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 #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...

Port Klang Views #9 - South Port, Port Klang - III

We drove into the dark hole that appeared too narrow for the boat.

Beneath the wharf, a completely different atmosphere prevailed. The world seemed helmed in and the waves lapping against the pillars echoed eerily through the cavern. The boat bumped and scrapped against their sides.

The mad captain pulled against the upper beams to urge his boat forward.

With a groan, it propelled itself towards the light and sea.

And we slid out into the open sea again. This is the hole through which we exited. Even this wall facing the sea was not free from graffiti.

By now, it had started to drizzle so we headed for the railway bridge spanning Sungei Auf for shelter.

We turned our boat towards the bridge.

At this stage, the rain was still not heavy so we thought we could stay under the bridge temporarily to wait it out. Noticed that there were a number of guys fishing on the bridge.

But it suddenly rained in earnest and the bridge offered scant protection. The sky just opened up and dumped the rain down on us. We decided to make a rush for the Perlama restaurant to take shelter there. The fishing kakis cheered us on while they celebrated the rain's arrival. For them, the fun's just begun.

We were beginning to get wet. I covered my camera as best as I can but still continued to take shots under the cover of my hat.

Next: It rained cats and dogs...

Port Klang Views #8 - South Port, Port Klang - II

I asked Kurau to make a map of our journey that day when we took the boatride round South Port, to Bagan Hailam, the Yacth Club, back to South Port, Restaurant Perlama and then on to West Port, back from West Port we cut through Pulau Indah to come out of Laguna Park and then round Pulau Indah from the other end back to South Port again. Pretty ineffective explaining all these without a map isn't it?


But that Kurau just won't make me a map. One day after coming back Digital mall in PJ, he took me to his house and gave me a 5 minutes lesson on how to make a map myself. That man!! Anyway, below is the result. Please excuse the very crude effort as this is my FIRST map and I'm still proud of it despite its defect. This is the journey I've traveled with you so far - that is back to South Port. You can now visualize our journey better.


The journey will continue from this point later -

This is the map Kurau later did which showed the whole journey we took to supplement the one I made.

This is another view of FFM Berhad that produce all your wheat flour. Notice the bottom of the wharf. Crazy Ikan wanted to take us under them.

We passed by this crane lifting what appeared to be a pipe. Socoil factory is just behind this scene and they and other companies probably used this pipe to pump palm oil to bulk ship.

Passed by this brightly colored vessel. Its construction is different from the other ships. Not sure what type of vessel it was.

This ship was still loading or unloading cargoes. Was surprised that they are still doing it when rain threatened to pour any minute now. Usually, when rain is so eminent, the captain will stop any activities because he is responsible for the cargoes.

We had by now sailed to the end of the wharf. You can see the railway bridge ahead. It was already raining in some areas by now. The dark streaks coming down from the sky were rains.

We went under this bridge first.

Then we turned the boat around and aimed for the narrow hole that looked too narrow to accommodate the boat. We asked Kurau if he was sure. He laughed which did not put us at ease at all.

We drove straight for the hole accompanied by the hideous laughter of our insane captain...

Tune in for the next episode of the mad captain of high sea...

Port Klang Views #7 - South Port, Port Klang.

These boats sat like a pair of Mandarin Ducks in the open sea affectionately close disregarding the rest of the traffic, floating and bopping on the water.

We took a loop and headed back to South Port wharf. You can see the storm clouds being blown towards the direction we were heading. "Hope it doesn't rain". Out in the water, we can only hope can we? There is no shelter in the open sea or is there?

The tall building in the background is the old building of Federal Flour Mills. It has now been shifted to Pulau Indah. The tall round concrete structures are silos used to store grains. It was sad to see the sorry state of the building after it has been vacated. Some of the side paneling has been torn down (probably stolen) leaving ugly gaps. That end visible to us is the Feed Mill and the Flour Mill is blocked by it and the silo. This is one of the most successful and largest food company in Malaysia and their products goes into most of the food you eat everyday be it roti chanai, noodles, bread, cakes, cookies, biscuits, steam buns, etc. Their two most famous brands are "Blue Key" and "Anchor".

This ship is an ugly rusty bucket.

Contrast it against this grand old dame. There is a beauty in wooden ship that iron ship just cannot match. Though it is unpainted and undecorated, it possessed a natural beauty that is a delight to behold.

The front end of the ship. Not sure if it the cargo was waiting to be loaded on or had just finished been unloaded.

Just a simple ship - so simple that it looked almost like an enlarged toy.

Up on the wharf was this worker in his bicycle tapping away short messages on his handphone. Notice the pillars holding up the wharf. We will go hunting for things beneath it soon.

Further down was a security officer recording some information in his notebook. Maybe he is noting down Kurau's particular as "suspicious sightings".

We looked under the wharf as directed by Kurau, not knowing what to find. And there we have them. Two men on the bank fishing - this would not be permitted area for fishing. Kurau knows all the spots because he had fished in all of them before.

To be continued...