TREASURES BY THE WAYSIDES

Traveling around the country in between family, friend plus work related duties, we have often come across what  can be termed 'treasures': sites , buildings, art pieces and artifacts. They caught our eyes, perhaps because we strained to look for them and halted the very moment they come into sight. Giving them a miss would be a loss at a discovery of a kind. More over they may not be around the second time you come around. Discoveries too pleasantly open avenues that you hardly know before.The camera however is always close at hand.

1.0 Seen somewhere in Perlis

Take this small hut for example. It is solid, steady and protective by its constructive details. It stands a distance away from other buildings but not too far away for the owner to approach it. You may be lucky to come across one, that stands near the main road. This is a 'jelapang' a storage house or a store for keeping rice or padi that has been harvested: guaranteeing the owner sufficient 'subsistence' for the family  and security in times of scarcity and bad times. Of course presently you may find other things stored in it. 

2.0  At Pasir Puteh in Kelantan

Only last week we were at a village in the Pasir Puteh district of Kelantan and came across this ornate and well constructed 'mimbar' or pulpit translated for its usage rather than anything else. The Imam told me it was designed and constructed by the craftsmen of the village. A mosque in our area in Alor Setar is wanting one and its size or proportion is suitable for the mosque, not being too big or bulky.

 

3.0 In a village at Jeneri in the district of Sik Kedah

 

Old Malay houses surprisingly show many decorative features especially being wooden homes. Here the glass frames decorated with wooden panels stand out. 

4.0 Simpang Empat Alor Setar Kedah

Long and high stair cases. Malay homes would naturally have odd number of staircases.Thirteen or nine would be the correct choice

5.0 A wall in the sky at Singapore

An earlier visit to Singapore  during May 2011, saw us straining at two buildings, miles apart but designed by the same architect.We wonder at first, how could it be. A wall standing by itself but too high in the sky. Then there was another one, a much taller building and right in the centre of Singapore. It seems the architect  likes to challenge our perceptions and his design are as such.       

 

Notice the tall white building on the right.No not a piece of wall but an office building with the normal facilities, though the main building is hidden architecturally by design.

6.0 At Kampong Bunut Payong Kota Bharu Kelantan

This was a discovery indeed. a beautiful bungalow home was offered as a guest house or a home stay

                             

Intricate designed doors and a lounge that were welcoming

An opened courtyard with a grass verge that is pleasant to the eye and a guaranteed safe playground for the children right in the home.

 7.0    At Kuala Besut

  
A goldsmith shop next to a home for the birds at Kuala Besut Terengganu. Notice that the open window has been sealed with brick blogs but permitting a small entry. No wonder, because I have seen even a seven storey hotel building converted into one itself.

                                 8.0 At Langkawi


 It was a lucky day when I managed to photograph the two 'burung enggang' chattering and cracking their loud cry just outside the back porch of our home in Langkawi. The coconut and rubber trees seems to be their playing fields.

Thankful that we continue to be blessed with sights that grant the beauty and magnificence of nature and God's creativity.