PICTURES WITH A STORY .....

Often we glimpse at a picture or pictures and never attempting to see or read the stories behind them. Often concluding that it or them has or have no stories to tell. Very true for only the photographer can tell us the stories within that picture. Especially when we have right in our hands pictures dating back many years ago.

Let's go back a few decades back when pictures are in white and black and discover the stories. Well I am able to tell the background to that picture because I was the photographer. How we dismissed the facts and the stories within because failing to look deeper and unwary of the wealth within. 

                                                                     PICTURE A                                                              

It's a quiet and peaceful. No traffic except for two persons about to cross the road. Even then they looked cautious.  It's early morning, a beautiful day with a slight breeze in the air. Obviously it is not of the current time frame but one snapped in 1957 when Malaya was heralding its Independence     (Merdeka) The signage on the arch framing the road tells all. There is a picture of Tunku Abdul Rahman the first Prime Minister for all to see when they passed by. 
 

The road is still in service in 2015 but transformed through the years to be a busy double thorough fare. Imagine only a bicycle or two on the road minus the cars , motor cycles lorries etc. The air is cleaner and the trees grow to their full heights and right to the road boarders. Years earlier a horse drawn cart would also be on the road. Alas all that has gone. 2015 sees a total change of the area fronting the road side at ALOR MERAH four kilometres from Alor Setar city centre. 

All the greens are gone. Bare and brick buildings have taken their places. You risk your life if you do cross the road without watching for the heavy traffic to and fro.

picture B

This is a picture of Alor Setar in 1955 with imported British cars parked in front of Bangunan Wan Mat Saman ( now the Kedah Religious Department). A 'Humber' or a Hillman Minx could be the model of the car. Angsana trees lined the road stretching from Bangunan Balai Besar to the corner of Jalan Raja and Jalan Tunku Ibrahim. The white building stretching across the picture was the PWD office and later became an art gallery. The open field in front of the PWD office is known as 'Padang Court' the public open field for the Alor Setar community where all state functions were held here. Its proximity to the Zahir Mosque and Sultan's office and in the centre of the town makes it the "Town Padang" typifying itself as many other established town padang in all the state capitals of Malaya and Singapore.

A look back at history, glimpses at old pictures will open our eyes to yester-years and that too if the old pictures are still safe in our keeping.

                                

DISCOVERING OUR PHOTOGRAPHS: PHOTO ARCHEOLOGY

My recent reading, alerted me to the needs of under standing the photographs we take. Seriously each one of us as photographers have owned cameras of all types and the seniors among us would know that there would be a large collections of photographs stocked somewhere at home. Not surprising the old cameras may still be around. 

This subject addresses the photographs at hand and seriously how do we value them. It may be interesting to ask in the first place why do we take the photographs. What do we focus upon in the photos taken? Do we take photos of individuals? Do we go for landscape, scenery, buildings, developments, news-worthy or candid photographs? If we had the time to analyzed our photographs we may come up with several classifications: " I took pictures of friends and families". 'My photos relate to scenes of the countryside"." I record new developments as I see them". I am sure if we go through our collections we could separate them into many classifications.

Our journey through live, especially all the stages of development: schooling, higher education, service and career, family etc all in themselves must have a record of sorts and we cannot fail to trace them from photographs that  surely must be around in drawers , boxes, albums etc.

What do you do with the pictures taken? Print and keep them or sent to friends etc. Not likely you would sell them, unless you are a professional photographer. With face book, you may post them for others to see. Now with 'WhatsApp' it opens a new direction. With 'photobooks' you may start a collection.

Old photographs are especially valuable especially to historians and 'photo- archeologists'. I am inclined to history from training and education and therefore my collections of photos plus my directions at focusing the lens would naturally go towards that direction. Inspired by this discovery of the great values of photographs, especially in our ability, skill and training to decipher their intrinsic values and contents our directions  should focus on discovering our old collections especially those of the early 40's and 50's. Our chanced training and posting overseas for those who had that opportunity would help to document from our collections of photographs life and style then. You may never know what the photographs have hidden in the background less you look and become a Sherlock Home yourself.

I know for sure my earlier collections of photographs of Europe in 1950's of Singapore and Brunei of 1960's and others taken during visits would surely be a new discovery of wealth and information . 

 

This photograph is one example of much that can be discovered but more often than not we only give a glimpse and failed to notice its intrinsic values.  By the way it happened to be a picture of my late mother and her parents. Sadly I never took the opportunity to ask her about the picture when she was alive. One thing I know it must be dated as way back as 1915/16 based on her age. My earlier consideration was the great opportunity I had for possessing the photograph not realizing it can speaks volume of the decade then. 

