Friday, September 30, 2011

FSO: Stairs

September 30 - Stairs. Going up, coming down, from behind.



Click to enlarge.

I was at a dentist's window in Kluang in a small town in West Malaysia. I saw these buildings, or the back of these buildings. I couldn't believe my eyes. They looked like some of the buildings in my home town Sibu, in Borneo. I remember going to my friend's house along Ramin Way, and we used to go up and down in those narrow spiral stairs in the mid-1960s. We had to do this in secret because it was a three storeys building. They were considered very tall building at that time. My friend's mum said men at the bottom of the stairs could look up and see our knickers. These buildings must have been built at the same time, and never had a new white wash.



I visited a Chinese Temple in Paloh Johor in West Malaysia, and there was some sort of a well, It was fenced off with two stairs running on it's sides. There was no one in the temple I could ask, so I just snapped this photo.




My brother Joseph has a stairs from his jetty down to the lake. The kids swim in the lake or get to their kayak. He doesn't need the stairs when they go on his boat. I don't mean this little boat that my nephew Joshua calls a Tinny. His other 20 foot mustang is parked on the other side of the jetty, and you don't need the stairs.


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10 comments:

Jama said...

There's still some buildings here with the spiral staircase at the back of the buildings, the most famous is the one in Bugis, they are colourful and had gone under refurbishment. Can't tear them down as there are declared national heritage buildings.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love the picture of the backs of those houses with the colorful roofs, I had to enlarge it to get a better look! I even love that blue motor bike! The temple fence picture looks likemsome kind of modern art almost.

DawnTreader said...

That looks like a rather complicated building structure (the first one) - and as you say not in good repair, not much done about it since it was built. ... As to what I said on my post about one photo per theme, that was for a local contest in my town a few weeks ago; sorry if it got confusing.

Jo said...

Hi Ann, those "tall" buildings are so interesting. We still see similar ones (also blackened) in cities here in East Africa. In my youth in South Africa, we'd also dash up and down the "dark" stairs in them! And yes, mum also warned us about men looking up the stairs when we were walking ahead! Mmm. Thanks for your kind comment on my blog. I love having you there and enjoy your blog very much too. Blessings, Jo

Unknown said...

nice set of stair photos Ann. I sent you an email on the Canada sightings. :-)

Reader Wil said...

When I saw these buildings I immediately thought: This must be somewhere in Asia. Only there houses are built on top of each other this way. It is very picturesque! I saw something like that in Hongkong.
So you call your husband a kangaroo? Poor man! LOL

Sarah Sullivan said...

Wow the first shot is facinating! I love them all though..especially the boys in the water! Love kiddo shots! Sarah :)

Cheryl said...

Wow! Ann that first shot is fascinating. So much texture, angles, and of course the stairs.

Joyful said...

I love the photo of the buildings. You can see all the colour is now peeling and gives it that "weathered" look that I like so much.

Ensurai said...

I love the first photo...I was quite spellbound!!thanks.