Song in B&W Part 1

Song is a small town in Kapit district with 2 hours of boat express ride from Sibu. Song mostly populated by Iban followed by Orang Ulu, Melanau, Chinese and others races.

In history, the town located on the Song River was originally a Malay trading port. "Abang" (patrician of Sarawak Malay) is a well-known figure Hj. Ahmed b. Hj. Omar and Melanau where they exchanged their forest products such as Nyatoh, resin and rattan in 1820s with local Iban people in Song. The Iban indigenous people inhabited the area along the Rejang River, Katibas River, Song River, Lajan River, and Iran River. The traders brought products to Sibau (Sibu) to sell, where there were ships, such as the Ang Bee from Singapore and the Kampar from Peninsular Malaysia. These ships stopped at Sibau before bringing goods to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia at that time. Similarly, the trader brought essential households items like salt, apong Sugar, salted fish, platter bowls, pottery, clothing, gongs, fabric and clothing to be used as exchange with the local traders. A source from Wiki.

What I heard from local people at Song, along the Song river is where the original town located but have been burn down to ashes. Then the local move the town to Katibas. That is why the original Song located opposite the new town of Song which is located at Ketibas. (Advise me if my story are wrong)


Below are series of photos in B&W during my visit to my wife hometown.

Enjoys.

Children enjoys their ice cream cone during the hot day.

People gather to buy fuel for their long boat at the one of the fuel station in Song.

The old man aware of me taking picture of him, so he turn away from me.

One of the walk way at the oldest shop row in Song. A Canon advertisement above head.

One of the Kuih Muih stall at the main market.

Kuli Batak.

Behind alley of the old shop row.

One of the main transportation for local people to their  rumah panjai.

Boat express wharf at Song. During the Gawai Festive, the wharf will be full with people back for holiday. The picture was taken during I return back to Sibu which is on 6th day of Gawai.

Song wharf view from Sungai Rejang. This picture is taken while traveling with long boat.

There are more series of photos while my visit to Song. The photos will show the environment of my wife rumah panjai which is located at Sungai Song. To be continue in Part 2.