Lutong Shophouses (2008)

Monday, 27 October 2008

KKChew emailed:
> Hi Folks,

> Some may have already heard or known about it.
> It is with sadness and emotion in me to convey this short message
> and bad news that the 2nd row of wooden shop houses at Lutong
> went up in smoke on AM 24/10/2008.
> They were built in the year most of us came into this world - 1954.
> A significant chronological date to most of us.
>

> Many and most that were born and bred here had also witnessed
> that most of those iconic Shell ETC (Elevated Timber Construction)
> quarters around Lutong Town had also disappeared - demolished.
> Sally was last here and in her memory lane did not get to see the
> wooden semi d ETC that had previously housed them at
> Jalan Merikan and later another by Jalan Machinda.
> It will be also no surprise for Mag in her next planned transit
> itinerary to the fame Mulu, as the detached ETC
> that ever housed them, by the cross junction near
> Good Shepherd (the Lutong Anglican Church),
> is but a flat ground.

>
> An unpleasant but sad update which I had refrained to announce
> earlier of the recent fire mishap, in order not to spoil the appetite
> of particularly the 3 lunch diners at Mid Valley.
>
> Regards,
> KK

Jamel emailed:> O dear. I guess it's a reminder to us that we can go too!

Dr.Amin emailed:
> Sorry to hear the bad news and I hope no one was injured.
> The shop is quite a landmark when I was schooling those days.
>
> The more reason why we need to get together soon.

Aisah emailed:
> I wonder whether the shop is insured! Just the right time that
> we're coming back for the gathering and will definitely see
> the remnants later.
> I recall it's a real "Cowboy" town with all the friendly folks
> living around.

Bong emailed:
> Really sorry to hear about that, any people took any pic?
> Hope no body got hurt.

CheeShak emailed:
> Yes, Indeed we should meet more often to share views &> updated each other on day to day activites.

Ismawi emailed:
> It is sad but things like this sometimes have to go, by choice,> luck or just fate, .... and be replaced by a much permanent symbols,> we too can be like the Lutong Bazaar ....
KH Leong emailed:
> "Expecting the world to treat u fairly coz u are a good person
> is like expecting the lion not to attach u coz u are a vegetarian"


That was so sweet and thoughtful of KK. He refrained from sharing with us when Sha, Meg & I were having lunch at MidValley on the 25 October, which was the day after the mishap of the Lutong shop.

From KK's email, I thought the whole row of shophouses were burnt down, but thank goodness, it wasn't. Most importantly, I hope nobody was hurt.

Yes, I remembered that row. There were two rows. They were wooden for a long long time and then one row was changed to concrete and another row left as it was, as in these pictures that I took and posted in "Lutong" in August 2007




Wednesday, 29 October 2008

In reply to Bong's email, SKLeong took pictures of the fated shophouses and emailed to all of us:

> This is my second try sending out the pics,
> the first one i send had a message saying file not delivered,
> so may be is the pics file too large or wat,
> so i had reduced the size again, i just took this pics this afternoon,
> hope tis last row of the wooden shop houses can bring you
> back some sweet memory in LGSS.

I really don't know why this row of shops were not rebuilt to concrete. Now I think the remaining wooden ones had to be pulled down to make way for a new concrete ones.

Celebrating Mooncake Festival in the Church

Saturday, 20 October 2008

The Chinese celebrated this year's Mooncake Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) on the 14 September. The Miri branch Chinese celebrated it with pot-luck dinner and some games.

The decorations:


Brother & Sister Dean socialising with the members:


President Chan busy with the games result:



Happy gathering

Miri Petroleum Museum

Monday, 8 September 2008

The first oil well in Miri was drilled in 1910. That was 98 years ago! I wondered how Lutong Shell would celebrate in 2010 when it turn 100 years!








I like the view of the Miri city from here - Canada Hill

Crossing the Baram River to Brunei

Monday, 8 September 2008

I remembered as a little girl, Kuala Baram was the first location where we board the ferry to cross to the other side of the river bank to go to Brunei.





Then the ferry crossing point was changed to another location further up the river.






Now the place is so quiet because there is no more ferry crossing. Now you drive across the Asean bridge to go to Brunei.

Elder Wong

Sunday, 7 September 2008

I knew he was posted to the Miri branch and I wondered if he would be still there. Elder Wong, the son of a dear friend of mine, when I was in the Kota Kinabalu branch.

Yes, he was still there. Elder Wong and his companion, Elder Romney. The latter is so tall!



Sunday, 29 September 2008

I was visiting the Kuching 2nd Branch, sitting in the back row when this familiar Elder walked in. Elder Wong's transfer was not announced. He left the Miri branch on the 23 September!

Met another another friend that I knew from the Kota Kinabalu branch - Brother Aaron. He is much taller than I saw him last.