It does not take a sleuth to realize the the nature of the dresses worn, nor the headgear and 'kris' on the grandfather's body besides the chairs as exhibited. The background itself has a story of its own, if only you wish to decipher. The wooden grills on the window and take for example the hat left to dry on the pole, all left questions to be answered.  It obviously has a story of its own i.e period before the first world war.

Lately I have been scouting for the 'beca' or trishaws. Typical was the one seen in Penang, Kelantan or Malacca. Hoping to purchase one at least. 

The likes of one seen above have never been seen in Kedah but this picture definitely shows that such vehicle was available in Alor Setar before the second world war. 

Only on a recent visit to Bangkok we found the likes of it there. With the tourist guide I posed for the picture.Obviously the vehicle is not on the road, since congestion would not allow such as one to move around. Yet there is continuity, the old vehicle is taken care with love and now positioned for others to admire and a collector's piece .

Old photographs, going back sixty, seventy or even a hundred years go would certainly be of great value. Nevertheless how many among us realize that? If you are one of the senior members of this blog you would agree with me that it is time we look back, fall back and re-evaluate the content and treasures in them. Yes the old and newer photographs seriously have within them wealth of information. Further we must be sure the reasons for our habits of snapping away .... surely with reasons and intentions whether we use the camera,the telephone or other media that record things for posterity.

 

 

This black and white photograph was taken since I saw the students competing in cutting the logs. They were Australian National University Canberra students of the Forestry School (1972) Looking at it one may get a story of its own.

OPENING THE PANDORA'S BOX

 

A wooden box that contained precious loving and treasured items

Yes as I have indicated earlier in the previous blog story, a visit to an optician helped me to discover her Pandora's box and what a content it was. You would never expect to find such treasure pieces in such an establishment. But there they were all over the place and displayed quite exquisitely .  The owner while attending to the customer and that being my wife allowed me to have a look at her collections and even allowed me to photograph the pieces. Obviously she must have collected them through the years and for sure there must be many others not displayed in the premise. 

 

I guess you would be able to distinguish the pieces  and just consider if you have seen any of them before. If they are unfamiliar to you or looks out of this world then consider them as collection pieces and much sought after. For sure you may be lucky to come across any one of them but no doubt you would have to pay quite a sum for any of them should you wish to posses one of them.

They stand by the framed window but surprisingly passersby don't even give a glance. Obviously  no one would care to look into the glass frames of the spectacle shop unless they want to see the optician.

Chinese porcelain containers, plates etc

  

As much as I was surprised to find her prized collection, I was stunned to know that she had departed with several pieces of antique and old Kris just because she was told that it was bad luck for her to keep them. 

Wow it was a discovery indeed and leaving me pondering what else this lady optician would have in her home. Yes it was a wonderful day to realize that someone in town is also a collector of antiques and it is admirable that she had found time to collect such beautiful pieces.

                                                
                   How many pieces do you see here?

   Old Chinese silk slippers with their straps framed  for keep

An antique tiffin carrier or container. Sadly we use plastic now

Do spare your time to search for such collector's pieces around your town or village and you may be surprised what could come up. Possibly you may come across collectors surprisingly as I did. In our town there is no curio shop and perhaps one could be started.

Getting to know 'PERAK MAN'

If you should have friends from the state of Perak in Malaysia you would know that they are referred to as  'orang Perak'. meaning that they are from that Malaysian state known for its once famous tin industry and bordered by Kedah and Penang in the north, Kelantan and Pahang in the east and Selangor in its southern part. 

But what of the 'Perak Man'?

More likelihood you would not have met the 'Perak Man' unless you are a scholar of civilization and well ventured in prehistoric period study. We had the opportunity to come close to this gentleman who is now making history and a name for himself. Naturally putting Perak and Malaysia in the limelight, especially having received recognition from UNESCO. Alongside him, a town and district named Lenggong Perak is now beginning to steal the lime light just as Penang and Malacca have captured tourism and educational potentials for their heritage domination. Mind you the Perak Man has traveled far and wide, even to Japan and Kuala Lumpur in his condition.

Lenggong is a quite town and district surrounded by hills and mountains with Tasik Reban and the Tasik Chenderoh imposing it with a lay-back and picturesque atmosphere. Sungai Perak  one of the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia flows in the district emptying itself in the sea off Lumut many kilometers away.  Nesting along the new highway Grik - Kuala Kangsar road it promises future growth and development. The Rest House at Lenggong and the Tasik Reban Resort currently accommodate visitors to this area and evidence of development and growth forthcoming is quite perceptible. In no time towns nearby such as Kuala Kangsar, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar have to vie for visitors.

