....
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Lorong yang dulunya menakutkan, kini macam berada di stadium !
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SAYANGKAN ANAK TANGAN TANGANKAN :
MENCERAHKAN HATI DAN MENTALITI .....
Masjid Muhammadi ( Masjid Besar ), Kota Bharu
Akhir akhir ini, nampak perubahan ketara di Kota Bharu.
Maksud aku, dalam bab pencahayaan.
Lorong lorong dan jalan jalan, sudut sudut bangunan yang dulunya gelap gelita atau cerah segan padam tak mahu, kini ceria disinari cahaya putih dari lampu lampu jalan jenis baru dan lampu simbah khas yang tercongok sana sini. Kalau dilihat dari kapal terbang atau bangunan tertinggi di Kota Bharu, memang gah sekali malamnya. Pendek kata, nampak seri.
Dan dalam kecerahan malam di Kota Bharu,
selalu kelihatan kelibat pekerja am MPKB terkial kial menyapu sampah.
Kota Bharu sememangnya tampak lebih bersih berbanding dahulu.
Ada kelainan sedikit dari segi kebersihan semenjak dimasyhurkan sebagai " Bandaraya Islam " .....
Aku tidak mahu komen sejauh mana keberkesanan penguatkuasaannya, cukuplah aku memuji usaha dan perkembangan positif yang ditunjukkan.
Walaupun demikian, seolah olah kerja menyapu sampah yang berlangsung setiap malam,
hanyalah untuk menyediakan ruang bagi sampah lain pada keesokan harinya.
Ternyata, perkara yang paling susah untuk diubah, tetap sikap manusia.
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Seorang pelawat ( sebenarnya dia pelanggan syarikat tempat aku bekerja )
dari sebuah negara di bucu bawah benua Eropah, pernah bertanya, lebih kurang begini bunyinya :
" I notice a lot of rubbish along the roadsides. Do people here like to throw rubbish that way ? "
Soalan cepu emas 24 karat bertatah berlian Afrika Selatan.
Kota Sultan Ismail Petra, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Aku tak tahu apakah maksud sebenar di sebalik soalan itu
( sebenarnya lebih kepada buat buat tak tahu ... )
Katanya, ini kali pertama dia ke Malaysia, atau lebih tepatnya, ke benua Asia.
Boleh jadi dia " cultural shock " dengan keadaan Malaysia, sebagaimana aku dulu, ketika pulang dari Jepun. Cuma diagnosis bagi condition aku lebih panjang sedikit namanya, " reversed cultural shock ". Sindrom yang selalu dikesan di kalangan perantau yang baru nak kenal semula kampung halaman.
( Dan trivia untuk hari ini, " AbSoLuTeLy KeLaTTe " ini sebenarnya wujud hasil tindakbalas sistem imun badan aku terhadap sindrom berkenaan ..... kepada bebudak medic, sila catit dalam buku nota kamu )
Berbalik semula,
aku sekadar menjawab,
" Yeah, I know. That is very bad. What should I say ..... ah hah ! Look there, look at that very big crocodile over there "
... terus saja mengubah topik sambil jari menuding kepada seekor buaya tembaga gergasi yang sedang berjemur malas di bawah pokok sebuah taman buaya di Kota Bharu ( you know where ). Hampa, kerana tempat itu langsung tidak seperti dijangka. Tak terurus. Sangkar banyak. Buayanya nampak seekor dua sahaja. Mungkin yang lain pergi bercuti ?
Kemudian si rakannya menjampuk dengan nada berjenaka :
" Yesterday you brought us to the jungle with no animals, today you brought us to the crocodile park with no crocodiles ! ".
( Ya, hari sebelumnya, kami ke Hutan Simpan Lata Tembakah pada waktu tengah hari. Discovery Channel menyatakan the hottest time of the day adalah waktu rehat bagi warga rimba. Mereka pun ada lunch break juga .... maka persembahan hidupan liar ditunda ke sebelah lewat petang dengan kemuncaknya pada waktu malam. )
Seingat aku, kami ketawa terbahak bahak selepas itu.
Mereka memang lawak. Lawak sinis.
Sebenarnya aku malu. Malu peringkat lapan.
Jalan jalan masuk bandar, masuk kampung, kiri kanan dibarisi sampah.
Pergi tengok buaya, bayar masuk, buaya pulak tarak.
We claim to be proud of our country but in real life,
we are not that proud as we thought we are ......
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Beralih kisah,
sekali sekala aku gemar juga menaiki bot tambang ke Kampung Laut.