Brother Aaron, Elder Wong and his new companion, Elder Walters

LGSS Class of Form 5

Thursday, 4 September 2008

I was thrilled when Angela asked me whether I would like to visit the Lutong Gov't Sec. School tomorrow. And more thrilled when I learnt that it was in relation to the school's 45th anniversary celebration on the 2nd November.

We were the 1st batch of Form 4 and Form 5 in the school. Just 1 class of Form 4 Arts in 1970 and 1 class of Form 5 Arts in 1971.

Classmates: Peggy, Catherine, Irene and Angela. Catherine was our class prefect and also the head school prefect.


Our LGSS magazine in year 1970: Excelsior
I forgot I was one of the magazine committee. I didn't know I was that good enough to be chosen :) Don't know where my copy of the magazine has gone too???? I didn't take it with me when I got married and moved out of my parents' home.


It is now called Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan Lutong, which is actually the same as Lutong Government Secondary School, but in the national language. Our medium of instruction was in English but it has been changed to Malay later.

Friends

Monday, 3 September 2007

What will your life be without friends? I think I would die early because it would be so lonely. Friends from childhood, adulthood. Friends from primary, secondary, college, university. Friends from work, hobby, social, church.

I am so grateful for friends, that I know, who are mindful of me and who supported me through thick and thin. I am grateful for friends, that I can think of and look out for, who I could forget myself in.

I am so grateful for friends who have shown and taught me about going through trials with faith, acceptance, cheerfulness and a positive attitude.

Today, Angela (a secondary classmate) and I were happy we were able to visit Agatha (a workmate) who has a heart problem, who could only drink a certain amount of water a day and Catherine (a secondary classmate) who has breast cancer.

When will I see you again?

Got Her

Thursday, 30 August 2007

This morning I was so happy to see Sister Maria. She had told me where she was working and I had the wrong place in my head all the time. I even went to the wrong place a couple of times. Of course she wouldn't be there! I asked the different people working then and he/she would tell me that she was not working that day.

Sister Maria didn't think that I had been to the wrong place when I told her I have been trying to visit her there.

Miscommunication here and there. Anyway, what is important now, is I have found her. And where to look for her!

Lutong (2007)

Monday, 27 August 2007

Small town, 7 miles from the city of Miri, it is the place where I have lived for 17 years. This morning saw me capturing pictures of what it looks like presently. I am sure the scenery will change in years to come......... Now, it is a mixture of old and new buildings.

Road leading to the Shell Office



Shell Offices - Old and New





Shell Industrial Clinic



Petronas Carigali Office


Lutong Recreation Club


Sarawak Skills Development Centre


Once a cinema, now a church


This was a popular place for the Lutong folks when there wasn't any TV yet. Tickets were 1.50, 1.00 and 0.50 MRinggit. Mum always buy the 50 cts ticket and the 3 (me and my 2 younger brothers) of us would tag behind her. The man at the door is a friend of Mum. Me and my 2 brothers would sit on the floor if we could not find any empty seats.

Beside the cinema are food stalls. The food stalls are still there. People now frequent there for drinks only, unlike before where more things are sold for people to buy and eat while watching shows.

No change to the stalls next to the former cinema.


You can find ice kacang/chendol or any other drinks there now. My favourite ice kacang/chendol is sold by a vendor there. The Ice kacang there cost only 1.20 MYR a bowl, the amount just the right amount to quench my thirst on a day afternoon. Compared to other stalls in Miri town, this is the cheapest and the most nicest for me. Just the right amount and the right taste.


The Post Office


Living in a small town in Lutong is great. If you know when to go, you wouldn't have to be in the long queue. No parking problem. Can always park at the cinema which is just across the road and walk to the post office. I got to post my letters there, pay my bills there too. It is just great!

The Police Station


The police station was originally located at the new Shell Office. Now it is operating from a Shell quarter.

The Playground


Lutong Market


This hasn't changed for years!

2 rows of shophouses, 1 had been facelifted, the other not yet.


Lutong Primary School


It has grown prettier than when I was there. I studied there from Primary 3 to Primary 6. Lian & Yean studied there too!

Road to the Lutong Government Secondary School


Lutong Government Secondary School



My secondary school from Form 1 to Form 5. It has grown in size: more buildings, better landscape, more parkings, more students. etc. etc. Interestingly I happened to be the 1st batch of Form 4 and Form 5 students of the school, and only Arts students. I am glad because I didn't have to travel to Miri. LGSS was the only secondary school in Lutong and is still the only one to-date. Now there are Form 6 classes too.

What a nice quiet place to relax behind the row of renovated shophouses. Can see the Lutong bridge from there.


The Miri river


From the Lutong bridge, we could see the Mosque, the Good Shepherd church and also the Shell office.


The Pujut-Lutong road to Tudan, Senadin, Miri Port Authority and Kuala Baram.