A Glimpse Into Sri Aman

the nearest town to my grandfather's farm is Sri Aman - about 30 minutes drive along the main trunk road past fields of farmland, jungle, mountain ranges, and rivers. certainly a far shy from big cities like Petaling Jaya or even Kuching, but small towns like this have their own particular charms. we spend most afternoons walking the plaza looking for groceries and farming supplies, and also stopping by at this dingy and old kopitiam for afternoon tea and kaya toast. not surprisingly, you'll find plenty of pencil pushers in this kopitiam having their coffee and cigarette break at four in the afternoon, deep in conversation or perusing the dailies.

walks along the riverside promenade also reveals sights one does not normally find in big cities - people waiting for their boat rides with bags and baskets of foodstuff, rice, petrol, mineral water, and clothing. a lady haggles with a sampan owner, informing him where she wants to go, while her four children and toddler look on with indifference and disinterest. aren't they supposed to be at school now? what are they doing out shopping with mum? these people probably live across the river deep in the Sarawakian forest, and it is only very so often that they come out to town. it hit me that mother couldn't possibly haul all those petrol cans and mineral water bottles back to the longhouse, so she drags along her kids to help her with the load. and she brings her toddler along with her because she's probably unable to get somebody to keep an eye on her. and mother is still trying to get the sampan owner to take her and her kids across the river.

when a trip to the supermarket involves a long trek to the riverbank from the longhouse with a bunch of screaming kids, haggling with the proprietor for a boat ride, buying groceries in bulk, and getting all this crap back across the river, through the dense jungle, up and down hills and mountains, while having to deal with grumbling kids and wailing toddlers, it really puts a lot of things into perspective.

at least we have basement parking. and trolleys. and pizza delivery.

Canon AE-1

Fuji Pro 400H