May 9, 2014

Post Card of Sibu : Ramin Way

 I used to hum the tune "I have often walked down this lane before...."

Ramin Way was the road my family would walk along to go to the town centre, to the cinemas. The Cathay Cinema was on the left of this row of shops in the post card. That cinema showed Cathay Movies and often kids were thrilled to watch the midnight shows featuring P.Ramlee and many Indian stars . (Kapoor family). Youths crowded in front of the cinema, to be seen and heard!!

Kok Ching Coffee Shop, at the end of this row of shops, was often filled to the five foot way with basket ball players, cinema goers, and other men about town. Teachers, students were seldom seen in the coffee shop. Good women did not hang out in coffee shops then. They were not to be seen. Old women went to coffee shops like Lok Tien Yong, Three Friends, Hock Lung Hin where the proprietors were women.


Ramin Way was the second road in Sibu to be called a Way. The first one was Queensway. The third road to be named a way was Cause  Way. After these three roads no other roads were named this way. Because road names became jalan this or jalan that after Malaysianisation.

PC (3)
Post card of Sibu - Ramin Way


The Ramin Way then had a row of shops on each side of the road, with islands of greens and trees in the middle. Cars drove in one direction only and that was quite an innovative idea in the 1960's and 70's. Other roads like Cross Road and Blacksmith Road were nattow.

The Hollywood Photo Studio was a happening place to us kids then. Wedding photos were taken there so at times we would be able to catch sight of the beautiful brides and handsome grooms going up stairs and we would stare at them. Afternoon lessons would give us the opportunities to meet these special episodes in our lives. Because in those days, the wedding lunch would be at NOON and after the event, the couple would be taken to the studio to have their photos taken. In those days, it was not at all practised to have wedding photos taken before the actual wedding day.

another memorable shop was the newer branch of Ngiu Kee which had moved from High Street.

The block of shops featured in this post card is called the Hollywood Studio block which was special because these shop houses had spiral staircases at the back. That was really very innovative and many people used to come around to have a look at how girls went up the stair cases.

In fact some of us girls were told not to climb up them when we visited one of the families we knew. They lived in a shop lot opposite the Sibu Boys' Club.

Those were the days!!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe you can get some of the postcards that Mr Ho Kah Moo (Believe he already passed away). He used to sell black and white rare postcards of Sibu. I bought a few from him. Wonder if any of his relatives still keep them. He also sold stamps and old coins.

Ensurai said...

Thank you. Will check with some of my Sibu friends when I go back to Sibu one of these days.

Anonymous said...

And they hung the old Sarawak colonial flag. I can see CHng Hua primary School at the far end.

Ensurai said...

In those days, and today too, it was mandatory for every shop owner to own the correct flags. There were a few shops in Sibu which made flags only!!

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

coach outlet
coach outlet store online
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin sale
michael kors outlet
adidas nmd
cheap jordans
jordan 3
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors purses
burberry outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
jordan retro 3
oakley sunglasses
polo ralph shirts
abercrombie
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet
timberland boots
coach outlet online
nike roshe run
air jordan retro
christian louboutin outlet
louis vuitton bags
true religion jeans
louis vuitton
toms outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
louis vuitton handbags
fitflops sale clearance
adidas trainers
longchamp bags
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
timberland outlet
coach outlet
ed hardy clothing
kobe bryant shoes
vans shoes outlet
ralph lauren outlet
2016.7.14haungqin

jeje said...

ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet factory
ralph lauren polo
mbt shoes
new balance shoes
nike outlet
christian louboutin outlet
christian louboutin outlet
air max 90
coach factory outlet

yanmaneee said...

yeezy 500 blush
supreme
kevin durant shoes
yeezy
authentic jordans
curry shoes
paul george shoes
curry shoes
yeezy 350
off white jordan 1

Soh Mien on First Day of Lunar New Year

 Today 10.2.2024 is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Dragon. Yes I have cooked the chicken and made the soh mien. Happy New Year!!...