Visitors marvel at old Kinarut town buildings
Published on: Sunday, April 07, 2019
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The Tamu (bazaar) on Saturday draws crowds of visitors and petty traders alike. People start coming from outside the area to get what they want as early as 5am
Another part of Kinarut town.
All kinds of sea marine produce can be seen spread out on tables waiting to be grabbed.
Bambangan, a wild fruit akin to a mango, is seen in abundance at the Tamu. Some locals from other areas go there just to get the Bambangan to bring home for pickles.
Juliana used to live in one of the units of this shop house.
Some of the older women said they could not find sweeter or juicier ones like those in Kinarut.
There are also many kinds of fish, squid of various sizes, lobsters, meat, all kinds of snails and some “creatures” that look rare and weird.
The structure of the building is maintained.
On one of the tables, puffer fish were aplenty, which prompted the writer to approach the seller, asking why is he trading such poisonous fish. The fish, called “Fugu” fish in Japanese, is poisonous in certain part of its body.
The seller, however, pointed out that the plump and thorny-looking fish is safe for consumption and the poisonous one is a different species.
Wild vegetables and fruits are available at the Tamu.
Having been enticed with sea creatures and wild vegetables, it is the wooden buildings that charm visitors and caught the attention of the writer who happened to do her morning marketing there.
The township of Kinarut is located midway between the districts of Penampang and Papar.
For the older generation, the settlement holds fond memories. Too often, however, one has to coax them to share what they remember about the town.
The wooden shophouses in Kinarut also evoked memories of what Donggongon used to look like in the 1970s.
“As kids, we used to roam around those quaint shophouses after classes ended.
“We would go to the shop for the lollypop that we liked and so on. Life then was really quiet and in a much slower pace. We were not in hurry to get home.
“Being in Kinarut is like going back to the 70s where wooden buildings were seen all over Donggongon and other areas,” said another visitor.
In one of the coffee shops in Kinarut, the writer had her first cup of coffee.
Some of the buildings in Kinarut town.
Even the cups were from the olden days. Strange, but true, the drinks tasted so much better and nicer when served in such cups.
Despite the laid back surroundings and a time-warped scenery, there was a flurry of activities that the writer was not able to strike a leisurely conversation with the owner of the shop.
The goods in the shop are old and some of the items are rarely seen in modern café.
This snail species is popular among the Kadazan community.
The tables are marbled top and with antiquated chairs. These are easily 100 years old and are still usable.
There is a kind of “reminiscing the lost time” feeling upon being there.
Evelyn Charlie, a Kadazan from Papar, was quite instrumental when it came to old buildings like those in Kinarut.
“So much can be done to retain its originality. There is value behind these heritage buildings. They have the beauty of their own which money cannot buy.
“Most of all, these antiques remind us of the life we had in the yesteryears.
“Its authenticity must be preserved. People outside the State would love to visit antique buildings as those who appreciate history would value these,” Evelyn said, adding that Kinarut has the potential to become an art and cultural township those in Penang.
“We could learn from Penang… how they preserve their heritage sites. Today, many tourists visit Penang. It also helps improve the State’s economy.
“It is important to do it now while the old buildings are still standing. Otherwise, nothing will be left for us if we don’t act.
Bambangan fruits are in abundance when the season arrives.
“Other districts which still retain their old buildings should keep them and maintain only the necessary parts without removing the original structure. With this, the town is able to attract tourists to stay for a cup or two,” advised Evelyn.
She said there are plans to make the area along Papar road into thematic creative concept when the right time comes.
Juliana Yong, a Sino-Kadazan from Donggongon, Penampang, said it reminds her how life used to be when her family lived in one of the shophouses in Donggongon in the 1960s to early 1980s.
“I could clearly recall how Donggongon was like then. Even the price of certain items I can still remember.
“Daily Express newspaper then was 30 sen. All the kuih were 10 sen for three pieces and vegetables were like, 20 sen for a bundle,” she said, smiling.
Looking back at her childhood time, she remembered how the buildings were bulldozed one evening after she came home from school.
Some of the seafood sold at the Tamu.
“I may not recall all the incidences, but I remember this one time when a big tractor bulldozed our place and I actually cried in my heart looking at our place being torn away.
“That fateful day was a weekday (school day). Everything was normal in the morning and when I got home, there was no more building,” she said, relating the bitter experience.
She was traumatised after the incident. “Fond memories can never be traded for money.”
For this very reason, she expressed her appreciation and support on the move to preserve the old buildings in Kinarut.
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