Blog : Foto Friday

5490 posts
9/29/2011 8:18 pm

Foto Friday - O

I have chosen "ordinary folks" for the letter "O". The following people are some of the ordinary folks in Taiping.

From the top:-

1. This barber is in Kamunting, the village 5 km from the town of Taiping where I spent my childhood. My friend, the barber, took over the business from his father. Their family used to stay in this house but he has now purchased a brand new house nearby so he must be doing well. Recently he has called back his (who was working in Kuala Lumpur) so that he (the ) can learn the trade so I guess this family business will be carrying on for at least one more generation.
2. This iced-water cum fruit seller is located opposite the market in Pokok Assam, another village near Taiping. The cut yellow fruit on the cart is nangka (jackfruit).
3. This is a lottery ticket seller (the lady sitting on the chair) with a customer. This is outside a shopping mall opposite the Casual Market. Being a dreamer who dreams of striking the Big One, I know quite a number of lottery sellers; most of them are mobile, riding around on a bicycle or motorbike. One of them has a who is now an engineer and another, a doctor.
4. This is a newspaper man near the Taiping market. At night, this gentleman also moonlights as a waiter at the Mamak restaurant where I go for supper – usually tea and roti chanai or tosai.
5. This is a noodle seller. He fries char koey teow, mee and meehoon (our local noodles) but is well-known for his "economical" mee/meehoon. He took over the business from his mum and now owns a semi-detached house. He also dabbles in shares so he must be quite comfortable.
6. This is a kacang putih seller along Kota Road. Kacang putih are roasted and salted or sweetened peas, peanuts and other beans or nuts eaten as snacks and are traditionally sold wrapped in paper cones.

In Malaysia, there is no welfare for the able-bodied unemployed so even some of the elderly have to make a living. Some are lucky and can work inside shops and stalls whereas others have to endure the hot sun and rain for at least a few hours a day. Most of them have been involved in their trade for years.

Lee

Live today as if it is your last
For tomorrow will soon be in the past

gentleben 83M

9/29/2011 8:51 pm

A great set of shots of "ordinary poeple", Lee. Thank you very much. I thoroughly enjoy looking at faces like these....studies in contrasts.

"Life isn't fair, but it beats whatever comes in second." -- Gentleben

ltw222 75M

7793 posts
9/30/2011 2:08 am

Hi Frosted Flake,

Yes. The houses are about 80 feet long so even till today, the shops are in the front part of family homes.

Lee

Live today as if it is your last
For tomorrow will soon be in the past

Hawkslayer 88M

13354 posts
9/30/2011 5:14 am

A very interesting series of pictures, which shows that even ordinary people aren't that ordinary and really lead very full lives. Thanks Lee.

Alfie...

It only takes a drop of ink to make a million people think. There are many stories.

Abelle2 83F

31246 posts
9/30/2011 5:29 am

Thanks for sharing your ordinary people with us. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Simpleladyb2 74F

14822 posts
9/30/2011 6:16 am

Thank you for sharing!

Great pictures of Ordinary people. I love it.

Have a good weekend Lee.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."

ltw222 75M

7793 posts
9/30/2011 8:36 am

And risk missing the Big One?

You see, I have been buying these lottery tickets for nearly 40 years now and according to my statistical analysis (more impressive than calculations) the chance of me striking it has increased day by day and is now at 1 in 8 or 9 million only.

Lee

Live today as if it is your last
For tomorrow will soon be in the past

starwomyn 70F