G.A. HENTY : AMONG MALAY PIRATES: A TALE OF ADVENTURE AND PERIL

The image shows the cover of Among Malay Pirates: A Tale of Adventure and Peril, a classic historical adventure book written by the prolific 19th-century British author G. A. Henty. 

Key Facts About the Book

• Author: G. A. Henty (George Alfred Henty), a well-known writer famous for his imperialism-themed historical fiction targeted at young readers. 
• Publication Date: First published in 1893 (some early editions are dated 1899). 
• Setting: The narrative takes place in the latter half of the 19th century in the treacherous waters and rivers of the Malay Archipelago (modern-day Malaysia and Indonesia). 

Plot Summary

The story follows two young British midshipmen, Harry Parkhurst and Dick Balderson, who are stationed aboard Her Majesty's gunboat Serpent. Bored by their mundane duties in the humid tropical climate, they quickly find the action they crave. 

After diving into the river to save the drowning daughter of a local Malay chief, the boys form crucial local alliances. However, they soon find themselves directly entangled in hazardous naval clashes against bloodthirsty pirate fleets, treacherous regional rulers (Rajahs), and fierce storms. 

Structure

While named after the main story, many editions of this volume are published as a collection that contains the title novella alongside several unrelated short stories of high-stakes peril set in locations like India, China, California, and the Channel Islands. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

22 Jun 2026: 12.08 a.m

CAWANGAN ANJING PERANG ATM

Ini merupakan pintu masuk ke Cawangan Anjing Perang (kini dikenali sebagai Cawangan Serigala), sebuah unit elit di bawah Pusat Latihan Tempur Tentera Darat (PULADA) yang terletak di Ulu Tiram, Johor, Malaysia. 

Tugu hitam berbentuk anjing di atas tiang tersebut dibina sebagai dedikasi dan penghormatan khas buat Ben, seekor anjing perang baka Labrador yang sangat berjasa kepada negara. 

Kisah Pengorbanan Anjing Perang 'Ben'

• Misi Utama: Pada 18 April 1974, sekumpulan 30 anggota komando bersama Ben telah diaturgerak ke Hutan Simpan Kinta, Perak untuk memburu sisa-sisa pengganas komunis ketika era Insurgensi. 
• Serang Hendap: Pasukan tentera telah diserang hendap oleh pihak musuh. Menyedari kebolehan luar biasa Ben dalam menjejak dan mengesan pergerakan, pihak musuh menjadikannya sebagai sasaran utama. [
• Gugur di Medan Perang: Ben terkena tembakan bertalu-talu daripada gerombolan komunis. Walaupun dalam keadaan cedera parah, Ben dilaporkan sempat merangkak ke kaki penjaganya (handler) sebelum menghembuskan nafas terakhir. 
• Tugu Peringatan: Jasad Ben kemudiannya dibawa pulang dan disemadikan dengan penuh penghormatan di dalam kawasan kem PULADA. Tugu ini dibina agar pengorbanannya sentiasa dikenang sebagai wira tidak bersuara negara. 

Peranan Unit Anjing Perang PULADA

Kini, cawangan ini bertanggungjawab melatih pelbagai baka anjing (seperti German Shepherd, Malinois, dan Labrador) untuk kegunaan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) yang dikelaskan kepada tiga peranan utama: 

1. Anjing Pengawal (Guard/Attack Dog): Digunakan untuk kawalan keselamatan, serbuan, dan operasi tempur khas.
2. Anjing Penjejak (Tracking Dog): Mengesan kedudukan musuh di dalam hutan atau kawasan operasi.
3. Anjing Pengesan Bahan Letupan (EDD): Digunakan bagi mengesan bom atau bahan letupan berbahaya. 

Unit ini sememangnya memainkan peranan yang amat kritikal bagi memastikan keselamatan negara, sama ada dalam medan tempur mahupun ketika bencana alam.

Berikut adalah perincian mengenai baka anjing yang digunakan serta peranan besar unit ini dalam misi Mencari dan Menyelamat (SAR):

Baka Anjing Pilihan ATM & Sifat Khususnya

ATM memilih baka anjing tertentu berdasarkan tahap kecerdasan, ketahanan fizikal, dan deria bau yang tajam:

• German Shepherd
• Sifat: Sangat setia, berani, mudah dilatih, dan memiliki fizikal yang tegap.
• Peranan: Utama untuk tugas Kawalan, Serbuan Tempur (Attack), dan Penjejakan Musuh.
• Belgian Malinois
• Sifat: Mempunyai tenaga yang sangat tinggi, pantas, tangkas, dan sangat fokus bekerja.
• Peranan: Sering digunakan dalam Operasi Khas/Komando, serangan hendap, dan rondaan taktikal.
• Labrador Retriever
• Sifat: Sangat mesra, tidak agresif, dan memiliki deria bau yang luar biasa sensitif.
• Peranan: Fokus sepenuhnya untuk Pengesan Bahan Letupan (EDD) dan Misi Menyelamat (SAR).

