WORLD SNAKE DAY


July 16 2019 was world snake day. It attracted my attention because of an incident recently. There was this oil palm plantation worker who was walking from palm to palm loading oil palm fruit bunches into the tractor trailer. Suddenly, he jumped and ran off from the planting row screaming.

When questioned what happened, he claimed that a snake was behind him. Luckily he was not bitten. Having known that he had a tattoo he was told to take off his shirt and expose his back. And what a coincidence - he had a TATTOO OF A SNAKE (cobra) on his back.

No wonder the snake was behind him - I will follow him!!!

 Coincidentally the cartoon above was published in the newspaper. I showed this to this boy and he was indeed very amused!

TAIPING REST HOUSES AT REST

1. THE STATE REST HOUSE
During the 1950s there were 2 rest houses in town namely, State Rest House and Town Rest House.The STATE REST HOUSE was a wooden building that once occupied the land opposite the present McDonalds in the Lake Gardens. It was demolished during the 1960s.

 However, a new complex with a double storey building and VIP wing was built on the land that was once British Residency. The last occupant was a British army general. The building was demolished but the round brick pillars were preserved and are still standing until today.

 During the heyday of the REST HOUSE these pillars were popular with wedding couples for photo shoot.The Rest House was very popular for meetings and events. The VIP wing was well furnished with the balcony over looking the lake gardens. One unit was specially reserved for royalty while the other was for other VIPs.

To-day the rest house complex is abandoned and the beautiful surroundings are over grown with weeds and secondary jungle.

2. THE TOWN REST HOUSE

The TOWN REST HOUSE along Jalan Stesen was built in 1894. It is a well known building as it is part of the heritage trail. The rest house was to complement  the first railway station which was just opposite to meet the needs of travellers. It was popular then  as there were not many hotels in town. During general elections the place was the meeting/focal point  for supporters of  political parties to get together before marching with the candidate/s to the nomination centre.

To-day the heritage building is an eye-sore and the top wooden structures of the  buildings on each side are near collapse.

Questions
 The 2 rest houses are under the state government.
What are plans of the State Government for these 2 rest houses?

RUBBER LATEX CUPS IN MALAYSIA


The size of rubber latex cups shows the growth of the rubber industry since the first rubber trees were planted in 1877 in Malaya.

Credit goes to the research and development in the private sector plantations and RRI (Rubber Research Institute)  for developing new clones with increased yields. With the increase in latex yields the size of the cups increased.

The 2 photos show the improved yields of rubber latex over the years. Before 1950 most latex cups were about 50 fluid ounces.

 After 1950  most latex cups were 200 fluid ounces with the improved yields.

Early latex cups were glazed and could have been imported from England. See Photo 1. Harrison and Crossfield. They had the Agency's or estate's name embossed on them.

 In the 1960s glass latex cups with the name SOCFIN embossed were used. Today most latex cups are plastic. See Photo 2 fourth from left.
Another interesting cup is the third from left . It is a glass cup with a pointed base and the name of the estate (Hidden Stream Estate Trong) embossed on it.

Occasionally, milo tins (3rd photo) were used to collect latex from some slaughter tapping trees due for replanting because the yields were high.

                                                   Photo 1

                                                  Photo 2

                                                   Photo 3