实兆远Sitiawan Travel Guide

实兆远
实兆远(马来语:Sitiawan或Setiawan,是Setia Kawan的组合词,意即“忠实的朋友”)是马来西亚霹雳州曼绒县的一个地区,因其居民多为福州籍华人,也被称为小福州。实兆远地区面积为331.5平方 公里(128平方英里),2000年的人口为95,920。其主要城市实兆远市位于北纬4°13′, 东经100°42′。

历史
实兆远原来的马来语名称是Kampung Sungai Gajah Mati。在来自中国福州的移民(主要来自古田县)进行开垦之后,这里成为了一个繁荣的居民点。

Kampung Sungai Gajah Mati在马来语中的字面意思是“大象死去的河流边的村庄”,根据传说,有两只大象在这里趟水,其中的一只被背负的锡矿石压垮,陷入了落潮期的天定河 (Dinding River)的河泥中。人们尽力营救却徒劳无益,只得放弃。然而另外一只大象却不愿离开它的同伴,最后在涨潮的时候,它们双双淹死。Setia Kawan(“忠实的朋友”)的名字由此而来。

在19世纪末,锡矿和橡胶是当地主要的贸易品。它们由大象搬运,并装卸上蒸汽轮船运往槟榔屿(Penang)。1870年代,一场天花在这里爆发,由于中 国的信仰认为更改地名能够改善风水,当地人就将地名改为Setia Kawan,即“忠实的朋友”,以此来达到天人和谐,并抚慰死去的大象。

1903年9月,363名福州基督徒,包括72名妇女及55名小童等,为了摆脱在福建穷困的生活处境,移民到了实兆远。他们由林称美与柳依美牧师等带领, 在今天的甘文阁区(Kampung Koh)定居下来。这些移民大多在实兆远的橡胶种植园工作。福州移民还在1930年代和1950年代挖掘了四口井,这些遗迹至今仍保留着,只是不再被使 用。

马来亚共产党领导人,福清籍华人陈平于1924年出生于实兆远。

发展
实兆远最初是个以橡胶采集和乳胶加工为经济支柱的小居民点。这里的居民是中国福州古田县移民的后代。英国殖民当局鼓励当地早期居民种植水稻,然而居民们在发现当地土壤不适合稻米种植之后,转而从事畜牧业,后来又转向更为适合的橡胶种植业。

伴随着城市的迅速发展,昔日的种植园和庄园成为了居民区和商业区。到了1980年代,由于棕榈油的价格超过了橡胶及乳胶,且棕榈种植业需要的人力更少,剩余的大橡胶园大多被改为棕榈种植园。

旅游业并非当地的支柱产业,但由于该城离旅游胜地邦咯岛(Pangkor Island)很近,在经济上也获得了一定的受益。

1990年代以来,实兆远城市发展迅猛。其中一个主要原因是马来西亚海军在距市中心10公里处的红土坎(Lumut)建立了目前全马来西亚最大的海军基地。船员的消费力带动了城市商业的发展。

教育
实兆远有许多学校,比如阿末博思达曼中学(Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ahmad Boestamam)、南华国民中学、英华中学。阿末博思达曼中学是以为马来西亚独立做出贡献的阿末博思达曼(Ahmad Boestamam)的名字命名的。

南华国民中学最初是私立的华文学校,后来成为半公立的中学。2006年9月1日在南华中学礼堂举行了该校70周年校庆。在古田会馆的大厅举办了千人宴会来纪念这个日子。

英华中学的前身是华人基督教传教士办的英文学校,也是实兆远历史最久远的中学。2003年该校举行了百年校庆。英华中学也是曼绒县第一个成立童子军的学校。

福州文化
实兆远福州文化的痕迹非常显著。红糟面线的制作,光饼,酸辣鱼鳔都是独特的福州传统饮食,是实兆远居民,尤其是甘文阁区居民日常生活的重要部分。

现代实兆远
近年来沟通红土坎、斯里曼绒(Seri Manjung)和实兆远的天定河水上交通发展迅速,在带来经济繁荣的同时也给实兆远带来了污染问题。实兆远的经济主要依靠橡胶、棕榈油、矿业、渔业和造船。

公元2000年前后,实兆远居民开始参与金丝燕的保护运动。

Sitiawan Travel Guide

Sitiawan colloquially refers to a collection of town centres in the district of Manjung, Perak. It includes the townships of Pasir Panjang, Teluk Penchalang, Dato’ Seri Kamaruddin, Sitiawan Town, Ayer Tawar, Serdang, Sungai Wangi, Sungai Ramai, Banjar, Changkat Chermin and Gugusan Lekir.