The Perak Man was founded by Prof Dato Zuraina Majid and her team from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1991 disclosing one of the longest records of early man in a single locality and the oldest outside the African continent. Featuring open air and cave sites with palaeolithic tool workshops and evidence of early technology it was therefore a great discovery. On our visit we were shown several sites that suggested the presence of a fairly large semi-sedentary population dating to prehistory. Yes you could certainly read more by clicking your mouse for further information.

We were here to know about the discovery and the locality but more specifically to be briefed regarding the proposed museum or site preservation of the area. Recognized and acknowledged by UNESCO therefore it requires a permanent display centre or museum that would attract international as well as national visitors to the sites It therefore calls for architects to submit proposals.

One of the prehistoric sites at Lenggong

Therefore it calls for further visits if need be. Nevertheless it does give a new direction and approach. 

   We had to walk through this mangrove area to get to the site situated at cave.

     A view of the present museum at Lenggong

Yes there was a huge interest shown by the number of attendance at the briefing session

 Dato Prof Siti Zuraina Majid the archaeologist and founder of Perak Man with Hjh Wan Fatimah. Prof Siti Zuraina delivered an account of the Perak Man while briefing the needs for a larger Museum and other site centres at Lenggong.
  .

    As seen in the Lenggong Museum a replica of a cave site. At the moment of writing Perak Man has not yet returned to his home town though we understood that arrangement has been made to bring him home.

Around the Lenggong area you will still be rewarded with quint homes like this. However it won't be for long as development moves in. Land cost is still affordable and you won't be troubled even if to buy 2 -3 acres of land.

For the night we lodged at Tasik Reban Resort.

Limestone caves like this would be your destination if you want to visit the sites where diggings have disclosed the historic discoveries.

An outcrop surrounded by fallen leaves. A distraction? Maybe not.


You may have visited Borobudur , Angkor Watt , Indus and Euphrates's  Valleys and other world sites however do make a visit here and the Batu Pahat Site at Merbok in Kedah to learn of Malaysia's early history.

'OMBAK RINDU' THE FILM - A THROW BACK INTO TIME

It was many months ago that I last visited the cinema to see a movie. No. It has been no less than three years ago. Last Saturday with the urge of the family I found myself at a matinee show in the cinema hall at Alamanda Putrajaya. The movie 'Ombak Rindu' was good in all characteristics since it pulled you to see the film to the last. Scenes shot at Gunong Jerai, Langkawi and a riverside some where in Kedah  all made the movie authentic and alive. Sufficient that it is a box office hit now. Not to mention the actors and actresses for their performances. As the title goes be ready to have your tissues ready. 

No I am not about to talk about the film but to grasp with one that came to mind when I was waiting in the foyer to enter the cinema hall before the scheduled time. At that very moment I was transported back into time. Not far back but distance enough to retreat at least a half century ago. I looked at the colorful posters that acclaimed the movies on show or the forthcoming ones. They were sizable printed copies large enough to be noticed ten yards away. They attract the audience to realize what are forthcoming at their favorite cinema.Those posters and other photos about the current movies on show or those forthcoming must have come together with the movies. The people at the movie house have only to place them where necessary. 

You who knew the cinema as before may recollect that cinema halls in the past had resident artists as their employees. I remember 'Pak Hassan' of the Empire  Theatre in Alor Setar. A senior man in his forties he had the indomitable duty of painting large sized posters of the forth coming movies at the cinema. Be it a 'tarzan' picture, a gorilla or a 'Gary Cooper' cowboy film, you would find posters right in front of the cinema hall  days before the film was scheduled for screening. They were not life size but giants in comparison. I remembered that his drawings were life-like and attraction pullers. At times they were paraded round town attached to the bodies of lorries that canvassed for the films currently on show.  Pak Hassan must have been 'commisioned' to draw hundreds of posters, portraits of movie stars and other images. Thinking back if only those posters or 'masterpieces' were salvaged they would have been a collector's dream now. Imagine selling them in EBay or at Hollywood itself. And what about the productions from the other cinemas in the country. Alas we were unaware of their contributions or we failed to value their assets. Like many others they suffered the fate of being discarded. Yes much we do not know and only live to regret. Now there are no more Pak Hassan or no more resident artists at the cinema halls. I do not want to think whether Pak Hassan's sons or daughters managed to salvage some of his works or if ever they realized his contribution to the arts in Malaysia.

Then, I gazed at the wall with eight slots marked " Now Seating". At first it baffled me. If we had only one cinema hall with all its characteristic then here the audiences had the choice of eight halls showing different movies at specific times. Entrance is allowed once the slot is lighted. Just like others I too waited for the lights to be on at No 2. The hall where Ombak Rindu would be shown. What an adventure! Back then either the black curtain was pulled aside or the door was opened with the attendant standing to tear your ticket and returned the other half to you. Keep it for otherwise you may have to move from your seat if someone demanded to sit there. Now tickets were numbered and you sat at seats allocated. Back then for several classes, early entries get the better seats; unless you bought first class or reserved class seats. Let's not talk about the comforts of the seats!   

