Fishing trawler keeled over along the banks of Sungai Kuap, 28 July 2007

I wished I was Superman so that I could upright the sorry looking vessel!

Labels: Cycling

Stumble It!

Off the beaten track @ Kg Beliong, 4th June 2007

We cycled for over 6 hours on and off the beaten tracks and even where there were no tracks! And we did it on simple single-speed (mine had 3 speed) second hand Japanese bicycles probably sold for scraps and which we bought at a bargain price of RM180/- each. To think that most 'serious' mountain bikers would likely be scoffing at us in their fancy 27-speed alloy frame mountain bikes costing upwards of RM3K or more! *gasp*We crossed over dozens of streams on these narrow wooden bridges

Anyway, whatever bikes they used; I would challenge them to be able to keep up with 67-year old Mr. Sim on whatever road or terrain - I couldn't! *sigh*Visiting Mr. Sim's eldest brother house at Kg Tanju and parking our bikes outsideMr. Sim looking across Batang Samarahan to Kg Beliong where he grew up as a child

Labels: Cycling, Explorations

Stumble It!

On the road to Beliong ...

Boarding the sampan to get across Batang Samarahan to Beliong

After crossing Batang Samarahan by ferry; we have to cross it once again, but this time by sampan and with our bicycles on it to get to Beliong – our destination to begin our cycling adventure and exploration.

Getting our bikes onto the sampan

Happy passengers on a sampan - Mr. Sim senior & junior (Khian Hui)

Beliong used to be a thriving small town in the heydays when the prices for coconuts products were high. But that was decades ago and sadly it’s more like a semi-deserted small village now. A single row of double storey wooden shophouse is the only structure that bears testament to its importance as the center for the coconuts trade and where a number of Chinese used to lived. Most of the former residents of Beliong had long left to find a better living elsewhere.

A single row of wooden shophouses in Beliong

The main and perhaps the only reason the Chinese come to Beliong these days is to visit the famous ‘Tokong Fuk Teck K’ung’ temple there. In fact they are building a new pagoda as an extension to it which is currently under construction.

Altars @ Tokong Fuk Teck K’ung, Beliong

Parking our bikes in the shade outside the temple's compound

As Sim senior and junior are Buddhists, we dropped by the temple for a short while to pray and asked for blessings and safe-passage for our cycling trip. Mr. Sim was born in Beliong but left when he was only 14 to find work in Kuching. He still has a 13 acres coconut plantation that he used to help his parents work on. Sadly the plantation had long been abandoned. Mr. Sim was a building carpenter before he retired and this trip back to Beliong is full of childhood memories and recollections for him. I was just as excited for him as he was about going back to his childhood place.

Fixing the loose chain with tools borrowed from the temple's caretaker

After the temple visit and a minor adjustment to Khian Hui’s bicycle whose chain had came off; we eagerly set out on our way to look for Mr Sim’s coconut plantation and old house. His last trip there was decades ago … and we were as excited as boy scouts on their first field trip!

Crossing our first bridge (this was the widest!) and we were well on our way!

Mr. Sim gives pause to reflect on life since he left Beliong at 14; and he had few regrets if any.

Labels: About Life, Cycling, Explorations

Stumble It!

Just enough room for 3 bicycles and 1 person in the back of the van

At the front of the ferry; eager to be the first to get off

After ‘stuffing’ our 3 bicycles into the back of my van, my 67-year old neighbor Mr. Sim, his son and me set off early on Monday morning from Tabuan Jaya Baru 1 to catch the ferry at Kota Samarahan about a half an hour drive away.

I'm so glad I bought the van as it is really coming in useful

The ferries (there were 2 of them) provided a vital service to get from Kota Samarahan to Asajaya on the other side of Batang Samarahan. The ferry service used to be free but RM1/- per vehicle is a bargain as the alternative land route is much longer but is necessary at times when the ferries cannot operate at low tides.

Pretty name, pretty morning ...

Sitting and waiting ...

After crossing the river, it’s another 20 minutes drive away before we turned off the main road to catch a sampan this time to get across the river to Beliong where we began our cycling adventures yesterday …

The 'other' Primrose as our path crossed/overlapped(?) mid-river

Labels: Cycling, Explorations

Stumble It!

It had been a beautiful but hot Labour Day but that did not deter Simon my neighbour who invited to join him for a ‘short’ cycle to the nearby ‘Samajaya Industrial Estate’ (whose roads would be deserted on account of the public holiday) but I had a guest who was visiting us from Houston, Texas. But Simon has extra bikes around the house like I had kayaks so we invited George to join us and he gladly accepted as he had been well-fed since he landed in Kuching for his 3 weeks holidays in Kuching and he wanted to burn the calories.

Simon being familiar with the route led the way while we were happy to take it easy and tag behind at our own (slow) pace. Eventually we caught up with retiree Mr. Sim our 67 year old neighbour who lived in the same street as us and who had left earlier than us. It was the first time I had cycle with him and he soon put us all to shame leaving us panting and aching as we struggled to keep up with him! I somehow managed to take a few snapshots in between catching my breathe! So here are the pictures! It was a most delightful ride with great company on a wonderful day.

Labels: Cycling, Life, People

Stumble It!