Port Klang Views #15 - The Rain Stops, A New Journey Begins...

The rain finally stopped. After the continuous din, there was a new quietness. The air was crisp and clean and in spite of the approaching dusk, a sharpness to the views.

Everything was wet but no longer drenched.

Though dark clouds still hanged low, rays of light were also breaking through clearly visible against the dark background.

We paid our bills and stepped out of the restaurant ready to begin our journey anew. Now that the rain had stopped, these fishermen could once again repair their boat. An older man was showing a younger man the trick of the trade. Wonder if they were father and son.

We got in our boat. I took the cut off bottom of a one liter mineral water bottle and scooped water out of the boat as Kurau guided the boat to head for open sea again. We sailed towards the railway bridge.

These fishing fans did not let the rain deter them. With the rain gone, they came out of their shelters from which they had continued fishing and now fished in the open. They greeted us as our boat neared the bridge again.

One of the "tahan lasak" (lasting) fishing kaki coolly watched us. I salute these guys who are made of stern stuff.

We passed under the bridge and into open sea. Among the dense swirling dark clouds, a ray of light had punched through lighting up a specific spot in the sea. It looked kind of dramatic. I urged Kurau to move there. If we can get under, we may become enlightened.

Our boat headed for the spot of light. "Father, forgive us for all our sins for we have seen the light." Then we remembered, wrong religion for us. :)

Port Klang Views #14 - In The 'Safety' Of The Restaurant.

During a slight lull, one by one, covering our gears; we rushed to the restaurant like wet ducks out of the rain. The few patrons in the restaurant eyed us curiously with our large hats, sunburned faces, kangaroo pouches, cameras and tripods covered in plastic shopping bags and silly grins on our faces. We were not unlike any aliens they have seen. But the smart lady owner welcomed us with open arms, customers on a slow rainy day - God given. We chose a table closest to the river but just beyond the wet reaches of the embracing rain. Ordered hot food and Chinese tea and settled down for a test of patience with the rain.

We took pictures of anything of interests to us. "Capturing the moment" is our motto. Not exactly "Carpe Diem" (seize the moment) but close enough. Here is Kurau making love to the teapot. Our photography philosophy is not exactly quantity over quality but knows that moments are fleeting and once passed is lost forever. That precise moment when something interesting happens have to be captured at that precise moment. So being fast to recognize 'moments' and fast on the trigger are more important than perfect shots for us "moment photographer". The choice is clear for us between a not so well taken shot and no shot... Now in the 'safety' of restaurant, we can relax and take some more photos. Some of these photos are 'moment photos' and some are 'leisure photos'. See if you can spot the difference. To make matters a bit more complex, some are mixture of both...

Rain water dripping from the roof like a curtain. Rain from the sky falling like a veil. And a lone bird flying home. Kind of surprising to see it out in such a rain.

I never tires of taking the fishing village in the rain. Each shot seemed so different from the next.

A sampan parked next to the restaurant.

Our hot food came. Fried rice and Pulau Ketam fish balls soup. They were just absolutely delicious. Our hunger and the cold air made each mouthful a delight. Weather has a lot to do with our appreciation of food. Those who have a coke after a hot badminton game will know how different it tasted. The best coffee I've tasted are the coffee I had after coming in from the snow. When the hot liquid cruised down your throat and warmed your body, the aroma never more fragrant or the taste richer... We savored our food slowly for we had all the time in the world. In this mood, we reasoned if our trip is disrupted today, we can always go another day so relax...

Over in the village, a fisherman in yellow rain coat came out to do something with his boat. I'm really curious why they do that in the rain. It interests me that this fisherman wore a rain coat but with the front unbuttoned. In this rain, that almost offered no protection, he will be wet anyway. It is also difficult to work in that raincoat.

The water was really gushing down this gutter.

It splashed into the river below and formed an eddy which was mesmerizing to watch.

The rain lightened. The water from the gutter now a more gentle stream. I watched as a leaf got drawn in into the eddy traveling into the circle moving round and round each time drawing closer to the center... Soon the rain will stop and we may yet make the remainder of the journey albeit in fading lights.

To be continued...

Port Klang Views #13 - Under The Pouring Rain.

Caught in a little hut by the river while rain is hammering down is - not boring. In fact, it was quite pleasant. The world took on a hazy bleary look as if cloud has descended down on earth. Like a veiled lady, what is left to a little imagination is even more beautiful. It felt different as the cool damp wind brushed against our slightly wet body. It smelt different as the salty sea breeze is diluted by the clear water dumping down on us. Somehow it reminded me of the old days when in the bar we ordered "sky juice" instead of water. In a macho world, it was a less feminine term I guess. Or was it more romantic to impress the ladies that we have some intellect when we have none. The best time for reflections is a rainy day. But getting back to the story - in spite of the rain, there were much activities going on. You have just seen a couple of fishermen taking their boats out in the rain. Here are more scenes, not everyone ran indoor to hide when the sky opens up. I could sit here and looked at the rain, the river for a long, long time without tiring.