Purchasing tickets? If it was a good movie expect there to be a big crowd. You would probably buy tickets through the black market.Of course with extra dollars for the guy who had ventured forth to push himself over the crowd at the ticket booths. All are made easier now. You can buy tickets via your phones and pay pal etc. Maybe the adventure of going to the cinema has been taken away. 

Back again to the past you would not like to bring refreshments into the hall. 'Kacang' or 'koci' would be acceptable for reasons you would know why. Surprised when the lights were on after the show at seeing the floor of the cinema halls. Now 'pop corn' and beverages in containers accompany you into the hall. Even in exclusive kiosks you may be served with hot drinks too while enjoying your movie.

Be that for the meantime as the opportunity allowed me to recapitulate what comforts we enjoyed when going to the cinemas during times before 'Merdeka'. But one thing for sure we picked up and improved our English with attendance at the cinemas and reading the 'movie news' magazines. Even learning to sing popular English or later Hindustani songs came from the frequency of patronizing the cinemas. Yes we even gathered 'programs' or pamphlets  that were distributed in the towns by distributors who came on trishaw or lorry. 

The old cinema halls have all been pulled down or converted to other usages. At one time it looked like the movie houses were destined for their ends.Sadly or otherwise the new cinemas with their technologies are making a come-back and the movie industries  are moving into finer directions. TV programs were heralded as putting the death knell to the movie industries. That too has not come about. In fact movies come into TV as well with purchases to be made for the movie you would like to see at home.

It is interesting to know how the movie houses in US, Japan etc are functioning now. What are their extra qualifications in the industry?

BEST KEPT HERITAGE ARE AT HOMES

        

A typical wooden window frame with movable shutters

               A cannon ball which has other usage as well

ANTIQUES, FAMILY TREASURES AND HEIRLOOMS are found at homes. That is if the homes have been in existence for many decades. Or if the family have moved but have salvaged all if not some of the old artifacts,with them, then they are safe and sound. However the vagaries of nature may contribute to some damages.

        An old Siamese clay offering bowl in its original design and hand painting.

Dinner Plates are favourite collection pieces. They come in varied design

      A clay bowl in the shape of a duck used as a face powder container

I am thinking that as we prepare to tidy the house for  Shawal or at any other time, why not have a good look in the corners or inside old containers or even under the house if it  is the old Malay homes. You may be lucky or surprised to find items which the antique collectors will be glad to have their hands on. Now that antique markets have sprouted in most towns, surprising us with prices of items for sale, why not salvage any that may be around the homes. The items could be anything that our parents or grand parents have possessed and remained in the house for years without us knowing and realizing their values and significance.   

  

You can find water- containers aplenty at Kuala Kangsar Perak but to come across an old one like this is a lucky opportunity. I believe it is referred to as 'Koja"

I am no great collector myself but thankfully I have long realized  the uniqueness and the antiquity of many of the old collectibles and have saved or kept many items of beauty and significance. At least having the care and continuity to appreciate the old odd collections that have been either bought or owned by the families before me. Likewise hopefully our own children and later generation will know their significance and treasure them too. 

Imagine choicest watches, cameras , hand phones, personal computers, type-writers and even clothing etc of your time being discarded and only to realize that they are of value because of their uniqueness or production. Jewelery pieces of your grand- mothers , mothers and wives in all their ornate designs are treasure pieces. Not suggesting that you take them away but cautioning that they are not traded or exchanged for modern items. Books too are collectibles.

       

An old valuable  'ketam'', an important tool to the carpenters and house builders before until electric tools take precedent

Perhaps it is easier to impress upon you the significance and inherent beauty and fascination of old items if you see some of my collections. None were purchased from antique shops etc but all inherited by virtue that I care and seek out for them even when I was in school before. Most fortunate we grew up and lived in the same house until the late 20th century. Even then the house was never abandoned. It lives on, reconstructed and reallocated. 

Thus our home now carries on with that episode. Wishing that the children too will place the same values and significances.The decorative pieces on the walls and mantelshelves etc thus are not newly bought items but reminders of what our grand parents and parents found as luxuries of their time. They are priceless treasures now permitting us to live on sharing their antiquities. 

May you find your search produced assets to your satisfaction and lead to more discoveries. One advice especially: " Have a keen eye " 

Nevertheless,the mystery and the unanswered questions prevail. How did the pieces get to be in the home? Who bought or owned them? If you know that your parents too were in the dark about them, so did they belong to your grand-parents? Become more interesting as you may question where did they get them? All that makes the discovery a challenging episode as there are questions to be asked.