"Uptown Cat" Exhibition

The paintings displayed at the Lobby of the Kuching Cat Museum.


This afternoon I visited an exhibition of paintings by four Kuching artists on the subject of cats. The painting exhibition was held at the Kuching Cat Museum, located at the Kuching North City Building at Petrajaya. The word 'Kuching' in Malay means cat. Kuching is therefore very much a cat city. On display were various paintings executed in different media. It seems to me that this painting exhibition is the most contemporary on cats.

The above acrylic painting is done by Ramsay Ong on tree bark cloth of the 'Tekalong' tree or wild breadfruit tree. Tree barks are traditionally used as garments but here Ramsay uses it as a visual painting media rich in texture.

Stephanie Eng's work on acrylic depicting two cats.

Above, Narong Daun uses fabric dye on silk textile.

Michael Lim's batik rendition of the Malay civet cat.

Art Through the Years

My most treasured Art certificate , stenciled on blue manila card. Simple yet priceless. Year: 1966
I have been addicted to Art since my primary school days. When I was 15 years old I won a second place in our school-wide art competition. For that I was awarded a certificate which I still keep because it meant so much to me. Walking up the stage to receive the certificate was a very memorable moment in my life.


Painting plein air at the Brighton Beach, Miri,1968. ( Inset) I'm the one on right of the picture.Note: One of my senoirs at school told me later in life that I was one of those kids who joined the school small, and left the school - small. He admitted I was indeed his 'compact' friend!.I knew now that I was always a late developer. And for that reason I take it to be my duty to learn life-long.

In 1967 I continued my upper secondary schooling at Tanjong Lobang School , Miri. For four intensive years I opted for Art as one of my favourite subjects, among others like Geography, History and General Science. In Miri I was under the masterly guidance of Mr. Voong, my Art teacher who migrated to Australia after I finished my studies at the school. He was instrumental in providing the proper basic Art education in my early formative years. Thanks to him I've never stopped learning Art. In 1970 I sat for the Higher School Certificate and obtained a Principal Pass A in Art. Later in my university days ( 1971-1973) I took History as my major, but never forget to add Art-related subjects as option like - Aesthetics, Buddhist Sculpture in South East Asia, Drama in South East Asia, Puppet Theatre and Children's Theatre. Through these formal studies I learnt many philosophies, methods, techniques, concepts and appreciation of Art in a very wide context.


Friends and Artists pose at my 1 st Solo Exhibition, 14/10/1981, Kuching.

In 1981, I got a new job as an administrator in housing development with a major regional development agency having headquarters at Kuching. Being the Art capital of Sarawak, I took this opportunity to organise my 1st Solo Art Exhibition there. Held at the Sarawak Museum it was the first solo I ever did and grateful that I made it.

Me painting in 1992 at my studio, Bintulu.

It has been a long, very long time that I have not hold any solo exhibition. I have made a commitment to undertake it this year. Like the first solo, it was held to celebrate my 30th birthday and this year's will be to celebrate my 58th . I have less than 27 weeks to prepare for the big day. Anyway, like what is fashionable now, I have opened a web blog to record my thinking, preparation etc for the coming exhibition.To follow, click here. However this new exhibition will be very different because it will integrate all my diverse interests ( I picked along the way) in the show as follows: Photography, Landscaping, Gardening, Writing, Cats, Floral Art, Singing and finally Blogging. The exhibition will showcase my Life Story.

Long Journey to Bintulu

On Tuesday ( 3/3) we left Kuching for Bintulu by road. The journey began early in the morning ( 9.00 am) and would normally take about 10 hours inclusive of stopovers for refuelling, lunch and afternoon tea breaks. On this trip my daughter who works in Kuala Lumpur ( capital of Malaysia) joined us after a four days stay in Kuching. Our two cats Daisy and Inul will make this their 12th trip to Bintulu in their record breaking journey through Sarawak on the Pan-Borneo Highway. At the start of the journey, Daisy was not pleasantly pleased and snarled at Inul every time she approached her for comfort. However, all's well after we made the first leg of the journey.

On the first leg of the journey like the rest throughout the day, the weather was fine and hot. Luckily the car's air-conditioning worked well and we drove to Bintulu in much comfort. Not a single drop of rain fell on us and that indicated pretty well that the monsoon season is over. It does indicate too that water will be the most sought -after resource for the months ahead especially for those involved in the agricultural sector.

From Kuching I would drive with the barest fuel and then refuelled at Serian, a forty minutes drive from Kuching. The first refuelling would bring us half-way through the journey. The picture above shows a well landscaped roundabout as an introduction to Serian. Observe the symbol of the Durian fruit in the centre of the picture, which is done in cement ferro technique and coloured. However this time around we wouldn't be able to savour any real durians because the fruiting season has passed.

The second refuelling was done at Saratok, a small town within the Sri Aman Division and roughly situated half-way along our journey. Sarawak is divided into 11 Divisions or administrative units. The various divisions as one drive north from Kuching are Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Kapit, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang. I noticed that Saratok is the only town in Sarawak that plant the Wild Cinnamon tree ( Cinnamomum iners) as introduction to the town roadside landscaping. On this trip I saw the cinnamon trees were having a new coat of leaves where the young leaves appear reddish or light orange before they turn light green. The bark of one species i.e. Cinnamomum zeylancium yield the spice cinnamomum which is used for flavouring food and cakes.

