Category: People

Protection Of Mother

“What did you just say to my mom?” The wide eyed, startled and angry kid seemed to be asking me.

Me: “Told her she’s really beautiful and have very nice features like that of a Bollywood star”.

I wished I could tell her that but I don’t think she’ll understand me.

I must brush up on my geography, too. When I asked her which town she comes from in Myanmar, I couldn’t figure out what she said and spelt. Not her fault. I’ll carry a paper map of Myanmar next time.

She nodded her head and smiled when I asked if she is Muslim. There are 136 ethnic groups in Myanmar. 135 now according to The Lady..

Photography Notes: This shot works because I got down to their eye level by squatting too. That probably startled the kid. Lol.

I would have allowed more headroom for the mother but didn’t think the kid will repeat the reaction. So I reacted and clicked before I could properly compose.

Also, the scene will look bad if it was taken from a standing position, looking down.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, especially to the many SINGLE MOTHERS, who raised her children single-handedly under very hard circumstances. It is hard for a nomadic refugee.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 2500, f11, 1/200 sec.

#documentaryphotography #streetphotography #migrants #myanmar #burma #mother #child #mother #refugee #sonyalpha #a7r #zeiss

A Little Known May 13 Story

When I was doing my story (hash tagged #tvssblc) on the Leprosy colony in Sungai Buloh, I interviewed Abdul Rauf, a former inmate who has recovered after a long stay inside.

He now runs a successful nursery business selling plants and turf grass. Except for a few deformed and missing fingers, there is little clue he was a long time sufferer of the contagious and feared disease.

His memory is still sharp and he told me many stories of life in the settlement. He has a great sense of humour and has much fond memories of his extended stay in the colony. A mysterious Chinese man, I befriended earlier, named “Africa”, purportedly one of Rauf’s best friends, led me by motorcycle to Rauf’s home.

When he told me about the various incidents such as royal visits, I asked him about the dreadful May 13 racial riots and whether it impacted them. He said many residents panicked and rumours were rife. The Malays hid at the mosque and surau when there were rumours of Chinese gangsters arriving to attack them. Kepong nearby was notorious for Chinese gangsters. Similarly, Chinese inmates huddled together in the churches and temples. Can’t remember if he mentioned about Indian and Orang Asli patients who also formed cliques.

There were a lot fears and distrust, he said. Finally one wise English doctor asked them. “Let’s be honest. What outsiders are going to risk coming in here??? Normally, people will run when they see lepers!”

Then the lepers starting to hug one another and started asking, “Who have we got as family apart from ourselves?” According to Rauf, their greatest worry was the supply of food and that it may run out with the curfews and disrupted supplies. Then they declared that they will share their food with one another in order to survive together. In recalling their unsubstantiated fears, he suddenly laughed very hard. We hugged and laughed hard together.

What I interviewed him on 28th May 2016 but kept the story for today.

#leprosarium #sungaibuloh #colony #leper #settlement #history #life #sonyalpha #a7r #zeiss #tvssblc #racerelations #may13

Cute Sukee Nang

During our journey, I asked my model Pin Pin about her exotic looks, I found out that her father is of Hainanese descent, I told her the history which her father never told her. Local Hainanese people are known for their culinary skills, especially fusion food.

Hainanese are from Hainan Island China where many of the islanders were fishermen. Maybe because they are on a separated land, their language is different form the mainlanders. Sukee means own people or kaki nang in Hainanese lingo.

In their long fishing trips across Polynesia, some seafarers married indigenous people and have children. This may explain their exotic physical features such as darker complexion, deeper set eyes and taller noses

Chicken chop, chicken rice and kaya-butter toasts are some of the more well known Malaysian-Hainanese cuisine. Many also used to work on the KTM trains’ catering coaches. How did that come about?

A Hainanese historian suggested a theory. They were latecomers to Malaya. They came after the second wave of mass migration in the 19th century by the Hokkiens, Cantonese, Teochews, Hakkas and other migrants.

My former boss, an influential Hainanese and intellectual told me much. By the time his ancestors arrived, all business and job openings were controlled by powerful clans.

Without a membership card, it was not easy getting a job. They ended up working for colonialists as cooks and caretakers. Many worked at the bungalows on hill resorts such as Fraser’s, Cameron’s and Kenny Hills.

They experimented and enhanced recipes by adding Chinese touches. They made some fantastic scones and marmalade on the hill resorts. It is also claimed that they modified a kebab leftover from a garden party one night and added peanut sauce.

The creators named it “Sar Tay” meaning ‘three pieces’ in Hainanese, and voilà!; satay was born. Could be an urban legend. Many think kaya (egg jam) is Hainanese when it is actually Peranakan from Melaka. They came with the 1st wave of Chinese settlers during early 15th century.

#tototo #melaka #hainan #history #chinese #food #hainanese

Angry Men Sitting In Front Of Coffee Shops

Angry Men Sitting In Front Of Coffee Shops.

A coffee table book should be about coffee or the traditional kopitiam that serve kopi. I am thinking maybe one day I should publish a coffee table book titled “Angry Men Sitting In Front Of Coffee Shops”. I always get some death stares when I stand in front. I think it is territorial aggression. I am a stranger or outsider from another town they sensed

Not all are angry men though. That’s how they react to a stranger with a camera. Engage them to find out more. They could be philosophical, for example. Like the elder man of the Orang Asli duo in Behrang (bottom pic). I asked him what was he thinking so hard about? He told me everyone has problems, with a heavy sigh. True. I replied. What’s the solution then?, I inquired further. He said “Let’s order another bottle of Cap Rusa Arak (a potent legalised local moonshine). The younger gentleman then asked me for my car and phone number. He started writing down all the permutations for lottery bets later. Love their decadent lifestyle . LOL.

#coffeeshop #kopitiam #orangasli #streetphotography #smalltown

The Bruneian Poor Man’s Harley

The Bruneian Poor Man’s Harley.

Brunei’s Kuala Belait wet market is like what our Central Market used to be; except the art deco building is circular.

I met vegetable seller, Bujang, inside. Somehow, we started talking about big bikes and he said he’ll go home to get his bike to show me.

It was the fairly rare Hyosung GV650 Aquila, a shiny cruiser. I remember distinctly Bujang telling me is China-made but a Google search later revealed it is a Korean product.

He described it as a poor man’s Harley for those facing mid-life or three-quarter life crisis. Bujang was 65 at the time.

The poor man’s Harley for Bruneians still cost a hefty USD 8,000 before tax. It is tax-free in Brunei, of course. I like the reaction of his then six-year-old daughter when she saw her dad returning with the bike. That’s Bujang’s wife’s bike behind the daughter.

Kuala Belait is the second largest town in Brunei, after capital Bandar Seri Begawan.

There are now 5 good hotels or more in small town Kuala Belait.

Book here: http://www.mycen.my/hotels-in-kuala-belait-brunei/

#documentaryphotography #streetphotography #travelogue #travel #market #biker #motorcycle #cruiser #superbike #harley #hyosung #aquila #brunei