Sitiawan reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of Malaysia, and the area has been part of much of Malaysia’s modern history, from the impact of Japanese soldiers in WWII to the Malayan Emergency (1948 - 1960). Though not much in the way of tourist attractions, it is near the port of Lumut where travellers can board a ferry to the resort island of Pangkor. Sitiawan is primarily known for rubber, palm oil, mineral ore, fishing and ship building.

History

In ancient times, the area was believed to be part of the Hindu-Malay Gangga Negara kingdom that collapsed in the 11th century. The area was a rich source of tin the late 19th century, and the main Dinding River served as a major waterway for steamships laden with ore, bound for Penang. Legend tells of a work elephant, overburdened with tin ore, becoming stuck in the river mud at low tide. Despite efforts, it could not be freed and was abandoned, save for its companion, another elephant who refused to leave until both perished in the rising waters. This impressed the hicks who named the place Kampung Sungai Gajah Mati (Village by the River Where the Elephants Died). A smallpox outbreak in 1886 convinced the superstitious locals to change the name to Setia Kawan or “loyal friend”, to placate the spirits of the elephants. Over time, this became “Sitiawan”.

In 1903, more than 360 Chinese Christians from Fujian, China, consisting of Kutian, Hockchiu, Hockcheng and Henghua people (collectively known as Fuzhou) were settled in the area. Today, many Fuzhous in the surrounding area and major cities such as Ipoh trace their roots to Sitiawan.

World War II saw the arrival of the Japanese in the area, galvanising the local population into resistance, one of whom, the infamous Chin Peng, formed a Communist guerrilla army that not only fought the Japanese, but later the British colonial administration, resulting in the Malayan Emergency of 1948-1960.

In recent times, Sitiawan’s economy has boomed, with the establishment of the Royal Malaysian Naval Base in nearby Lumut, as well as the settlement of swiftlets, whose nests are used to make the Chinese delicacy of bird’s nest soup. With prosperity came rapid and somewhat uncontrolled development, increased infrastructure and pollution to what used to be a sleepy village.

Attractions

Attractions are few and far in between. Some aspects of the old traditional ways of village life, revolving around feasts and festivals, are disappearing. Wooden early 20th century colonial style buildings are also vanishing under the new development.

Sitiawan Settlement Museum
Opened in 2003, the Sitiawan Settlement Museum was established to preserve the history and artifacts of the Fuzhou settlers. It is housed in a converted 70-year-old church parsonage. Out the back is the well dug by the early pioneers for their water supply (now disused). Address: K6, Jalan Ling Ching Mi, Kampung Koh, 32000 Sitiawan. Tel/Fax: 05-6920612.

Old buildings
Sitiawan has the Chinese Methodist Church, a small white building in the shape of a cross. Originally built in 1905, it was later rebuilt and renovated after a fire. The current setup dates from 1927 and is situated near the Sitiawan Settlement Museum. There is also Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan, or known more popularly as ACS (Anglo Chinese School) that is over a hundred years old. It’s still a functioning school, and not as interesting as you might expect.

Food
The Fuzhou Culture
Hockchiu culture figure prominently in Sitiawan, especially Kampung Koh. Red rice wine (“mien siang”), kong piang buns, and sweet and sour fish maw soup (“goroow”) is part of the tradition.

Shopping
You’re unlikely to get anything interesting here, but you can check this out: http://www.pulau-pangkor.com/Shopping-in-Sitiawan-and-Manjung.html