Tag - Culture

The Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition at Hotel Sixty3, Gaya Street here, in conjunction with the recent ‘Bonding With Gaya Street’ event has proven to be such a hit among locals and tourists that the exhibition has been extended until February 14.

The exhibition venue is located at the hotel’s first floor atrium, situated just opposite the Sabah Tourism Board building.

Among the highlights of the exhibition is a 48-foot long graphic mural of the Atkinson Clock Tower, sponsored by Hotel Sixty3 as well as numerous images and information of Kota Kinabalu’s oldest and most popular city landmark.

According to Richard Nelson Sokial, a local heritage advocator involved with the exhibition, the public response to the Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition had been very good, and by popular demand, the hotel’s management had kindly extended its goodwill and hospitality to host the exhibition for another two more days.

Curious members of the public have come steadily since Saturday to view the exhibition, which is one of the activities organised by the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) for the recent ‘Bonding With Gaya Street’ event. The exhibition was put together by members of the Heritage Sabah group with the help of NBHE volunteers and the cooperation of Sabah Museum, Sabah State Archives, Sabah Information Department, town planning studies by AIA Consortium as well as photo contributions from private individuals.

Besides displaying rare photos showcasing the importance of the Atkinson Clock Tower as a city marker for more than 100 years, the exhibit features a 100-year old original railway sleeper used by the North Borneo Railways (now known as Sabah Railways), courtesy of Cap Kuda Coffee Company. A visual multi-media display by various supporters of Heritage Sabah group’s Save Our Heritage Atkinson Clock Tower campaign is also on display which shows the younger generation’s appreciation of the clock tower as a legacy for their own generation in Sabah.

“Many members of the public are not even aware that the clock tower, built in 1905, still works in 2012 – and still emits chimes from its bell tower – despite its melodious sound being drowned by the busy traffic on Jalan Balai Polis,” Sokial said.

He added that “members of the public should definitely come to see this exhibit as a way of learning more about the heritage value of the Atkinson Clock Tower and why it is so important to preserve it in a pristine site. It is a chance to learn about KK city’s history and how this clock tower continues to contribute to the enrichment of Kota Kinabalu’s local community in these modern times”.

Source: Borneo Post

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

The newly-opened Hotel Sixty3 at Gaya Street here will be unveiling Sabah’s biggest graphic mural of the Atkinson Clock Tower for a two-day exhibition to be held in conjunction with the “Bonding with Gaya Street” event this weekend.

The 8’ x 48’ graphic mural, depicting KK city’s oldest landmark, the Atkinson Clock Tower, will be the highlight of the exhibition that will be placed in the atrium of the hotel.

The mural will be an artwork collage of various old photographs of Jesselton township combined to create an image of the clock tower. It will be the largest graphic bunting ever produced of the 107-year-old historical lock tower that has now become the most important historical marker for the city of Kota Kinabalu.

The Atkinson Clock Tower (ACT) exhibition will showcase the importance of the Atkinson Clock Tower as KK city’s historic landmark with old photos taken over the past 107 years of its existence by the past and present residents of Kota Kinabalu (then known as Jesselton).

Richard Nelson Sokial, a local heritage advocate who is assisting in curating the ACT exhibition together with Sabah Museum, praised the hotel management for its interest and support in promoting the event.

Sokial is also a member of the “Bonding with Gaya Street” organizing committee under the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) group that is aiming to bring the local community together in rediscovering the history of KK city’s early town centered around the activities of Gaya Street — then known as Bond Street.

“The graphic mural of the Atkinson Clock Tower is a huge and generous gesture by Hotel Sixty3 in support of promoting our local history,” he said. Sokial is confident that with ongoing efforts to create awareness of the importance to preserve heritage in the city, more and more local business establishments are seeing the potential of heritage as a branding and tourism product by supporting the preservation of existing historical structures and their immediate surroundings.

Lisa Sabrina Ambrose, general manager of Hotel Sixty3, said the hotel is excited to be involved with a project that is so close to the heart of the Gaya Street community.

“We hope that this exhibition will encourage the public to learn more about the city, so that when they walk along Gaya Street they can retrace the history of Kota Kinabalu,” she said.

