January 9, 2013

Nang Chong Stories : Wooden Plankwalks, Bridges,and Pontoons

The Rajang River had more than 40 Foochow villages from 1903 until 1970's . Today the villages seem to come alive again. Associated with old villages are bridges, plankwalks and pontoons made from wood.

As we revisit some of the Foochow Riverine villages like Nang Chong (three sections) Ensurai, 24 acres, Tanjong Kunyit, we are remind of how much the Foochows have used timber in their daily lives in the past.

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A small pontoon.







to link one house to another house along the river bank, and across small streams. (Photo by Steve Ling)




Many plank walks can still be found even in Sibu town itself (This is at the back of Amoy Road, Sibu - Photo by Steve Ling)




This is the old Mosque of Sibu. See how Kampong Nyabor was linked to Kampong Datu by

 a belian bridge.

It must have been a labour of love from our ancestors who built these structures. How they slowly fell  the trees, saw the wood and planed them into planks...and slowly piece by piece they fashioned the bridges, the plankwalks and the pontoons.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

with that virgin forests were destroyed

Ensurai said...

No virgin forests can only be destroyed when bulldozers and companies are unkind. If it is only a man and an ax against the forest, there will be regrowth and regeneration and mutual respect.

Jay said...

Those photo remind me of my fond memories during a short stay in Sibu. My recent trip up the Rajang river was in last November. An enjoyable trip up to the uppermost iban longhouse in Baleh, Ng Entawau. Hope to share some photo in my blog. Thank for keep writing article about Sibu.

Ensurai said...

Hi Jay

Keep writing too...Thanks for the comments

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