Stories and pix that make Gaya Street special

Gaya Street is undergoing a transformation as preparations for an exciting Community Heritage Exhibition themed “Bonding with Gaya Street” begins in conjunction with Kota Kinabalu City Day. It involves many nostalgic photographs going on display at different parts of Gaya Street on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12 and is organised by the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) in collaboration with City Hall and supported by Sabah Tourism, Information Department, Sabah Museum, Sabah Archives and Daily Express. Part of Gaya Street used to be known as Bond Street.

“We wish the public will contribute their old photos or stories and their old photos maybe reproduced for them in A4, for free,” said Natasha Sim of NBHE, Saturday.

She said those wanting to share their photos and stories, can drop by at their booth at Kedai Kopi Sen Chong Wah (Opposite Tung Nam BookStore) along Gaya Street where an on-location photocopier machine specifically for public contribution purposes is open from Monday to Sunday 11am to 5.30pm.

On how to identify the participating outlets, she said coffeeshops on Gaya Street will have “Food in History” place mats.

“The place mats are printed copies of stories that relate to food that NBHE wishes to put at coffee shops and restaurants,” she said.

According to her, one such story is the setting up of a canteen by the Anglican Church called “Jiayi Shi Tang” (Simple Eating Hall) on Bond Street, on Sept. 1 1942, which only sold two items – coconut water and soya bean drink.

“It was a place for recruitment and dissemination of information for the Kinabalu Guerillas,” she said, adding that however the Japanese too frequented the canteen because of their love for coconut drink.

The canteen became a spot for clandestine activities,” she said.

Other key locations of participating outlets are:

– Mandarin Hotel for timeline of old Jesselton. – Tung Nan Bookstore – Chop Teo Seng – Gaya Pharmacy – In front of Pizza Hut and BB CafŽ where there will be a life-size replica of @ North Borneo War Memorial – JSM Pharmacy – Hotel Sixty3 – HSBC – Kedai Gunting Jalan Gaya, a “Bergaya di Jalan Gaya” exhibit of retro fashion and pop culture depicting styles throughout the ages.

The public is advised to look out for buntings with different old photos depicting a different facet of Jesselton, printed along Gaya Street to identify other participating outlets.

Source: Daily Express