Early Morning at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa

I seem to be more busy since falling out from the rat race.  There are more people clamoring for my time than before.  I'm also finding time for things I like to do which I could not do earlier.


One of my current daily routines is an early morning walk around the lake at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa (Titiwangsa Lake Gardens).  The view is fabulous.  I brought my camera along the other day and these are some of the shots I want to share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of people at the gardens at that early hour.  These include those who use it as a short-cut to get to their places of work; workers of the local authority (DBKL) who are there to maintain and up-keep the gardens; and people who use the tranquility offered by the gardens at that hour to exercise, to socialize (this is particularly true of the older visitors), and generally to have fun.

 

 

 

There is, however, another side to the gardens, which I feel is disheartening, that is the littering.  Based on my Bukit Tabur experience, I realize that people who take care of themselves are also the ones who will take care of the environment and everything else around them.  Those who 'couldn't care' are those with a low self-esteem and low self-respect.  Maybe some of the NGOs who are shouting about this and that 'rights' should actually be looking into these two aspects of Malaysian life.  

This reminds me of a Tamil song I heard long ago, where part of the lyrics translates something like: 'before you start demanding your rights (urimai), look at how well you are discharging your responsibilities (kadamai)'.

 

 

 

The above are just some of the 'less distressing' shots of the littering problem there.

One of the rules or by-laws of the park states: "No dogs allowed!"  So while there are plenty of stray cats around, you'll never see a dog at the gardens.

Pesta Chow Kit Kita (part 3 - last part)

They came from all over.

A visitor checking out the leaflet that was distributed.

Local artistes were on hand to lend support to the event.

The highlight was the unveiling of the Chow Kit map mural by the VIP guests...

... who were non other than the young participants themselves.

One of the activities was the walk-about tour of the area with small skits being performed by the participants.

A short briefing to those who registered for the walk-about.

One of the stops was Jalan Chagar, where I grew up.

A game of marbles anyone?

One of the children playing badminton with a racket made of cardboard.  Guess who he was portraying...

... ME!  (The banner says, "Rubbi as Uncle Shaik.")

Every of the children performing had an adult 'side-kick' as a safety precaution.

In addition to those on took the tour, passes-by also stopped by to watch the performances.

Each of the performances was based on an actual person in the Chow Kit area...

... and it was carried out as close as possible to where event took place.

The two street painters at the graffiti wall.

The local arts community lending support to the event.  Sorry that I'm not able to identify them.  (My age shows, doesn't it?)

The facilitators being recognized.  Kudos for their untiring efforts working with the children. 

One for the album, the children and the volunteers that day pose for a group photo.

Three cheers for a job well done.

I'm so looking forward to Phase 2.

Pesta Chow Kit Kita (part 2)

At about 11.30 a.m a street parade was held to promote the Pesta and to invite the local inhabitants to the event.

This is part of the Faces of Chow Kit photo exhibition.
Chow Kit is more than just Malaysians of Malay, Chinese and Indian origins.  It includes the various groups from Sabah and Sarawak such as Kadazan, Dusun, Iban, Penan and others.  A sizable community of peoples of Indonesian, Thai, Myanmar, Nepali, Bangladeshi and other Asian nations also exist here.  Of late peoples of African and Middle Eastern countries can be seen here.  Chow Kit is a true melting pot of all peoples of the world.

The street parade was lead by the White Percussion Unit who had volunteered to perform at the Pesta.

The local 'Arts' Community has been very supportive of the whole project.

Don't be fooled by the pieces.  It's not always chess, sometimes it's just checkers thats played here.

The parade went right through the Chow Kit market.  Here the volunteers are handing out leaflets about the Pesta.
Leaflets and posters had been distributed in the area during the past few days, however it was not as 'noisy' as today's distribution. 

This is the way 'ayam pencen' (lit. pensioned or retired chicken - layers that are past their prime laying age) is prepared for sale.

My friend, Farook, who has a 'teh tarik' (tea) stall in the vicinity of Masjid Pakistan came out with his son to check out the 'commotion'.

An elderly Chow Kit 'regular' studying the leaflet. 

The parade ended in about an hour.

"Where is my portrait?" is probably on his mind.

"Is that me?...naw... cannot be."

Visitors to the Pesta were just as colourful at the Pesta itself.

A crowd is always a good location for any enterprising person.

I liked this.

It was hard work for the volunteers but it was fun too.  I don't know if the banner at the back (LUCU is Malay for funny) had anything to do with it, but these volunteers were having a whale of a time.

To be continued.....