updates and links to updates on this website...
DECEMBER 2008:Batik-o-rama... Thumbnail images of practically every (Malaysian) sarong I own in chronological order, 2 pages. Click on an image for a pop-up window with a slightly larger image and some laborious comments about why I chose it.
"My Favorite Sarongs" An attempt to explain what I like.
Conventional batik sarongs, ie the vast majority of batik sold in the market, is an stab at describing the hundreds of sarongs I do not buy.
New sarongs and/or comments added on Wan Azhar, Haji Wan Ismail, Kamis, Julia, Safinor, Zul.
I only bought 12 sarongs in April 2008, a discouraging year for various reasons... Wan Azhar was attempting some new colors which I found harsh and a new geometric chop based on a Sarawak ikat weaving which I didn't care for either. Kamis was making a horrible marbelize-style that was ugly ten years ago when Nozzi started doing it. I could not find many batiks I liked in the market and I didn't have the energy to bicycle to the factories outside of town. And then I learned that Safinor had closed.
This was Visit Terengganu year and all the shophouses on Jalan Kg Cina received new coats of paint. Some of the becaks (tri-shaws) hanging around the market were elaborately decorated. The factory at Wan Azhar was rebuilt. Thanks to massive infilling, it is no longer by the sea.
*The best breakfast in town is the (front) stall next to the Seri Malaysia Hotel (the pink one at the south end of Kg. Cina), chicken rice. Never get tired of it. Unfortunately it doesn't open until 10 o'clock so it makes for a late breakfast and that conflicts with...
The best lunch in town is at Golden Dragon, diagonally across the street and up a bit, a self-serve and colored-clothespin kind of place with large round communal tables and homemade chili sauce (enak sekali!). Very busy at lunch.
Sarong count to date: 263
NOVEMBER 2007:Re-designed entire site. Added new pages on bad batik, satu lapis batik, a batiker called Kamis, and getting lost.
I bought 22 sarongs in April 2007, which was fast work as I was only there for two weeks, so, a good year. Not as good as 2005 (sarong count: 44) however. See "My Favorite Sarongs" for highlights.
Sarong count to date: 251