Peranan Unit Anjing Perang dalam Misi SAR Negara

Walaupun tugas utama unit ini adalah untuk pertempuran dan pertahanan militer, kepakaran anjing penjejak ini sering dikerah bagi membantu agensi awam (seperti Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat serta Polis Diraja Malaysia) dalam situasi kecemasan negara:

• Menjejak Mangsa Terperangkap (Misi K9 SAR)
• Mengesan mangsa yang tertimbus di bawah runtuhan bangunan atau tanah runtuh.
• Memanfaatkan deria bau yang mampu menembusi lapisan tanah atau sisa runtuhan yang tebal.
• Mencari Orang Hilang di Hutan (Jungle Search)
• Membantu menjejaki pendaki atau penduduk yang dilaporkan hilang di kawasan hutan tebal.
• Anjing penjejak dilatih mengikut bau spesifik daripada barangan peribadi mangsa (seperti pakaian).
• Operasi Pasca-Bencana (Disaster Recovery)
• Membantu mengesan kedudukan mayat mangsa (Anjing Pengesan Mayat/Cadaver Dog) bagi mempercepatkan proses pemulihan selepas bencana banjir besar atau tanah runtuh.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 Jun 2026: 11.49 p.m

THE TRUE STORY OF HACHIKO

Wikipedia

This image depicts Hachikō, the legendary Akita breed dog from Japan celebrated worldwide as a universal symbol of unconditional love and loyalty. The text at the bottom translates from Malay: 

"Top: Hachiko keeps waiting and waiting. Bottom: Shibuya Railway Station, Tokyo." 

The True Story of Hachikō

• The Routine: Adopted in 1924 by Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at Tokyo Imperial University, Hachikō would walk with his owner to Shibuya Station every morning and return to the station every afternoon at exactly 3:00 PM to greet him after his commute. 
• The Tragedy: In May 1925, Professor Ueno suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage while delivering a lecture at work and never returned to the station. 
• The Vigil: Despite his master's death, Hachikō returned to the exact same spot outside the station every single afternoon. He maintained this daily vigil through rain, snow, heat, and poor health for nearly 10 years until he passed away on March 8, 1935. 

The Legacy

• The Statue: In 1934, a bronze statue of Hachikō was erected at Shibuya Station. Remarkably, Hachikō himself attended the grand unveiling ceremony. 
• Current Monument: While the original statue was melted down for metal during World War II, a new version was cast in 1948. Today, the Hachikō Statue is one of Tokyo's most iconic tourist destinations and serves as the city's premier meeting spot. 
• Pop Culture: His story has inspired several major films, including the prominent 1987 Japanese movie Hachikō Monogatari and the 2009 Hollywood adaptation Hachi: A Dog's Tale starring Richard Gere. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 June 2026: 11.35 pm

KOREA : THE GORYEO AND JOSEON

Goryeo (918–1392) and Joseon (1392–1910) were the two major unified dynasties that shaped traditional Korean culture. This side-by-side comparison from the television production The King's Affection highlights the stark evolutionary changes in royal and noble attire (hanbok) between the two eras. 

The primary differences in their clothing styles stem from shifting cultural values and foreign geopolitical influences:

Women's Royal Clothing

• Goryeo Dynasty (Left): The chima (skirt) is tied high and falls in a loose, flowing, natural A-line silhouette. The jeogori (jacket) is loose, baggy, and much longer, extending well below the waistline. The style reflects a mix of indigenous designs with historical Tang Dynasty and subsequent Mongol influences. 
• Joseon Dynasty (Right): Following strict Confucian ideals of modesty and gender distinction, the jeogori became significantly shorter and tightly fitted to the upper body. Conversely, the chima adopted fuller, bell-shaped volume, requiring an under-bust waistband to anchor the shortened jacket. 

Men's Royal and Official Attire

• Goryeo Dynasty (Left): The robes often feature wide, flowing sleeves and elaborate rounded collars, reflecting the era's focus on aristocratic luxury. The ikseongwan (royal crown) and hair accessories emphasize an open, ornate design. 
• Joseon Dynasty (Right): Outfits became more structured to delineate explicit bureaucratic rank and class. While inner robes retained functionality, the formal outerwear (po) grew more streamlined, characterized by straight lines and clean proportions designed to display specific rank badges (gyorung). 

Reference:

1. Wikipedia : Hanbok
2. Creatrip : Korean Culture / Evolution of the Hanbok

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 June 2026: 6.34 p.m

THE STORY OF DATOK KONG

Source : Urban Explorer of Singapore

Some locals in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are still not always able to identify keramats accurately. On a recent visit to Pulau Karimun Besar, we were informed that a Chinese temple there contained an “Islamic” keramat. However, we found no such thing. Instead, there was a “Datok Gunung Kawi” shrine there, which is not at all Islamic (urbex.asia/uFjBTn). As far as we can tell, most Indonesians Muslims are not too concerned with such trivial matters of religion (especially at the less-educated folk and local levels). However, the atmosphere is quite different in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the construction of a Chinese shrine at Bandar Bukit Raja provoked a public outcry among the local Muslim community because it included an onion-shaped dome and a crescent moon symbol, thereby resembling a mosque. According to Harian Metro, Malaysia authorities soon notified the owner on 24 January 2017 that the structure was on State Land and in violation of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974. Instructions were given to have the shrine relocated or removed. The shrine was then demolished on the morning of 31 January 2017. In December 2018, some local Muslims also felt discomfited by the presence of a small Chinese shrine at Mount Ophir and wanted the Tangkak District Council to have it removed.

In the same vein, in Singapore, there was an attempt in a discussion on Facebook in 2014 to call for the removal of Keramat Datok Loyang from the Loyang Tua Pek Kong temple. The topic starter erroneously identified Keramat Datok Loyang was a Muslim keramat, based on the presence of minaret-like architecture at the shrine, and said that it should have no place in a Chinese temple. This attempt faded out very quickly because Keramat Datok Loyang is not a Muslim keramat at all.

