The Nostalgic Merdeka Mural Of 2008

This is the Merdeka Mural 2008. It shows Tunku Abdul Rahman, our 1st Prime Minister at the centre of the mural with the flag of Malaysia behind him proudly proclaiming Merdeka. 

The mural measures 244 x 122 x 5cm so its pretty big and it is from the collection of Dato’ Yap Lin Sen of IGB Group who commissioned artists Shen Jiawei, Wang Lan and Wang Xu to create.

I have segregated it into 4 parts though i am told it was done over 12 panels.

This first part portrays Malaya before Merdeka and the image and characters of the time eg Malacca, Francis Light, Pangkor Treaty, FMS, WWII, Japanese invasion and Sybil Kathigasu - a heroine from Papan, Perak.

This is second part ... can't recognise all the personalities, probably the first Cabinet except for Brother Ultan Paul of St Michaels Institution ( another personality from Perak) and .....

....still on the 2nd part  .... our 1st Prime Minister Tungku Abdul Rahman doing the Joget  .... this was how old Malaysia used to be...ahhh memories.

This third part has Lee Kuan Yew and David Marshall (on the left) with Tun Razak and Tun Dr Ismail below him depicting the split from Singapore and then rise of the arts, Sudirman and professional personalities Ungku Abdul Aziz and Sultan Azlan Shah in sports attire and Raja Nazrin Shah (again Perak personalities) ....

This 4th part shows the progress of Malaysia through its sports men and women, Mokhtar Dahari, Nicole David, its business entrepreneurs Vincent Tan and Francis Yeoh and its artists like Yasmin Yussof and Ramli Ibrahim .... isn't that Sai Baba .... they are all included.

It is a very well thought out and interesting mural because it includes a lot of individuals and personalities who helped shape the country long before Merdeka and after until 2008. 

But looking at it now in 2019 goes well beyond and tells of the challenges ahead.

Selamat Hari Merdeka Malaysia.

JAG

Long-Tailed Macaque's At Gunung Lang

Saw this family of long tailed Macaque at  Gunung Lang yesterday.

Seems like the only place that animals feel at home are these limestone hills surrounding the Kinta Valley.

When you think back there is nothing left other than the hills that feels like home to these Macaque.

JAG

Two Day till Hari Merdeka - Fly the Jalur Gemilang

Mayor, Ipoh Councillors and MBI 

JAG

Flying Boulder From Quarry Blasting But No Pre-Alert To Neighbors

Wong Puan Foo poses with a large boulder

A private land owner has reported that blasting from an adjacent quarry had sent boulders flying into his side of his property and endangering his workers.

Wong Puan Foo, the owner said the incident happened at 4.50pm on the evening of Monday 26 August.

“I was at my farm at the time when I heard a loud explosion. I saw debris entering into my property.

When I went to investigate I saw huge boulders and rocks had entered into my side of my property. At the time my workers were working and the ‘flying’ boulders could have been be harmful to them”.

....points to the boulder and rocks 

....... that flew in from over the top 

Wong’s farm is located at Gunong Lannoh, Simpang Pulai and his neighbors are quarry operators.

He said the blast did not fulfill several conditions that should be adhered to ie 1) there was no pre-alert to the nearby owners of a blasting taking place and indicating a date and time and 2) before the blast no warning siren was given.

Furthermore, added Wong, this time the blast was in the evening when it normally would be between 12pm to 1pm.

He would refer the matter to the Minerals and Geoscience Department for further investigation and action.

JAG

TIGA Bar, 35 Market Lane … Try Finding It

Comfy and cozy .....

Never knew this place existed. Maybe it is because they don’t have a signboard just a sort of 1 foot  poster AND they don’t open their front door …. entry is thru the back door.. hmmm sounds shady that.

I DISCOVERED it tonight because their front door was open ... it was their anniversary you see.

 

Note the small poster atop the door 

I poked my head in, looked comfy and cozy and inquired about the place. Was told its been I year now but they didn’t open the front door. Entry is through the back and was showed the lane to enter.

The lane is after another shop lot in the middle of Market Lane, a wood lined path  leads to behind the shop where there IS a back door that gets you back in.

Went in and came out by the side of the bar.

Bartender said beers start from Rm15 though they had some nice cocktails.

It was late and will check the place out some other time.

JAG

Tin Alley – Retaining Ipoh Old Town’s Heritage Image

Tin Alley at 3 Lorong Bijeh Timah 

There are so many new establishments popping up at Old Town but they don’t resemble an image of the place any longer more like New Town hipster cafés.

But Tin Alley’s ‘Art in Ipoh’ last weekend cast a new light on art and culture still being very much alive. It had been awhile since the opening up of Sekeping Kong Heng, Concubine Lane and Han Chin Pet Soo.

The gradual commercialization of Concubine Lane and sprouting of hipster cafés brought in a new image to Old Town.

Thank goodness for the heritage Singhalese Bar, Ho Yan Hor Museum and even Happy 8 Hotel for giving adaptive reuse a purpose.

Now comes Tin Alley. From the invite to so many artists and their exhibits, the wonderful 5 member Chinese festive drums to the wide open spaces of Tin Alley proved that the Arty mood was still intact.

 

The 'lorry stage' at the end of the Alley was appropriate

This 'Ghost Month' stage organised by the Perak Lorry Driver Dealer Ass'n at the next block was not part of the Arts festival but.....

Creative minds. (from left)  Phillip Wong and Tan Kai Lek (centre) the owner of Happy 8 hotel

Phillip Wong with that participants, artists and students

Applause by knocking on wood

Tin Alley 5 member Chinese Festive Drum ensemble

The artists dining at the gallery .....interesting

children dined at the mezzanine floor 

The wide  dining room at the back 

Wide open spaced gallery

Indeed it was a wonderful night to expand one’s mind.

JAG

We Made It - 12,580 Visitors Attended Sama Sama Riuh

12,580  ...a surprised Tan when told the numbers ....(all pix's from Tan's Fb page)

“Live headcount for #samasama #riuh is 12,580 visitors. We've made it!” screamed the first line on Exco for Tourism Tan Kar Hing on his Fb page a few minutes before midnight on Sunday 18 August.

The statement added “to organise more curated creative platform as the way forward for the state, not only for the program but providing platform for Perakian to showcase their talent. We need to seriously work out the long term plan for the creative industry”.

When I met Tan earlier the same day at PECAF, the Perak Cartoon Fest 2019 at PORT he was overjoyed that the first day of SamaSama Riuh had already reached 8000 visitors. He had expected that number to be the turnout for the 2 days of the event.

A check on Riuh states that “it is branded as a creative platform, not just a bazaar, with the inclusion of workshops, specialty items, creative vendors, arts and craft, jewelry, apparel, unique foods and live entertainment under one space … to make up the overall Riuh atmosphere”  

Riuh is also a Malay word for loud festive noise and is pronounced Ri-Yoh which is a catchy name for an event.

Could this a turning point for Tourism Perak. Only time will tell.

JAG