1926 Sibu : My Mother's Birth Year

My mother was born in 1926 in a small wooden house in the Rajang Valley. She is the 4th daughter. My maternal grandparents had adopted one boy who became their oldest son for some reason which she was never sure of. My grandmother's first born was was actually our second uncle, very fair and very good looking. We all have fair skin , a genetic legacy from our  Fujian born maternal grandmother.

There is a joke in our family too. If we like alcohol, we have inherited that special taste buds from our maternal grandfather who loved a drink or two after his hard work. Towards the end of his life, he HAD to drink more alcohol to help him forget the physical pains he was suffering. He was suffering from hernia of the big intestines and no one could operate him. My mother does not drink at all.

This photo of Sibu was taken in the year my mother was born. Note the wooden stair case and the five foot way which protected the public from the sun and the rain. The windows upstairs would allow plenty of fresh air. According to my maternal grandmother, Sibu was not hot or humid in those days.

The caption says Republic of China 15th year (1926). Channel Road.



In 1928 Sibu was razed by a huge fire. According to our oral history, the fire was started by a candle which was left burning after a three day celebration of the birth of a grandson of a shop owner. There was no fire brigade in  those days.