Oversimplification has given rise to the notion that all Malays are Muslims and that all onion-shaped domes represent Islam, whereas there are non-Muslim Malays and Christian churches with onion domes such as the world-famous St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. While we always remember to be sensitive when discussing matters of religious faith, we should also never forget that keramats (loosely meaning “shrines”) are not Islamic when the word “datok” is present. Such keramats are dedicated to a wholly different deity from the Muslim God.

Datok Kong (variously spelt Na Tu Gong in Mandarin or Natok Kong in Hokkien) is a Sino-Malay folk deity worshipped by some Chinese, Malays and Indians in Malaysia, Singapore and some parts of Indonesia. The common name used in Malaysia is “Datuk Gong”’. The word “gong” (公) refers to the Chinese earth deity, Tu Di Gong (土地公), the god of the soil. Meanwhile, the word “datok” means “grandfather” in Malay, which is aligned with the Chinese tradition of ancestor veneration.

The 2012 paper “Settling Down Spiritually: Chinese Malaysian’s Worship of Datuk Gong” by Chin-Yee Mun and Lee Yok Fee explains that the Chinese understanding of Datuk Kong arose from the Malay Datuk Keramat concept. In a video interview, Lee Yok Fee says that the Malays worshipped guardian spirits (or “penunggu”) before the arrival of Islam. When the Chinese migrated to Malaya en masse during the 19th century, they brought with them their own religious beliefs, including a belief in Tu Di Gong. The Chinese in Malaya came to identify the locally-worshipped Datuk Keramat as a form of their own Tu Di Gong, leading to the evolution of the syncretic worship of Datuk Kong.

This is supported by a 2016 article by Hafiz Rashid. He explains that the Malay version of the Polynesian concept of mana is “semangat”, which can be loosely translated as life essence, life force, or spirit. Semangat was a force which permeated the everyday lives of the ancient Malays. As a result, Datuk Kong did not initially have a human form but instead was conceived of as manifesting in the form of trees, rocks, tablets, and other objects. This tells us that the root of the Datuk Kong belief is Animism, one of the world's oldest religions and one which is still practised all over the globe.

How then did the worship of Datuk Kong come to take on a human form? According to local historian Victor Yue, there is a traditional Chinese belief that spirits exist in nature, such as in trees or stones. However, the Chinese frequently personify such spirits so that they can be better understood by laypeople. In this manner, Chinese devotees in Malaya also eventually humanised Datuk Kong to make worship more accessible, praying to a “who” instead of to a “what”.

In the course of our explorations, we have come across various versions of Datok Kong, from an altar containing a piece of wood embossed with the word “Datok” to a tree version wearing an Ihram belt. During our collaboration with Channel 8, we discovered yet another unique Datok Kong shrine. This shrine was just an altar containing a Jurong brick when we first saw it on 2 July 2019. However, by 24 July the brick had been given a face and was wearing a “tengkolok”.

Note: “The Story of Datok Kong” is an original work by Urban Explorers of Singapore. Please cite/mention “Urban Explorers of Singapore” as the source if any of this material is used.

In addition, we would like to give special thanks to Victor Yue for his input on Chinese culture and folk belief.

C&P

Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 June 2026: 5.28 p.m

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄

Source: Urban Explorers of Singapore

The German Girl Shrine is a well-known site on Pulau Ubin, easily recognizable by the decorated Barbie doll near the altar. This doll was once the main idol before it was replaced by a wooden statue. Devotees believe that the shrine houses the spirit of a German girl who lived and died near the shrine’s present location back in the early 20th century, and pilgrims continue to make prayers and leave offerings at the site to this day.

The story goes that the unnamed German girl was the daughter of a German couple who owned a coffee plantation on Pulau Ubin during that time. During World War I, British troops tried to detain the Germans living there; the 18-year-old girl fled through the back door, lost her way, and fell to her death off a cliff at the nearby Aik Hwa Quarry, now known as Ketam Quarry. Chinese workers at the quarry eventually gave her a proper burial nearby, and the site slowly developed into a place of worship dedicated to the German girl.

In 1974, the shrine was relocated to its current site (along an unofficial path named “Jalan Kebun Kopi Jerman” or “German Coffee Garden Road”) due to excavation works at Ketam Quarry. The structure was later rebuilt and enlarged into its present form in 2015.

So who was this German girl, and what do we really know about her? According to research carried out by the filmmakers Ho Choon Hiong and Michael Kam, there was indeed a coffee plantation on Pulau Ubin at the time: 19th-century land deeds show that the land belonged to Daniel Brandt and Hermann Muhlingans of Germany. So at least we know that there may have been a German coffee connection in the neighbourhood. We do not know, however, if Brandt and Muhlingans were actually resident on Pulau Ubin, or if their families were living with them there.

Nothing more is known about the German girl apart from hearsay. Various accounts differ as to when exactly she died: many online sources claim that she died in the 1910s, a few years before the First World War began; a 17 October 2009 article by Malaysia’s New Life Post states that she died around the outbreak of World War I, in 1914; and a 9 March 2003 Straits Times article reports that she died at the end of World War I. The accounts all agree, however, that the girl died by falling off a cliff at a quarry and that a shrine was later erected in her honour on top of a hill.

Let us look, therefore, for a shrine on top of a hill on Pulau Ubin. A 27 October 1985 article by Berita Minggu mentions a shrine on top of Bukit Puaka, the highest point on Pulau Ubin, named “Keramat Puteri Jawa”. This hill overlooks the cliffs at the Ubin Granite Quarry. The Berita Minggu article states that this “Puteri Jawa”, a Javanese princess, fled to Singapore to avoid being forced to wed someone she did not like. A 2003 paper by P. J. Rivers titled “Keramat in Singapore in the Mid-twentieth Century” also makes reference to this keramat, adding that this runaway Javanese princess supposedly died in the late 19th century.