Formerly known as Nosmal Court, the premises of Hotel Sixty3 was renovated and completed early last year and is one of the few examples of architectural readaptation projects in Kota Kinabalu that have mostly kept the character of the original building’s modernist architecture from the early 1960s.

Apart from rare old photos and information about the Atkinson Clock Tower and heritage preservation efforts, a multimedia presentation will also be shown about the Atkinson Clock Tower as an effort by Sabah’s younger generation to preserve their local history.

In support of the Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition, Hotel Sixty3 will also display its own private collection of old photos taken during North Borneo’s colonial era along its hotel’s corridors.

The Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition will be held at the first floor atrium of Hotel Sixty3, located in front of the Sabah Tourism Corporation building on Gaya Street. It will be open from 8.30am to 6.30pm as part of the “Bonding with Gaya Street” event.

Early birds visiting the exhibition will also be able to redeem free cups of coffee sponsored by Cap Kuda Coffee Company at the first floor atrium. The coupons will be distributed along Gaya Street during the two-day event.

A coffeetable book titled “Colonial Towns in Sabah: West Coast” by PAM Sabah Chapter will also be on sale at the exhibition featuring 12 colonial townships in Sabah’s west coast.

Source: Borneo Post

The community heritage exhibition "Bonding With Gaya Street" earned praises from Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir at its launch, here, Saturday. "This programme is connected to City Hall's vision, which is to make Kota Kinabalu a Nature Resort City, a firmly developed city, friendly as well as peaceful by 2020.

"It also gives the younger generation an opportunity to gain an insight into the uniqueness of Gaya Street through exhibits which showcase its social history, lifestyle and culture, old buildings and shophouses, significant events and incidents, which have influenced the community along Gaya Street throughout the ages."

"I believe visitors will have the opportunity not only to see the natural beauty of the city, but also a chance of looking into the lifestyle pattern of its community as well as gather bits and pieces of its history as they go along the exhibits," he said at the Lintasan Deasoka in conjunction with the 12th City Day celebration.

Daily Express is a co-sponsor of the event. The first headquarters of Sabah Publishing House, the publishers of both the Daily Express and Overseas Chinese Daily News, were among the street's pioneer establishments.

Madingkir reminded patrons and business proprietors along Gaya Street to maintain the cleanliness of the city. He also suggested repainting and renovations to be done on buildings along the street, where necessary, in order to lift the image of the city as well as ensure the buildings are safe.

Earlier, Organising Chairperson Datin Fazar Arif said the focus was on Gaya Street because it is the origins of Jesselton and Kota Kinabalu.

Thus the project is named 'Bonding with Gaya Street'. Part of Gaya Street was also known as Bond Street in the old days.

"We are all very familiar with Gaya Street but we just don't look around, we tend to take it for granted. So this exhibition is about slowing down and noticing the details.

"Our objective is to celebrate community and celebrate community history which goes back to the beginnings of Gaya Street as we know."

She also credited the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE), a fairly random group of bloggers comprising Sabahans from all walks of life.

"It's not like we're learned academics but it's very much based on love of history and stories as well as collecting stories and old photos from people of Gaya Street."

She said the first shophouses were built along the area called Bond Street that would later be re-named Gaya Street. The event also saw the soft launching of the NBHE book titled "Bonding with Gaya Street".

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai , City Hall Director General Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, founder of the NBHE group, Justin Sunam Wong and Madingkir's wife Datin Florence Malangkig.

Source: Daily Express

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants local authorities to identify and highlight the potential and uniqueness of their respective districts at the international level.

“This includes historical aspects of a place, the uniqueness of ethnicities and sub-ethnic groups, various cultures, potential for tourism and other efforts and programmes which can generate income, strengthen cooperation and unity,” he said at the 2012 Tawau International Cultural Festival.

In his speech, which was read out by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin here last night, he commended the commitment of local authorities for an event which showcased the culture of 26 ethnicities in Tawau, including food, dance, traditional costumes and wedding customs.

“This festival is a good medium to foster ties between leaders and the community to uphold our cultural heritage, unite and strengthen understanding as well as respect among our community of various races, religion and cultures,” he said.

Musa said that in the regional context, the festival’s theme ‘Kebudayaan Untuk Kedamaian Serantau’ (Culture for Regional Peace), also played a big role in reviving the spirit of goodwill and togetherness among neighbouring countries.

Source: Bernama