Tak ada kenalan mahupun saudara mara di situ, sekadar for the sake of ambil angin atau membawa rakan berkenalan dengan Sungai Kelantan. Sepuluh tahun dulu, tambangnya 50 sen sehala, kemudian naik 70 sen dan terkini RM 1. Ternyata, bukan kerajaan sahaja yang boleh naikkan harga minyak sesuka hati.
Masa perjalanan biasanya sekitar 20 minit.
Dan 20 minit itulah aku luangkan untuk menoleh ke sana sini.
Tebing sungai yang menghijau, panorama Kota Bharu dari sungai, kelibat orang memancing di sana, orang menjala di situ, budak budak bermain air di sinun, akak lawa di err... errr... err.... oh yer, dan yang paling klimaks, longgokan sampah sarap di sepanjang tebing, antara Sg. Keladi dengan Penambang. Cukup " artistik " dan penuh " nilai estetika ".
Dan adegan yang paling best adalah bila mana seorang akak dengan selamba cipan membuang pembalut plastik ke sungai,
" Mung suko hati buwwae dalae sungaa tuh, karghae maso banjir, sapoh tuh masuk ghummoh mung balik weh ! Kabaa kor dok ? "
kata aku kepada akak itu .... dalam hati.
Hakikatnya itulah yang berlaku di Kota Bharu selepas banjir besar 2004.
Sampah yang dibuang ke sungai, berakhir di depan rumah atau kedai sendiri.
MPKB hanya menggeleng kepala.
Mana taknya,
" tuh kheghijo MPKB, MPKB lah keno buwak. Tock siyo siyo orghae bayaa chukaa tiak tahung " .... oh, mentaliti.
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Dan rata rata pelawat asing yang aku pernah berurusan,
selalu meminta dibawakan ke pasar kerana bagi mereka di situlah peluang untuk mengenali budaya Malaysia dengan lebih mudah.
"I would like to visit the market place so I could see what people eat over here ",
kata seorang Jerman kepadaku.
Dia memang kuat makan.
" Nan no ibukuro desu ka ne * ", bisik aku kepada seorang rakan Jepun semasa ber " buka puasa " bersama Jerman itu, pada Ramadhan lepas. Habis sepinggan penuh, ditambah sepinggan penuh yang lain pula. Aku congak, dalam lima pinggan tak termasuk dessert. Sejam masa kecederaan diperuntukkan, hanya untuk melihat dia makan.
Syukurlah aku tidak sempat membawanya ke pasar.
If not, he surely would have to struggle the next day, over his first plate, thinking of it.
Fikirkanlah.
Tergamakkah kita berbangga dalam keadaan begini ?
Pasar Wakaf Che Yeh ( walaupun tapak baru ini statusnya sementara, tak sepatutnya begini bagi sebuah pasar yang dibanggakan dalam brosyur pelancongan )
Lagi tentang pasar,
masih segar dalam ingatan, satu senario di Pasar Kubang Pasu beberapa minggu yang lepas. Mak aku selalu kata, Pasar Kubang Pasu adalah " pasar orghae ssolaek " , " pasar orghae hilir ". Tempat Tengku, Nik, Wan dan " orghae hilir " bertandang. Memang benar kerana gaya pemakaian, gaya pertuturan peniaga dan pembeli di situ juga bunyinya lebih " anggun " berbanding di pasar lain.
Alkisahnya, ketika itu aku sedang menyaksikan si akak gerai nasi berlauk feberet, menunjukkan kemahiran membungkus nasi dagang pesanan aku. Nasi dagang dia best. Seorang bapa, mungkin berumur sekitar akhir 30-an, juga sedang menunggu giliran. Anaknya di sisi, boleh jadi 5 tahun umurnya, merengek rengek sambil menonyoh pembalut plastik kosong ke siku si bapa, mungkin bekas makanan ringan (?) kepada bapanya :
" Abah, abah .. mano tong sapoh .. tong sapoh mano abah ? "
Sambil tunduk ke bawah, menjeling dengan ekor mata, aku tersenyum sendiri.
Budak sekecil itu pun reti. Memang pandai bapak budak tu ajar anak.
Anak kecil yang memang bertuah kerana memiliki bapa yang bijak dan waras.
Kepada mereka yang masih melihat perkara membuang sampah tanpa etika sebagai perkara biasa, ini lah ucapan ikhlas dari lubuk hati aku :
" Mok Pok mung tock ajar kor ? ".
Maaf. Menaip bukan hobi aku.
Sekian. Terima Kasih.
Nota Lutut :
* " Nan no ibukuro desu ka ne ? " = " Perut jenis haper ? "
BERKAITAN :
Excellent move for excellent target ! It's 2007 ... Well, how far this has been ? Source : The New Straits Times, 29 Sep 2005.
PULAU PINANG DARUL SAMPAH ?
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