This Javanese princess’s story is thus intriguingly similar to the so-called “German girl”. Even the time period is approximately the same, including the year 1896 which can be seen on the “Berlin Heiligtum” signboard. There was definitely a Javanese presence on Pulau Ubin, whose traces linger in placenames such as “Chek Jawa”; Kampung Chek Jawa was an old Javanese village now forgotten by many. Could there be a connection between Keramat Puteri Jawa and the German Girl Shrine? 

P. J. Rivers mentions that the remains of Keramat Puteri Jawa on Bukit Puaka were moved to a location near the beach; coincidentally enough, the German Girl Shrine was also relocated near the beach as well. Perhaps these are actually two different names for the same shrine, or else they are two surprisingly similar stories.

Interestingly enough, these stories also resemble the story behind Keramat Anak Dara at Kuala Selangor. Keramat Anak Dara is a shrine dedicated to an 18-year-old girl named Siti Aishah, who ran away to avoid a forced marriage. Her parents only found her clothes hanging on a tree near the cliffside at Tanjong Keramat, and a shrine was later built there to honour her.

There certainly seem to be a lot of runaway teenage girls associated with cliffsides in the folklore surrounding the keramats of this region. What are we to make of this? One possibility is that Siti Aishah, Puteri Jawa, and the unnamed German girl are all representatives of a specific type of folk story created to give a human face to these religious sites. Instead of being related to any specific individual, however, it is quite possible that these keramats may actually have grown out of the widespread animistic belief in the guardian deity of a place: the Datuk Keramat, Datuk Kong, or Na Tuk Kong.

As we have written elsewhere (urbex.asia/yohppm), Datuk Kong or Na Tuk Kong is a Chinese-Malay hybrid form of the Chinese earth deity Tu Di Gong. (The word “Puaka” in “Bukit Puaka” can also mean “genius loci” or simply “earth deity”.) Where the German girl shrine is concerned, 拿督姑娘 — “Na Du Gu Niang” — was the earliest banner at the new shrine building before the appearance of the “Berlin Heiligtum” signboard (“Berlin” references the capital city of Germany and “Heiligtum” is the German word meaning “sacred site” or “sanctuary”). The gold-lettered Chinese words once greeted visitors at the entrance to the shrine before being moved inside the building, where the banner is then hung above the altar. This banner is nowhere to be found in present-time. 拿督姑娘 (Na Du Gu Niang) explicitly refers to the shrine’s inhabitant as a female version of Na Du Gong / Na Tuk Kong. Humorously and uniquely, however, while Na Du Gong (Reverend Sir/Grandfather) is usually depicted as an old man, Na Du Gu Niang literally refers to the “German girl” spirit as a “Reverend Young Lady”.

Note: “The Forgotten History of The German Girl Shrine” is an original work by Urban Explorers of Singapore. Please cite/mention “Urban Explorers of Singapore” as the source if any of this material is used.

C&P

Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 June 2026: 3.54 p.m

TRAVEL INFO: THE GERMAN GIRL SHRINE IN SINGAPORE

The image displays the German Girl Shrine (also locally known as Na Du Gu Niang or Berlin Heiligtum), a unique local place of worship located within the Ketam Mountain Bike Park on Pulau Ubin, Singapore.

The Legend

According to popular local folklore, the shrine is dedicated to an 18-year-old German girl who lived with her family on a plantation on the island. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, British forces arrived to intern German nationals as enemy aliens. The girl fled into the jungle to evade capture but tragically fell off a cliff into a granite quarry to her death. The Quarry was Aik Hwa Quarry, now known as Ketam Quarry. Local plantation workers discovered her body and gave her a respectful burial. 

According to research carried out by the filmmakers Ho Choon Hiong and Michael Kam, there was indeed a coffee plantation on Pulau Ubin at the time:19th-century land deeds show that the land belonged to Daniel Brandt and Hermann Muhlingans of Germany.

Evolution into a Taoist Deity

Over the decades, local residents and workers integrated her spirit into regional folk religion practices. She was elevated to a Taoist-style Datuk Keramat deity (Na Du Gu Niang or "Datuk Maiden"). The shrine became a popular pilgrimage site for gamblers and punters looking for lucky lottery numbers. 

Unique Modern Customs

• The Structure: The modern, permanent structure shown in your image was renovated in late 2015, featuring a solid concrete and wood-paneled pavilion alongside its distinct bright yellow pagoda-style incense burner. 
• Barbie Doll Offering: Instead of typical traditional religious icons, the altar inside historically gained fame for housing a Barbie doll. The doll was gifted by a former Ubin resident after the spirit allegedly requested it in a dream. 
• Feminine Gifts: Visitors and devotees regularly leave distinct offerings such as perfumes, nail polish, lipsticks, mirrors, and makeup at the altar. 

Recent historical research published by the National Library Board's BiblioAsia suggests the story may have morphed out of an older Malay/Javanese legend or local worship of a unique termite mound, rather than an actual historical German family. Nonetheless, it remains one of Singapore's most fascinating cultural mysteries. 

Reference:

1. FB Urban Explorers of Singapore: The Forgotten History of The German Girl Shrine
2. Wikipedia: German Girl Shrine
3. Atlas Obscura: German Girl Shrine

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 June 2026: 3.28 p.m

DOWN MEMORY LANE: PREMISES & PLACES IN MEMORY

 

Rumah Biru Kampung Baru (The Blue House) located in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, built around 1940s, a traditional wooden Malay Stilt house is over 80 years old. It stands as one of the last remaining heritage homes in its immedite sectiion of Kampung Baru. 

