Monday, July 23, 2007

The Streets of Brickfields

Tun-Sambatan-Road

The row of shops fronting Jalan Tun Sambatan better known as Little India at the traffic junction to Bangsar.

Development-Contrast

Newer development dwarfs the old government quarters that is the main feature of Brickfields

Rozario-Sign

Jalan Rozario, newer development of apartments in the background shows the changing character of Brickfields

Ashram-Figure

Vivikenanda figurine in front of the ashram bearing his name along Jalan Tun Sambatan

Meter-System

A cluster of water meters along Brickfields

Missing-Piece

A chair with some missing bits, for larger endowed ends or convenient potty trip?

Cross-Image

Casa De Fatima, gate detail

Red-Door

Plant, graffiti and door

Prosperity

God of Prosperity idol near a backlane

The-Junkyard

A peek into the junkyard, the man closed the door when he noticed liyin taking pictures inside and later he got fed up and even blocked this little hole

Brickfields is in a constant flux. Caught between the modern and the past. From its humble past from which its has been named, the brick making factory by the banks of the Klang river, Brickfields have seen enormous development in the past decade and finally turned into the transportation hub of KL, although the worst jams on the roads are found here as well courtesy of the small feeder roads and stupid buses parked along a busy 2 way traffic road. The KL Sentral is located here, offering connectivity (albeit disjointed) to various destination and between four main rail line; Star LRT, Putra LRT, KTMB Komuter and the KL Monorail. Despite all the hustle and bustle, travel along the back lanes and you'll see more serene and run down areas which have their own beauty and uniqueness if one is to stop and notice. The area along Jalan Tun Sambatan is an Indian enclave, more affectionately termed Little India. You'll fine a variety of hot and spicy delicious Indian cuisine, stalls selling flower garlands for devotees to the numerous Indian temples and shrines and saree and wedding shops. But Brickfields is also a mixing pot, here lies the Mahavihara, a center of Buddhism for the region, down the road is the Church of the Holy Rosary, and if one was to travel down further you'll reach the KL Mosque so integral to KL's identity. In between the rapid development, you'll be charmed to find quaint single storey houses such as the government quarters near the traffic junction to Bangsar but also slums where conditions can be horrid. Yet there is beauty as well, hidden here is the Temple of Fine arts, a bastion to train the next generation of kids in the intricate and beautiful dances of the Indian tradition. So don't just give the place a pass, walk along the various streets and find out the real beauty there is hidden away.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

i spent about a year in Brickfields College, in and around Jln Tun Sambanthan. It was (and remains) too hot and congested for me to find beauty in it! =) btw, cool pic of Vivekenanda which i never knew existed.

Wai Yien said...

Congratulations you made the top 20, has traffic increased after the announcement?

Keep it up.

http://wai-yien.blogspot.com/

Kervin said...

yen: Thanks for the info, didn't even know I was shortlisted, actually never thought it would happen hehe.

Anonymous said...

Having spent my early childhood from Standard 1 till Standard 5 at Brickfields school, next to MGS school, I must say all your shots have recollected most of my memories there as the only chinese kid that hangs out with the Indian boys playing football, chopping, kunda kundi and shooting cheeries using our hand-made wooden guns. Thanks for the memories, Kervin. And also congrats for being in the top 20 of the AMBP shortlisted blogs.

Check out my own blog at www.andymervingeorge.com. Comment if you may. :)