The Heavenly Place - Sungai Lembing (II): Her Life

In the city, we always run to get somewhere, something or someone. But when at Sungai Lembing, the running will only ever get you to the same place. We must as well enjoy the slow pace lifestyle and be contented as the people living here. Now I understand the reason Pypy could made her third visit here, as I'm thinking to make the second one. It's a good place for retreat.

Although the town was left to its own, the town people proudly maintain it, keeping the shops going and the local Chinese associations alive (Ha! We took part in their line dancing practice). Whereas the Malay community lived a little further out of town. We saw few scattered Kampung houses a long the way driving to the town. I happened to stop by a Malay kampung asking for direction from a man. I was amazed that I met him again the next evening in the town and he recognized me and asking if I finally got my way! What a man!

We also had a question about what are most of the people here do for living? I finally got the answer from a local. Since the closure of mine in 1986, people are now depending on agriculture and fishing. The younger generation find it difficult to make a living and left to Kuantan and other towns to start fresh from there. Only the aged are left behind. Perhaps with the tourism, it could help to revive the town and give it a new direction.

The view of Sungai Lemving town. Simple and quiet.

The only petrol station in the town.

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 1920s)

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 1980s)

The most “happening” place in the Sungai Lembing Town – the market (in 2009)

The pain of the people - the flood during the year end. Water level can go up as high as 6 meters. Picture showing one of the worse flood happened in 2001.

This picture is to show how the water can flood the town.

A Malay couples just having their wedding photoshot done.

There are a few suspended bridges connecting the villages across the Kenau River to the town.

Students after Saturday class posing in front of an old house made of zinc.

One of the entertainments for the people - playing snoker