The Boatman or "Pak Tambang" of Kuching.

The sampans or "water taxis" have been in existence for as long as I can remember. Its primary role is to ferry people across the Sungai Sarawak. "Sungai" means river in the Malay language. Though not as romantic as the gondola of Venice (the boatman doesn't serenade) it is nevertheless a great experience to take a sampan ride and should be on the must do list of every visitor to Kuching. A "one way ticket" on the sampan cost 60 sen and it takes about 5 minutes to cross the Sungai Sarawak.

This image shoot with film camera loaded with kodak gold 200.

 The boatman or "pak tambang" starts work early in the morning and doesn't clock out until evening. The work is long and hard but the "pak tambang" takes it all in his stride and is always ready to greet his passengers with a smile. To supplement their income most of the boatmen have allowed big companies like Astro, Celcom and Digi to place advertisements on the sampan.

This image shoot with film camera loaded with film kodak gold 200.

 Almost all of the "pak tambang" are in their "twilight" years and if the younger generation don't take over from them, these icons of Kuching will disappear in the not too distant future.

This blog is a tribute to all "pak tambang". in Sarawak.