Beratok (21st Mile) Chinese Temple on Rock Mountain, Kuching Serian

Beratok situated at the 21st mile of the Kuching-Serian road, that village are one of the three villages which form in the era of the British colonial government .

"On the night of 27 June 1965," recalled Dato Sri Yao, "a group of Indonesian soldiers came across the border from West Kalimantan and collaborated with members of the local Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO). 

They attacked the Police Station at Mile 18 Kuching-Serian Road. During the two-hour long battle, two policemen including the younger brother of the then Chief Minister, Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan were killed and two wounded. That night the intruders also killed 6 civilians and wounded 2, all of them Chinese Kheh."

When reinforcement came from Kuching to repulse the attack, the infiltrators beat a hasty retreat back to the border through Padawan Road. That night, another group of them caused slight damage to the bridge at the 24th mile Kuching-Serian Road.

"As a result of the above incident, the State Government launched an exercise called 'Operation Hammer' on 28th June which involved the establishment of three new residential areas to resettle the Chinese families residing in the 15th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st and 24th Miles which were declared as Controlled Area." The objective was twofold: to provide protection for residents in the areas concerned; and to eliminate communist influence.

"Immediate actions were taken by the Public Works Department, SESCO and other agencies to build new houses, wire fences around the new villages and install electricity supply. All the necessary works were completed by 6th July 1965 and on that date, more than 8,000 people from 1285 families were regrouped in the three centres under curfew, namely Siburan Village at 17th Mile, Beratok Village, 19th Mile and Tapah Village, 21st Mile."

So I visited the Beratok Village on 21st Mile, and its was a small village compare to Siburan (17th mile), and Tapah (22nd Mile). One very interesting about the Beratok village, its has a Chinese Temple on the foot hill, and on top of the mount, there was an abundance shrine.

This is the Chinese Temple on the bottom of the mount

There is an old stairways up to the mount, and upon reaching there, we saw an abundance shrine. There are no statue, no information about the place. Not sure what is it use for...

From the looks of the shrine, the structure is like the typical Chinese Temple. But its hard to confirm, cause there are no signboard, or any Chinese carving on the pillar or wall.


The view from top of the mount, the 21st Mile, Beratok Village.
* article in yellow taken from Rakan Sarawak "Operation Hammer" read more here
Cheers,
Wilson Chin wilsonchin1981@gmail.com

the Japanese War Monument at Batu Lintang Kuching

I went to visit the Japanese grave at Batu Lintang, Kuching. This is the place when the Japanese surrender, after the Americans drop two atomic bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Notice bellow the monument, there is a plate with both Japanese and English writing on it. And this is what it wrote on the plate.

The origin of the monument,
During the second world war when every able bodied man has enlisted in the Japanese war efforts a group of young boys fireherman aged 15 - 16 volunteered their service to help the country by ferrying food supply to Japanese trools of the Southern fronts.

These courageous boys were from the fishing port of Yaizu which was famous in Japan for its plentiful supply for bonito and tuna fishes.

In their tiny 50 tonnes worn out fishing boats the boys began ferrying food supply to the southern battlefronts.

Torward the end of the war, then massive counter attacks by the Americans and the British had cause heavy defeats of the Japanese army, the young Yaizu fisherman took up arms to help defend their country.

The youthful hands which had only held fishing nets and had only been use for making Katuobushi now held gunds and firearms.

Between 1942 - 1945. 81 of the Yaizu boy fisherman lost their lives in the call of their patriotic duty.

On behalf of the war bereaved, we held this service to honor and pay our deepest respect for these brave boys and to pray for their eternal peace. This year of 1991.

(TAIJI SUZUKI) The Chief Priest of Yaizu Shine.

I was told during some day in the year, there are still some Japanese people will come and pay their respect to the people who pass away here. Base on the writing on the monument, the Priest treat these people as a war hero. Base on the stories that my parents and grandma told me, they are more to villain instead of being a hero.

2014 Gong Xi Fa Chai, Happy Chinese New Year, 恭贺新禧, 新年快乐

Some of the picture I took during Chinese New Year around Kuching. The fireworks light up the night sky, and I'm so happy that it didn't rain this year, and the firework can display their full potential in the sky. To all my dear readers, Gong Xi Fa Chai, wishing you good health, and good wealth around the year.

Kuching Folding Bike Trip #01

I bough a beginner entry folding bike, because I plan to go cycling when I am not on my hiking trip. My bike is a 20" bike with 6 speed, shimano gear.


My first trip is to the Batu Kawa old town, cycle to the old town, and roam around that area. Sunny day, and not much car on the road.


The Rantau Panjang, a nice ride on the old Batu Kawa town. A long and nice country road into the unknown.


The Penrissen 4th mile area. I only realize that there are a lot of open space in this area. Saw a car parked on the very end of the road there, but when I ride pass there, no one in the car. Wonder where is the driver go...

A shortcut I discover in the Jalan Kong Ping road area, I found a big dead monitor lizard on the road. A serious injured on the head, so I use a stick to carry that dead lizard, and put aside on the road. Hope that no car will trip over it.


After a long bicycle trip, its time to go home, so tired.