Next, we head over to Bagan Hailam or Hailam Village. This is actually not an island but more a peninsula. The other end of Bagan Hilam is an esplanade (where in the last post, the Chap Goh Meh was held) and the Port Klang Golf Resort. It is so-called because most of the inhabitants that stayed there are Hainanese. Their houses are built on stilts and their livelihood is the sea. In the old days you could get one of the old lady in the sampan to row you over to the other side from the mainland by just paying 20 cents when I was a boy. It was a very pretty sight with all these sampan rowing its way to and fro. There was no bridge connecting the river then and that was the only means of transport. That all changed when North Port was developed. Not one but two bridges were built and Tanjong Harapan was born.
A temple on the sea. When the tide is up and the brightly colored temple seemed to floating on the water besides the boats, it is a very pretty sight. And at night when only the temple lights are visible and reflected on the ink black sea, it is really beautiful.
This is one of the many restaurants that lined the waterfront. This place became well known for its seafood restaurants and city folks from as far away as Kuala Lumpur will drive all the way here to savor its cooking. Today, it is not as popular as it was about 5 to 10 years back. Having your food with the sea breeze kissing you makes for good appetite.
Another temple in idyllic setting. The torn temple flags fluttering in the wind.
Another seafood restaurant amid the wooden huts of the inhabitants. How would you liked to have freshly cooked food served in this setting?
We continued with our work and hope the wind will blow the clouds away from us. What do you think? Did it rain or did it not?
Though it looks relatively healthy, Bagan Hailam is also a dying village as the young people moved away from the village to seek a better live. With their departure, the village is losing both its inhabitants and vibrancy. Also, development is encroaching ever nearer to the village. One day, with most of the inhabitants gone and the place too attractive for developers, this village too will be memory of past. I know it will happen. I just hope I would live to see it.
To be continued...
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