Taman Sahabat aka Friendship Park

Side Note: Finally, I have got a NEW camera to replace the one that is currently dying. What a joy !!


I have been dying for a photo-shooting session ok, more like many many photo-shooting sessions around Kuching since the day I got back from being away for so long. I know the Kuching folks will bark viscously at me since Kuching has always been such a boring place, right? To certain extents that could be true, but once you stop seeing things the usual way, and pick up the simpler and smaller things, then you will be able to witness the grandeur underneath it all. Everything, anything can be beautiful, if you choose to open your eyes to their beauty.

WELCOME TO TAMAN SAHABAT

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER

Thankfully there was Ann and Jee, who were kind enough to accompany this poor soul for a round of happy-snapping at our very own local park, Taman Sahabat (in Malay) or Friendship Park. I have visited this place a couple of times more than a year ago, and for those of you readers who have been keeping track of this blog eons ago, you would have recognized this place that I have blogged before. Nevertheless, this time, equipped with a different camera, a heck lot more of experiences and a much fired up inspiration, I was taking the photos rather differently.

For those of you who are not from Kuching, or from Kuching but living a passively ignorant life like most people locally, here is a brief introduction about the Friendship Park.

SKY, WATER and GARDEN

THROUGH THE MAZES

The entire place was constructed to commemorate the ties and mutual relationship between Malaysia and China that has stretched reasonably far back in the history. *yawn. The entrance to the garden, the fore front portion of the park was designed based on local architecture and cultural resemblance, mimicking Malay and Dayak influences generally. Stepping to the fake lake part of the park, there was a platform, symbolizing a boat, carrying a giant statue standing on top of it, which was supposed to be the Laksamana Cheng Ho. This is a metaphorical symbolization of China, traveling on their ships to Malaysia back in those days, thus the water resembles the ocean that separates the two nations.

If you fail your sejarah in SPM you might possibly not have the slightest idea who Laksamana Cheng Ho is.

LAKSAMANA CHENG HO

CAPTURING SUN SPARK ON WATER

From the point of that giant statue of Laksamana Cheng Ho onwards, the garden basically reflects a very strong Chinese influence, with Pagoda like huts and buildings, Chinese oriented plantations and the significantly dominant China Town stereotypical welcoming arch.

This blend of two distintive national influences are somewhat a rare fusion, but one would only notice the deep thoughts and careful planning being laid out on the landscaping procedures if one truly takes a moment to ponder a little.

It is a sad thing that these parks are not something that common in Kuching. Unlike Australia, where huge parks are built in almost any suburban areas, the parks here are far apart, and considered rather few.

BAMBOOOOOOOO

PURPLISH PINK FLOWERRRRRRR

STRIKING WHITE

Maintenance wise is another issue, I just hope that the standards and cleanliness of this Friendship Park will be properly monitored and cared for. It would be a shame to come back to Kuching again one day to find that all the beautiful plants are reduced to piles of overgrown grass and bushes, and the water in the lake stench of dead fishes.

I guess the only thing missing from the photos are models !! Ann was too shy to have her photograph taken. I swear I was gonna make her look to the sky.. Hiak Hiak Hiak...

THE CHINESE RESTAURANT

THE ROOF STRUCTURE

Anyway, thanks sooooooooo much for having me around with you guys Ann and Jee !!! Too bad my time in Kuching is kind of limited this time, else we could explore somewhere more exciting. Nevertheless, I do see a lot of future opportunities, and we shall shoot Kuching (or somewhere else, you know what I mean) again someday.