Better Way to Unleash "That Talent"..?

 A lot of people in Kota Kinabalu are very talented and we have lots of youngsters (and not discounting the older ones) who are very good at "painting" our walls with graffiti.

Mention public or paid washrooms at shopping malls and gross graffiti immediately comes to mind. Go on, check out some toilets at Centre Point Sabah, Wisma Merdeka, especially male toilets, and get entertained with scribbles, sketches, and fancy hand written arty expressions; mostly vulgar words.

I like the efforts by some street artists turning the appearance of the ruins of the old North Borneo Land and Survey building into something more pleasing to the eyes. Stroll along Standard Chartered Bank building towards Tong Hing and you will not miss the sight.

Built in 1910s the wooden building was destroyed by fire in 1992. It remained abandoned until today and in the middle of a developing city it is an eyesore to the passers by.

Look at it today, the remaining columns are interestingly painted and decorated. Subjects of painting is up to the talents. They have messages of their own. I was parked the other day and it so happened that few young people were busy doing what they do best. Great sight.





The building skeletons viewed from Suria Sabah

ms. tweety on the floor

"The facets of misery goes beyond human skin" - interesting caption.

  

Spray painter should at least wear mask, such as him.

"I Love My Antu gonie"




If you ask me whether I've asked for their permission to take their pictures, yes I kindly requested.

Me : Bro, boleh saya ambil gambar kau kah?

Him: Boleh bah, ambik saja.
Me: Great work here! Kamu kena kasi bayarankah buat lukisan banyak ni?
Him: Teda, kami saja2 bah ni buat. Ramai lagi org yg lain buat.

Me : Oo bah, trima kasih aah (kemudian beredar balik kereta).

Sunday Tamu @Gaya Street

Gaya street is well known for its tamu or street fair. The weekly tamu stretch from the Old Post office, present day Sabah Tourism Board, STB, and ends towards Dataran Deasoka, near DBKK building. STB was built in 1916 by the British and well preserved until today. The first sight at the street tamu would be the Jesselton Hotel, a comfortable two-star hotel, also built during colonial times. Gaya Street is sandwiched between two rows of old but well preserved 2-storey shops where one can find many backpacker hostels and budget inns.

.

The tamu starts as early as 6.00am and by 1.00pm most stall owners would start packing their merchandise and ready to call it a day. One would be able to find almost anything from, ancient craft and modern handicraft and DIY hobby stuffs to aquarium fishes to pets such as rabbit, dogs and cats to foodstuffs to flowers, you name it they may have it. On most weeks visitors can enjoy foot massage by the disabled for a fee/donation.

This gentleman is playing the Kulintangan passionately and he welcomed his audience to take pictures of him.

Colourful selection of decorative vases

One of the many handicraft stalls

.

Freshly roasted coffee popularly known as Kopi Tenom. It says "roasted with mangrove charcoal"

.

Washed-up and polished shells attract many admirers and are sold cheaper here

.

Flower pots usually occupy considerable amount of space and that is why one wouldn't be able to see the full selection at the tamu.

Fresh honey and herbs claimed to have health benefit to both men and women, by the stall owner

.