This unique building houses the District Office or the local administration office of Saratok. What attracted me was the date of its construction - 1888. The building sat on top of a small hill facing the river.

Before leaving Saratok, we did the second refuelling . At today's price we can reach Bintulu from Kuching with a full capacity tank costing RM 100 - an amount that will ensure some reserve just in case. At the petrol kiosk, Inul became the centre of attraction as the pump attendants inquired about her. They all look surprised as I narrated them our cats adventure thus far.

The sight of heavy timber trucks loaded to the brim is common as we approached the end part of the journey especially from Selangau to Bintulu, the timber country of Sarawak. At the rest area near Selangau town, we came across a roadside canteen where every available car parking space was taken up by the timber trucks because the drivers were having a break at the canteen ( building with blue roof).

At the close of the journey, Daisy sensed the smell of salt sprays in the air. She became excited and big eyed knowing very well that Bintulu will be in sight in about half an hour time. By 7.30 pm we arrived at our farm in darkness and happy to have made the journey safely.

Clocking a new Record

Typical single two lane carriageway from Bintulu to Kuching ( 600 km )

Today we're off to Kuching. We started the journey from Bintulu at 10 am. in fine weather. The journey to Kuching by road would normally take 9 hours in reasonablly fine weather inclusive of short pit stops at selected three or four rest areas along the 600 km Bintulu - Kuching stretch of the Sarawak, Borneo highway. Travelling at this time of the year i.e. during the 'Landas' season ( November- February) when the severe north-easterly monsoon rains hit the coastal regions of Sarawak has its hazards. For the first half of the journey the weather was fabulous, cloudy mostly and in some locations had the full sun overhead. However during the second part of the journey, rains were our constant companion thus slowing the journey by at least an hour. Most of the river crossings have waters that have overflowed its banks. We saw at least two longhouse areas flooded and hundreds of people moved to evacuation centres. One kampung at Tatau ( 40 minutes drive from Bintulu) had waters that ran havoc throughout the village, partly seen in the picture below.

View of Tatau River and flooded kampung, from Tatau Bridge

On board the pick up were other members of the family viz, Inul and her mother Mama Daisy. This is their 11th trip back to Kuching. By nightfall when we arrived Kuching, they would have clocked another 600 km to their present travelling record of 12,600 km . For more stories about our cat's family attempt to create a new Malaysian record for the most travelled cats in Malaysia, please check it out here.

A diversion to ease traffic at the road slip

At one point of the journey i.e. between Bintulu to Tatau, the heavy rains had washed away a major portion of the road. A temporary diversion has helped ease traffic near the road slip. But Lo! at the top right of the picture above is seen a yellow bulk cement truck that unluckily skidded into the ravine below.

Inul and Mama Daisy taking long naps, uncommon for cats

Inul had the best of times with her mother. Daisy seemed in good mood during this journey and Inul took advantage by pinning down on her. And not a grudge from Mama!.

Daisy takes a rest at Betong Rest Area for her favourite tuna.

We wish to thank all those who have prayed for us to have made this journey safely.

Macy Grey's incredible saga continues

"We are back on the road again" shouted Macy Grey. She and her mama Daisy, brother Einstein and little sister Inul are travelling on their 9th trip back to Kuching on the 27th of September. Here's Macy taking a pose on the back of a ram stone sculpture at the Sibu Park situated at the center of Sibu town. The journey back started at Bintulu around 9.30 am and they arrived Sibu at 12.30 pm. The whole journey to Kuching took 9 hours. To see more happenings during their journey find out here. They have now covered a total travelling distance of 10,800 km. Not bad for a Malaysian record . Come this October they will be celebrating the Hari Raya together with their foster parents in Kuching.

Macy Grey hits 10,200 km record

Macy Grey is now 11 months old and have achieved a travelling record of 10,200 km. Her travelloque is blogged here.

Macy Grey posing as the mountain leopard above, and below having a bite at the grass to help her digestive system. Normally cats do that in order to vomit out the furs that are swallowed in when they lick their body or groom themselves.

Waiting for wounds to heal

Today Macy Grey's castration wounds appear much better. Probably in a day or two it would be drier. By the look of it, Macy has recovered from the operation. She is now able to run and jump. Sleeps well and eats well too. Therefore travel plans to Bintulu may be sooner.

On the subject of cats

This June we are spending our Gawai Holiday in Kuching. Now, on "kucing" matters.

A line of beauties vying for potential buyers. Take me as your pet , please. You get to see hundreds of these cats for soveniers at the arts and crafts shops by the Kuching Waterfront.

Seen at the Kuching Waterfront are these group of cats at play.

INUL is the crying babe. She's part of the family on this Gawai trip to Kuching. We left Bintulu in the morning of the 22nd of May, and arrived Kuching just before 8.00pm.

On the 9 th of June we sent Macy Grey to the vet and had her castrated. Poor girl. She looks sick and is recovering from the operation. Don't worry Princess. Soon you'll be up and going.