The house has been a popular location for local Malaysian films and TV shows, most notably appearing in the hit 2010 comedy film Adnan Sempit. Because of this, locals frequently refer to it as the "Rumah Biru Adnan Sempit".

Current Status (Temporary Relocation): To clear up widespread rumors about its demolition, the owner's heirs clarified that the house is not being permanently torn down. The family temporarily vacated the home so the Department of Irrigation and Drainage could carry out an extensive underground water pipe reconstruction project beneath the property. The house structure is being protected during these works, and the family is slated to return once the project finishes.

The Lian Hin Rubber Smokehouse, located at the junction of Jalan Gombak and Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. 

Built in the mid-20th century, was smoking and drying raw rubber sheets before they were exported. Anyone who grew up or lived in the Gombak area during the 1970's and 1980's vividly remembers the overpowering stench of rubber processing that always wafted from this junction. 

After the factory stopped active rubber processing, the unique structure was repurposed as a commercial warehouse space for furniture manufacturing (occupied partly by Classic Chair System) and dry grocery storage.

Sadly, a massive short-circuit fire broke out in September 2011, destroying millions of ringgit worth of furniture and goods inside the building. However, the resilient core skeletal framework and its iconic blue-tiered zinc roof still stand today as a unique architectural landmark of Gombak's industrial past.

St. Mary's Girl School, located at Jalan Tengah, within the Golden Triangel of Kuala Lumpur. Established in 1912 by Bishop Ferguson-Davie, the Anglican Missionary.

During the Japanese Occupation of Malaya in 1942, the school grounds were seized and utilised as a military hospital. It reopened as an education facility in 1945 after the war. The school officially closed its doors at this location in 1998 to a larger 3.64-hectare campus at Taman Intan Baiduri, Selayang, where it operates today as SMK St. Mary. 

Bukit Bintang Girls' School the oldest school in Kuala Lumpr, established in 1893 before its closed and relocated in 2000 to make way for commercial development. 

Founded by Christian missionary, Miss Betty Langlands as the Chinese Girl's School in Brickfields. 

In 1930, the school was relocated to its iconic, lush green campus on Jalan Bukit Bintang and took on the name Bukit Bintang Girls' School. 

The school ground is now the premier Shopping Mall, The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. While the school relocated to Taman Shamelin Perkasa in Cheras, K.L and renamed as SMK Seri Bintang Utara (SBU), the Malaysia's first "Smart Schools". 

The monumental grand entrance of the Lee Rubber (Selangor) Ltd. factory, which was once a major economic landmark located along Jalan Gombak, Kuala Lumpur.

Established by Tan Sri Lee Kong Chan in the late 1920's and early 1930's, the Lee Rubber Company grew to become on of the largest processors and exporters in Southeast Asia. 

This prominent factory once stood as a major local landmark in the Gombak/Setapak area. Decades after its closure and relocation in the 1990s, the site was redeveloped, and it is now where the well-known Medan Idaman Commercial Centre (specifically the Pasar Raya Ong Tai Kim supermarket block) sits today.

The Pekeliling Bus Terminal has permanently closed as of June 1, 2026 making the ends of its 50-year service since the early 1970's, The iconic station along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur is no longer in operation. 

All express bus operations, specifically heading to the East Coast and Pahang regionss have completely moved to the new Terminal Bersepadu Gombak (TBG).

The structure of Rumah Degil, or The Stubborn House located originally at No.41, Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur was built in 1926 by Tuan Hj. Jaafar Sutan Sinombar, a descendant of Sutan Puasa, who is considered by many historians to be the original founder of Kuala Lumpur.

In 2013, the land was finally sold. Rather that letting it be demolished, a team of architects, filmmakers and the Department of National Heritage carefully dismantled the house piece by piece in 2015. 

It was transported, restored and reconstructed on the grounds of the National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara) on Jalan Tun Razak.It was fully rebuilt by 2019 using roughly 70% to 90% of its original wooden materials.Today it serves as public heritage exhibit.  

The Esso and Mobil service station network in Malaysia underwent a total transition and no longer exists under those names today. 

Esso and Mobil traces it roots back in 1893. The company open its very first formal automotive service station in Kuala Lumpur in 1921. 

Both brands operated independently under the parent organisation until the global merger of Exxon and Mobil in 1999 created ExxonMobil,unifying the two networks under one corporate umbrella until their retail acquisition by Petron Malaysia. 

JUSCO (Japan United Stores Company), officially rebranded to AEON across Malaysia in March 2012.The transition of Jaya JUSCO to AEON Mall marks a major evolution in Malaysia's retail history. 

JUSCO arrived in Malaysia in 1984 at the invitation of then-Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to help modernise the nation's retail scene. The first branch opened in the basement of the Dayabumi complex in Kuala Lumpur. 

The image captured the iconic Hankyu Jaya Department Store at its flagship Chow Kit Branch on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, photographed in August 1987. The chain officially closed down around the year 2000. Today the building has been converted into a budget-friendly residential hotel. 

Carrefour Malaysia (1994-2012) no longer operates under the French brand name, all of its former hypermarkets were acquired by the Japanese retail giant AEON and rebranded as AEON BIG.

Makro Malaysia (1993 - 2006), entered the Malaysian retail in 1993, opening its very first branch in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Operated by the Dutch Company SHV Holdings NV, it was a pure cash-and-carry warehouse concept tailored specifically for small business owners, traders and bulk buyers. 

