This is the other end and less famous part of the Lembangan River which separated the Island of Sibu from the mainland. The Lembangan River used to be deep and wide, big enough for the Chinese junks to sail through in the 1900's. On the western side of the island of Sibu is the famous 360 mile-long, Rejang River which is now getting shallower by the day. The other end of this Lembangan River is what we now call Pulau Babi,a much written part and famous and also infamous for various social and economic activities.
When I was young I used to buy pineapples and bananas sold by the fishermen and farmers who came by their beautiful boats here as I lived just a stone throw away. In the evenings these boat men would park their boats in this river and sold their goods on the bridge. The small kerosene lights inside the boats at night gave us the shivers. We told each other ghost stories as we cycled home with our pineapples and bananas. The road is still called Bridge Road.
On the left of the photo were Malay houses of Kampong Datu, some of them belonging to my school mates like Onn SuutAbang Ibrahim, Yusuf Ibrahim and Hasnah Salleh. Now these houses are all gone because of urban development and the Malay Kampong has moved to Kampong Nangka. My friends have left town too for positions in other parts of Malaysia.
The landmark building along Kampong Datu Road is the Paramount Hotel.
In the distance you can see the Sanyan Building and the huge open park and RH Hotel.
Sibu has changed a lot and has a total image makeover. Sometimes I think it is a place in China.
No comments:
Post a Comment