The fishing village at high tide.

It will take more than rain to deter the fishing enthusiasts huddling on the bridge or under it.

If you look carefully, you can see the fishing “kakis” (enthusiasts) squatting on the pillars supporting the railway bridge. They must be soaked to the skin. They must also be enjoying the rain. It would be impossible to explain the pleasure to those who don't immediately understand. Only way is to drag them into the rain and left them in an open field to remind them that once when they were a kid, they too enjoyed the rain. What makes it different now they are adult? I won't mind being with the fishermen under the bridge.

A heavy rain doesn't last forever. A light drizzle can last what seems to be an eternity. That is why the Hokkien called it the "Hou Lam Hor" or "crying rain". As the rain lightened but still heavy, the earth took on a new clean appearance.

The lyrics of this song played in my mind "I can see clearly now that the rain is gone". It has not exactly 'gone' as it will take a while yet but I could see very clearly already.

This is an interesting scene. Fishing under an umbrella under the bridge in the rain.

Contrary to what some believes, the world did not go to sleep when it rains. As what this guy is doing -"Row, row, row his boat. Gently in the rain. Merrily, merrily, life is but a dream". What different dreams we all have. His is to fish in the rain.

While his mates scooped out the water before his boat took in too much water.

And this boat went speeding by. You may be surprised at the great amount of activities going on. Try getting wet again. It is fun. If not for our cameras and that we need to continue with our work, we won't mind getting wet ourselves that day.

To be continued...

Port Klang Views #12 - A Man & His Boat In The Rain - Part II

This series of photos complete the scene from where the fisherman took his ship out for a spin in pouring rain and back to the jetty again. Under driving rain, he stood erect as he surveyed and estimated the distance of his ship from the bank.

The river is not very wide just several length of his ship. When he judged the distance near enough for him to start to work on the turn, he used both hands and leg to turn the rudder to turn it.

After successfully making the turn, he headed towards our direction again. As the ship slowly moved and turned under the misty curtain of rain, it was like a dream sequence.

When he neared the jetty, he once again bended to his task to move the ship to coax it into safe harbour between the two concrete pillars of the jetty.

He gently guided the ship in.

As he leaned forward to get a better view through the rain lashing at his eyes, he relied on his legs to do the steering.

It was amazing to watch his display of skill as he handled the ship alone without anyone to help him. It was only 10 minutes or so from the time he took the ship out till he docked it again. I was so glad I was there at the right moment and for the rain to give it that dreamy look for my shots. It was my lucky day and this series will always remained as one of my favorite shots especially as I may never be able to duplicate the exact sequence no matter how long I waited. It was indeed a gift of rain from heaven.

Port Klang Views #11 - A Man & His Boat In The Rain - Part I

As we waited out the rain under the small hut while fierce winds blew and the rain came down in sheets, I noticed a man taking his large boat out parked between the remaining pillars of the former concrete jetty.

This next series of pictures will show him handling the whole big boat or a small ship by himself using his hands or legs whichever more effective to take it for a wash in the rain.

Single-handedly he spun the ship round the swollen river by himself and brought it back again to rest in its original position.

He not only "washed" the ship but also washed himself in the process.

The driving rain, the fading light, the swollen river, the swaying trees at the bank all combined to make this series of pictures quite picturesque and romantic.

I was glad to be here at that precise moment to take the pictures.

It was a gift of the rain...

Port Klang Views #10 - The Rain Came Pouring Down.

We didn't even make it to the restaurant as the rain was really dumping their load on us. We took temporary shelter in a hut where we moored our boat to wait for the tears from heaven to ease. The captain of course has to be the last one off the boat so he absorbed a bit more moisture than us.

Looked at the water to see how heavy the rain was. We could afford to laugh now safely under the little hut. I loved the atmosphere surrounded by the rain, cooled by moisture laden sea breeze. Sitting on a table looking out at the sea, chatting with friends while the rain played their symphony for us – what more does one need? Except maybe a cup of hot coffee?

The Perlama restaurant - so near yet so far. But it was all right. It was comfy enough where we were. We may change our tune when our stomach got a bit hungrier but we can wait if the heaven don't cry too long.

The rain continued... and it was a pleasure just hanging back taking it all leisurely in. Kurau's boat is taking in water. We will have to scoop it all out later.

Big drops of water falling from our roof and the millions of tiny drops on the water.

Dusk is approaching. See the big droplets of water dripping down from the roof. The scene was hazy and took on a romantic air. Maybe I should have asked Kurau to compose a poem.

This fisherman took his boat out in the rain. I'm not sure why when the rains come, fisherman will take out their boat for a spin. To wash it? But it could do just as well where they sit. When one travels, one comes across many mysteries like this (for those who are uninitiated). We wish we know more but often there is no one to explain. But even if we don't know, there is nothing to stop us from enjoying and appreciating the simple beauty of life.

Maybe not all things should have an answer like what is this fisherman doing in the rain?

Soaked to the skin and I suspected he is enjoying it.

Next episode: A Man & His Boat In The Rain...