In 2006, SHV Holdings NV sold all 8 Makro in Malaysia to the British retail giant TESCO Plc. and was rebranded to TESCO Extra. Today, all former Tesco Extra stores are now operated as Lotus's Hypermarket. 

The historic photo of Merlin Hotel which is now Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, opened in 1957 as Merlin Hotel. Founded by the late Datuk Lim Foo Yong, Hotel Merlin was one of Malaysia's first international-standard luxury hotels, serving as a prominent post-independence hospitality milestones. 

In 1990, the building officially rebranded as the 4-star Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur. 

Mimaland, Malaysia's very first theme park, located on a sprawling 300-acre hilly rainforest site in Ulu Gombak, Selangor. Mimaland stands for "Malaysia in Miniature Land" officially opened its primary attractions in 1975. 

The downfall of the park happened rapidly due to a string of tragic and environmental disasters in the early 1990's. 

• January 1993 Tragedy: A 27-year-old Singaporean tourist tragically passed away from spinal injuries following a severe accident on the giant waterslide. This forced a temporary closure for safety inspections. 
• May 1994 Landslide: Shortly after reopening, a landslide collapsed a 1.5-meter safety wall near the pool. This caused thick mud and debris to flood the enclosure, permanently ruining the attraction. 
• Permanent Gates Closed: Faced with severe security control lawsuits, mounting technical issues, and the inability to survive without active operations, the management permanently shut down Mimaland at the end of 1994. 

The Klang Bus Stand,located along Jalan Hang Kasturi in Kuala Lumpur, opened in the 1970's, served as a critical intracity transportation hub connecting the heart of Kuala Lumpur to Klang, Shah Alam, Subang and surrounding areas.

The iconic bus stand officially ceased operations on November, 1, 2011 and was subsequently demolished. 

Today the site has been completely transformed into the underground Pasar Seni MRT Station. 

Malacca Paradise Village, a former 3-star property located in Ayer Keroh, Melaka. Opened in the late 1980's, the resort became a highly popular family getaway during its peak in the 1990's. However, the resort closed its door entirely around 2002. 

Left abandoned for over two decades, the buildings has become a popular hotspot for local urban explorers and paranormal content creators on platform like TikTok and YouTube. 

ProJET Petrol Station and its signature Destina convenience store, which operated in Malaysia during the early 2000's.

Formed in 1999, ProJET was a joint venture between American petroleum giant ConocoPhillips and Malaysia's Sime Darby. It was famous for introducing the country's first "Superstation" concept.

Their Destina convenience stores became a cult favorite among Malaysians, legendary for introducing freshly baked pastries, ready-to-eat foods, and their signature customizable, "foot-long" hot dogs. 

In 2007, ConocoPhillips decided to exit its retail operations in Southeast Asia and in the same year the Royal Dutch Shell acquired 100% of the company. All former ProJET stations were rebranded and integrated into Shell Malaysia's station network. 

The legendary Bilal Restaurant, a popular indian-Muslim establishment in the 1960's and 1970's for serving what many considered the city's finest Chicken Briyani. 

The iconic establishment completely ceased operations and all of its historical Kuala Lumpur branches—including the premier outlets on Jalan Ampang, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Batu Road), and Jalan Ipoh—are permanently closed. Sadly, there were no successors to carry on the original family brand. The adjacent Federal Bakery.

The Old Gemas Railway Station, built in 1922 in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, is one of Malaysia's most legendary transit landmarks. It served as the ultimate junction point where the West Coast line and the East Coast "Jungle Railway: lines converged. 

The station officially close down in 2015 when a modern, multi-story electric rail hub was built adjacent to it to accommodate the high-speed KTM ETS services. 

Suleiman Court was demolished in 1986 to make way for the SOGO Shopping Complex. Located at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, it was built in 1957, Kuala Lumpur's first high-rise apartment building. 

TESCO Malaysia no longer exists under that name. In December 2020, the British retail giant sold it entire operations in Malaysia and Thailand to Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group. Every TESCO Stores was renamed and rebranded as Lotus's.

Selangor Turf Club located off Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur as its appeared in the 1980's.Today, this exact site is occupied by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the wider Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). 

Selangor Turf Club established in 1896, held its final horse racing meet in August 1992. 

Syarikat Kopi Haji Arshad located at Lot 9, Greenwood Park, Batu Caves, Selangor in the 70's. 

The iconic roof Motorcycle visible on top of the shop's signboard is an actual vintage of B.S.A (Birmingham Small Arms) motorcycle. In the 1950's and 1960's, the founder, Allahyarham Hj Arshad bin Kulp Mohd,used this exact motorcycle to peddle his homemade coffee from house to house. 

Others Premises:

1. 94 ARMED FORCES HOSPITAL KINRARA
2. KD SRI REJANG
3. LAW KING HOWE HOSPITAL, SIBU, SARAWAK
4. BUKIT TIMAH & TANJONG PAGAR RAILWAY STATION
5. SUNGAI ROAD, SINGAPORE
6. KG. WAK HASSAN, SINGAPORE
7. PUDU PRISON & AMPANG PARK
8. PANGGUNG ODEON, KL
9. PANGGUNG WAYANG DI KUALA LUMPUR
10. PANGGUNG COLISEUM, PREBET LAPOK DAN TLDM
11. 10 FAKTA MENARIK TENTANG CARREFOUR
12. FLAT JALAN PEKELILING DALAM KENANGAN

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

20 Jun 2026: 10.51 p.m

DOWN MEMORY LANE: ONCE UPON A TIME

 

The image shows a classic Model J View-Master viewer alongside a vintage "Hajj and Ziarah" 3D photographic reel. 

