Tuesday, January 03, 2006
1/03/2006 04:01:00 PM

Taman Sahabat, Kuching

posted by Francis Ho

On New Year’s Day, Taman Sahabat (Malaysia-China Friendship Park) was ‘semi-officially’ (soft opening) opened to the public. It would be officially declared opened by the Chief Minister or his Deputy during Chinese New Year, so I've been told. Just 4 months ago we used to live in the semi-detached house at Jalan Song 3C1D and the back of the house faces the park where there is now a (hideous) sculpture of a pair of intertwined love cats. I am glad I don’t have to look at it everyday! It was a plain-jane but clean and decent park where we used to walk our 3 dogs every evening after dinner. Talk about drastic make-over!
Here are some snapshots of some portions of the park which would no doubt be a popular destination in Kuching and would be blogged ad nausea by every sarawakian bloggers and photographers wannabes in time to come ... however you see here first. See how 'kiasu' I can be sometimes!

I had been asked on several occasions why on earth (their words not mine) did I moved away from such a 'lovely' multi-million-ringgit park? It's a no brainer really - one is man-made (read artificial and sterile) and the other is nature-made; and there is really no comparision; and if you cannot tell the difference, to each his own, and well like the song says – “but leave me the birds and the bees”. The concept of the park as a 'tourist-product' also cuts no ice with me ...






BTW, here's the proof - in case some of you may be wondering if I do take photographs of other subjects apart from flowers, trees, skies and water! Photographs of my kids and dogs are an entirely different story though as they are so camera shy; and I hope I can achieve some measure of success in this regards in 2006! We'll see.
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14 Comments:

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  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger HappySurfer said:

So quiet, not a soul. You're right, very artificial. No picture of the intertwined love cats? Nice pix though, esp the first one. Thanks.

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

happy - you're FAST! juz posted n still editing the text actually!

took the 1st pix before the soft opening. actually the place is very popular and crowded in the evenings and at night when its cooler.

pic of the ugly cats? have to go bak another time ... this time w people in the photos liaow

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said:

fh2o...

funny u decide to blog about taman sahabat cos i had just visited the place yesterday and the day before.

not to burst your bubble, but someone has blogged about taman sahabat many moons back.

btw, my friend is the architect! hehe...

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

mangroovedan - hey first one to blog after 'soft opening'. legal ok! the others are trespassing and should be arrested many moons back.Illegal! so not counted!
and i'm sure my pixs are better! ahem!
ur fren i m sure's not a kayaker nor nature lover ... ;o)

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said:

haha... funny u mention that the blogger should be arrested... cos he really was almost arrested for some "offence".

nope she's no kayaker. the rest i am not so sure.

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

mangroovedan - i think i know the ass u r talkin' about. drugs r not cool, period. self-indulgent, arrogant, foul-mouthed, egoistical n ignorant young punks also cuts no ice with me, sorry.

from what i gathered a large portion of the park is designed n built by the China people. like they were saying - the nice parts are done by the china chinese while the crappy stuff were by the locals ...
hey! i hope u were not the consultants! no offence ok!

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Robin CHAN said:

I think I know when you take this pics..

Is mangroovedan = junglejoe?

haha.

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

Wakey wakey robin!

Kuroni is junglejoe or joe2c and mangrooveDan has juz joined the fold.
however both r engineers.

mangrooveDan got his feet wet on his maiden paddle on Swak River on new year's eve morning.
hello hello!

and dont go 'off-topic' again, can or not!

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Robin CHAN said:

Aiyo, so many faces, I lost count meh..

wei wei.. you new headboard of the blog looks quite nice wor. Once you have done yours, do mine ok?

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Chen said:

oh? Taman Sahabat was semi officially opened to the public?
I remember sneaking inside there for preview and took several shots while construction is still in progress ....
kekkeke.. I blog about that in early December :P
together with picture of the intertwined love cats or whatever name u want to name it ~ these cats are damn ugly.. The ugliest cat ever seen :D
I still remember u mentioned in the comments for that post that u lived in the semi detached house (with timber deck extension) right behind the ugly cat.

So, during my next visit to Kuching, the Friendship Park will be officially opened already :D
Good :)

  At Tuesday, 03 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

Robin - sure anything for 'bak kua'!
Done deal; when do u need it Sir?

Chen - yeap! its a soft opening; no more barriers and barb wires - so u can drive in or walk in unimpeded. no need to sneak in anymore! so take plenty of pics to your heart's fullest content!

  At Wednesday, 04 January, 2006 Blogger Robin CHAN said:

anytime, since u now so expert liao.

but I want my chat box high high one.. not like yours.

BTW, looking at your park's pics, it is really ugly (my humble opinion) and in the middle of a housing area.. no trees, no birds.

Which is why I said no, when u asked me to go with u to take this pics.

haha

  At Thursday, 05 January, 2006 Blogger derrick said:

Wow, Great pictures!

  At Thursday, 05 January, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

hi derrick! a warm welcome to malaysia!


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