Category: People

A Moment of Contemplation

Still in Behrang, I walked into a vintage Indian grocery shop to get a soda. Met a friendly and sweet old lady there. She’s the proprietor, is in her seventies and operates the shop by herself.

The surroundings seemed deserted and she appeared delighted to see a new customer. Delighted not so much for the sale but for a chance to talk, I guess.

After the initial chat, I asked if I can photograph her as we speak and she agreed. Glad I asked because she was very natural in front of the camera. Depending on the subject we broached on, her facial expressions changed quickly from that of amusement, fear, excitement to sadness.

We spoke about the decline of Behrang town, the floods that hit her shop and life in a small town. I asked about her children. She turned her eyes away and paused for a little contemplation.

With a heavy sigh, she explained they left for the city a long time ago and no longer stay in touch.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 1600, f4, 1/250 sec.

Thinking About Life

At a coffee shop in Behrang, two polite gentlemen asked to share my table. We introduced ourselves, chatted and ended up becoming friends; exchanging phone numbers and all. They even invited me to their village to eat durians.

They are Orang Asli of the Semai tribe (aboriginal people) from nearby Kuala Slim. Sal (left) was busy writing lottery numbers to place bets on. I asked him if I can go to his village to ask for lottery numbers from the tree spirits. The Orang Asli are traditionally animists.

Mon (right) told me to drink up and the numbers will come. Haha. The Cap Rusa (Deer Brand) Chinese ‘Rose Road’ herbal liquor is potent stuff with alcohol content stated as 20%. Not clear if it is measured by proof or volume.

At extreme left, is waitress Vivian originally from Surabaya in Indonesia. It was her cooking that lured me into this shop. I caught whiffs of enticing ‘mee hoon kueh’ boiling when I was on the street outside.

Such wonderful and friendly people, all of them. Listening to their life struggles, stories and beliefs is humbling and enriching at the same time.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 2000, f4, 1/60 sec.

Truly Malaysia

Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli and Lain Lain folk playing mahjong together. Genuine harmony without slogans or proclamations. Feeling honoured and hopeful to have witnessed this multi-racial get-together in Behrang.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 3200, f4, 1/125 sec.

Young Man In The Net

In a fishing gear shop in old Behrang town, I met 15-year old Sean who is a keen angler. In between preparing for his exams, he helps out at his aunt’s shop where he puts his knowledge of local fishing spots to good use.

When Indonesian customers walked in, Sean broke into fluent Indonesian and indulged in friendly repartee with them. He spoke surprisingly good English too. While I was impressed by his command of the various languages, he showed another skill worth noting.

It was the way he fielded incessant questions from me. What he didn’t know or was unsure of, he admitted so. What he knew, he answered with precise facts and figures. Something of which many of our politicians can learn from.

The shop’s name is Syarikat Alat-Alat Pancing Ikan Soon Huat. Surprising though that Sean, being a young person, doesn’t believe in a Facebook Page or website for the shop. He said the shop is already well known.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f6.3, 1/250 sec.

The Rohingyas On Land – Lost & Found

We found the kitten in a drain, eventually. The kind man retrieved the fallen stray and it was reunited with the mother.

It was my lucky day. Further down the street, I was to stumble upon another animal lover and witnessed another good deed.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 320, f4, 1/200 sec.