Item Breakdown

• The Viewer: This is the bright red, plastic Model J View-Master, which was primarily produced in Europe (commonly in Belgium) during the 1970s and 1980s. 
• The Reel: This specific disc is titled "HAJJ AND ZIARAH - SAUDI ARABIA" (Reel Code: C 843-1). It is part of a collectible 3-reel travel set that documents important Islamic landmarks and holy rituals associated with the Hajj pilgrimage. 

Visible Photo Captions on the Reel:

• Planes at Hajj Terminal, Jeddah
• Holy Ka'bah
• Maqam Ibraheem
• Drinking Zamzam water
• Kissing Black Stone
• Pilgrims doing the Sa'i

This particular souvenir set is highly sought after by collectors of vintage 3D stereoscopic memorabilia and those interested in mid-to-late 20th-century historical imagery of Mecca and Medina. 

A Classic NEC Primero Giro, a popular vintage feature phone manufactured by NEC around the late 1990's.

• Referred to locally as the "NEC 90" due to operating on the GSM 900 MHz cellular band, Its actual localised product moniker is printed on the right edge of the casing as Primero Gio. 
• Features a fixed external antenna stub on the top left, a text-only monochrome LCD Panel and a signature capsule-shaped navigation cluster surrounding the menu keys. 

An Olympus mju 410 Digital camera (known as the Olympus Stylus 410 Digital), a highly popular early - 2000's pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera. 

Technical Specifications

• Sensor Resolution: 4.0 Megapixels CCD sensor. 
• Optical Zoom: 3x zoom (equivalent to a 35–105mm focal length on a 35mm film system). 
• Digital Zoom: 4x digital zoom, combining with the optics for a total seamless zoom range of up to 12x. 
• Image Processing: Powered by Olympus’s TruePic TURBO engine, which was introduced to dramatically speed up startup processing, reduce image noise, and sharpen contrasts. 
• Build Design: Features a highly durable, sleek aluminum clamshell metal casing with built-in basic IPX4 weather-proofing to defend against splashes and rain. 
• Storage Media: Records digital images directly onto a vintage xD-Picture Card format. 

Palm Tungsten E2 (not E3 as in the photo) , popular business-class Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Featured 200 MHz intel XScale processor, introduced non-violate flash memory to protect data from battery drainage and added Bluetooth Wireless technology.  Used a stylus with the Graffiti 2 handwriting recognition system for inputting characters and numbers in the bottom silkscreen section.

The top green telegram envelope was used by Jabatan Telekom between 1964 and 1987, while the bottom blue envelope was used by Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad between 1987 and 1990.
The nationwide conventional telegram service in Malaysia was officially discontinued on July 1, 2012.

• Top Envelope (Green): This features the vintage "J-T" logo with a small telephone graphic in the middle. It bears the text "Jabatan Telekom Malaysia" on the sides and "Urusan Seri Paduka Baginda" (On His Majesty's Service) at the top, representing the era when telecommunications operated directly as a government department.
• Bottom Envelope (Blue): This features the corporate logo of Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad (STM), introduced right after the department was corporatized in 1987. The abstract circular logo was inspired by Arabic calligraphy forming the letters "STM.

A vintage 15-puzzle, also known as a sliding tile puzzle or number slide puzzle. It consists of a 4 x 4 frame containing 15 numbered tiles and one empty space.

This specific red-and-beige plastic design was a highly popular pocket game and party favor during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The tiles are mechanically locked into the frame tracks so they can slide smoothly without falling out.

A vintage Brick Game (Model E-88) a highly popular handheld electronic console from the 1990's.

Uses a basic, low-cost monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) made of large block pixels. It primarily features variations of Tetris alongside simple block-based games like snake, Racing, Breakout (Brick Breaker) and Space Invaders. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

20 Jun 2026: 8.33 a.m

2001 - TEMBOK BESAR CHINA

TEMBOK BESAR CHINA

Teringat ketika zaman persekolahan dahulu. Dalam pelajaran Ilmu Alam antara yang dipelajari ialah Negara China. Saya masih ingat bila melihat gambar Tembok Besar saya berasa begitu kagum dan teringin sekali melihatnya dengan lebih dekat.

Ternyata impian saya itu tercapai apabila saya berpeluang melawat Negara China pada tahun 2001 bersama setaf The Institution of Engineers,Malaysia. Kami berpeluang melawat Beijing, Tianmen dan Bandar Pergunungan Chengde. 

Sedikit Info Mengenai Tembok Besar China:

Tembok Besar China adalah satu dari 7 Keajaiban Dunia dan telah disenaraikan dalam World Heritage UNESCO pada tahun 1987. Panjang Tembok Besar China ialah kira-kira 6,400 kilometer bermula dari Shanhaiguan sehingga ke Teluk Bohai yang terletak berhampiran sempadan China dan Manchuria.

Dibina lebih 2,000 tahun dahulu oleh Maharaja China yang pertama, Qin Shi Huangdi semasa Pemerintahan Dinasti Qin (221 SM – 206 SM).

Tinjauan yang dilakukan oleh ahli arkeologi pada tahun 2009 menggunakan peralatan teknologi masakini melaporkan bahawa panjang keseluruhan Tembok Besar China adalah 8,851 km (5,500.3 batu).

Walaupun Tembok Besar ini dibina di zaman Dinasti Qin, namun apa yang kita lihat pada hari ini adalah pembangunan yang dilakukan oleh Maharaja Dinasti Ming (1368M – 1644M). 

