Nang Chong Stories : Wooden Bridges

In the olden days, there were only footpaths along the banks of the rivers from one village to another in the Rajang Deltaic region. Many foot paths were actually through the rubber gardens . Bridges were simple - one log affair. Very rare could you find a proper plank bridge.

How good a bridge was in those days depended on the good hearts of the Foochows of the area. Those who were more giving, would construct better bridges definitely. And that would also decide on what kind of wood used.

Today, more than 100 years later bridges are still important links between villages because there are so many distributaries in this area. Some bridges have been built by the government, some by the companies. At one time the government refused to build bridges because they feared that the Communists would take advantage of the better communications.

But today, every one realises that when bridges are built, the value of land increases and development takes place very rapidly.

People change, times change. But everything should change for the good of the people.


Now it is common to see this kind of scenario. A bridge always means that we are almost home.


the curvature of a road, the bridging of two land masses separated by a stream, is always a landmark for us to remember our childhood days.


Bridges were where we met, where we could do our fishing or where we could sit and enjoy the evening breezes after a hard day's work...