Tembok Besar China di Badaling (八达岭长城) merupakan salah satu bahagian benteng pertahanan purba yang paling terkenal, paling utuh dipelihara, dan paling ramai dikunjungi oleh pelancong di Beijing. Bahagian ini dibina semasa Dinasti Ming untuk melindungi ibu kota daripada serangan luar. Badaling terletak sekitar 70 km di Barat Laut Bandar Beijing. 

Tembok Besar Hushan (虎山长城 - Hushan Chángchéng) merupakan titik permulaan paling timur yang sah bagi struktur pertahanan Tembok Besar China dari zaman Dinasti Ming. Terletak di Daerah Autonomi Manchu Kuandian, Dandong, Wilayah Liaoning, kawasan ini berada betul-betul di sempadan antara China dan Korea Utara. 

Dibina pada 1469 semasa era Dinasti Ming bertujuan untuk memperkukuhkan pertahanan sempadan daripada serangan penceroboh dari utara.

Tembok Besar Huangyaguan - terletak di kawasan Pergunungan di utara Daerah Jizhou, Tianjin, kira-kira 126 km ke utara bandar Tianjin dan berhampiran sempadan Beijing-Hebei.

Mula dibina lebih 1,400 tahun lalu semasa Dinasti Qi Utara (557 Masihi). 

Tembok Besar Jiankou- salah satu bahagian yang paling terkenal, terkenal di Daerah Huairou, sekitar 73 km di sebelah utara Beijing,bahagian sepanjang 20 km ini dibangun pada masa Dinasti Ming (1368-1644).

Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass) - terletak di Kota Kiayuguan, Gansu China. Dibina pada 1372 dan mengambil masa selama 168 tahun untuk disiapkan. 

Tembok Besar Jingshanling, terletak di kawasan Pergunungan Daerah Luanping, Chengde, Provinsi Hebei, sekitar 130 km ke timur laut Beijing. Mula dibina pada tahun 1368 di bawah arahan Jeneral Xu Da dari Dinasti Ming dan kemudiannya diperkukuh oleh Jeneral Qi Jiguang pada tahun 1567. 

Tembok Besar Juyongguan (Juyong Pass), terletak disebuah lembah sepanjang 18 km yang dikenali sebagai Guan Gou di Daerah Changping,kira-kira 60 km di utara bandaraya Beijing. Juga dikenali dengan nama "Pillar Greens at Juyongguan". 

Terletak di tengah-tengah kompleks, platform marmar putih yang dibina pada zaman Dinasti Yuan (1342) ini dihiasi dengan ukiran seni Buddha yang halus. Di dalam terowong gerbangnya terdapat inskripsi teks suci Buddha yang diukir dalam enam bahasa kuno yang berbeza.

Tembok Besar Mutianyu ialah salah satu bahagian Tembok Besar China yang paling terkenal, terpelihara dengan baik, dan amat digemari oleh pelancong antarabangsa. Terletak di Distrik Huairou, kira-kira 70 kilometer di timur laut pusat bandar Beijing, bahagian sepanjang 5.4 kilometer ini mula dibina pada pertengahan abad ke-6 semasa Dinasti Qi Utara dan dibina semula secara besar-besaran semasa Dinasti Ming di bawah seliaan Jeneral Xu Da.

Laotongtou (Old Dragon's Head) bahagian paling timur bagi Tembok Besar Dinasti Ming. Terletak di Daerah Shanhaiguan, Kota Qinhuangdao, Provinsi Hebei, China, terkenal kerana strukturnya yang unik yang menganjur terus ke dalam laut Bohai. 

Tembok Besar Wulonggou  - terletak di Daerah Laiyuan, Bandar Baoding, Provinsi Hebei. Dibina semasa Dinasti Ming sekitar 1573 hingga 1576 pada era Maharaja Wanli.Seksyen ini membentang sepanjang kira-kira 150 km merentasi 12 mukim. 

Menara Wanjinglou - (Cina ringkas: 望京楼; pinyin: Wàngjīng lóu), yang bermaksud "Menara Melihat Ibu Kota", merupakan menara pengawal yang paling terkenal dan tertinggi di Tembok Besar seksyen Simatai. Menara ikonik ini terletak di sempadan antara Daerah Miyun (Beijing) dan Wilayah Luanping (Hebei).

Tembok Besar Seksyen Simatai - (Cina ringkas: 司马台长城; pinyin: Sīmǎtái chángchéng) merupakan antara bahagian Tembok Besar China yang paling terkenal kerana mengekalkan rupa bentuk asal dari zaman Dinasti Ming. Terletak di Daerah Miyun, Beijing, seksyen sepanjang 5.4 kilometer ini terkenal dengan laluannya yang ekstrem dan rupa bumi yang sangat curam.

Satu-satunya Seksyen Tembok Besar China yang dibuka kepada pelancong pada waktu malam dengan hiasan lampu LED yang indah di sepanjang laluan tembok. 

Shanhaiguan (Cina ringkas: 山海关; pinyin: Shānhǎiguān) atau Laluan Shanhai berfungsi sebagai kubu pertahanan tentera yang paling strategik untuk melindungi empayar China daripada pencerobohan puak asing dari arah timur laut.
Dikenali dengan gelaran "First Pass Under Heaven" (Laluan Pertama di Bawah Syurga), ia merupakan pintu gerbang utama di mana Tembok Besar China bertemu dengan Laut Bohai. Shanhaiguan terletak di Qinhuangdao, Provinsi Hebei, kira-kira 300 km ke arah timur laut dari Beijing. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

Update:

20 Jun 2026: 6.24 pagi