Of Cobbler Amirul from Penang...

For the last three days last week I kept going back to the GE Mall at Jalan Ampang to see the on-going Art and Craft Sale and Exhibition there. On arrival I notice the foyer of the mall was full of stalls selling all kind of handicraft from the one made by the OA [Aborigine] to the latest technique in Batik making, Ceramic jewellery, leather works and other crafts handmade by artisan from all over the country.

On the first day I went to just have a look without any intention of buying. Did a round of the exhibition and eventually stop at a stall manned by a young cobbler. It was interesting to see the young artisan doing his job on cowhide. He sells sandals and belts made of real cowhide which he had crafted himself. I ask him where he gets his supply of hide. He says that he got it from Pakistan and Medan in Indonesia. The next day I went there again and took along my branded leather belt which I had it cut and shorten a few years ago when I lost weight. I had since regain my normal weight and found that I could hardly use that belt; one of my favourite leather belt. I ask the cobbler Amirul as to whether he could find a way to lengthen it back to the original length. He said that he could but at that time did not have any extra material to do the extension. I ask him to try and left the belt with him while I went to have coffee at the Starbucks nearby. I whilst my time surfing the Net there and enjoy my coffee. I soon forgot about the belt and take my time in cyberspace. After an hour I decided to see whether the cobbler had found a solution to my belt. I was surprised that he did and it’s done.  With his expertise on leather and ingenuity he had extended my belt to the original length. He has done a creative job with it including polishing the whole belt giving it a new look just like a new one. I took a look and like it. Indeed very happy with the workmanship. I then paid him and went home happy.

At home I thought of doing an article on the activities of craftsman like him for my Blog and at the same time was thinking of asking the cobbler to take a look at my old leather sandals, a favourite shoe of mine to see whether he could replace the worn-out parts with a new layer of soft leader.  So wearing those sandals I again went to the Mall. On arrival at the ground floor of the mall I spend the first few hours taking picture of the exhibition for my article and then went to see the cobbler again. I sat on one of the chair and showed him my sandals while asking him whether he could repair or replaced the worn-out leather.  He said that he could and that it would take more than two hours to get the job done. I told him it would all right with me but I did not bring a spare sandal to wear while he repairs mine. He said not to worry while handing me a spare sandal to wear while he repair mine. I then hand him both my sandals.

Wearing the spare sandal went to have coffee at the Starbucks nearby. I got myself an end table sandwiched between three youth. I soon found that the one in front of me is a young doctor and the other two both students. Soon we got into talking on various subjects that comes to our minds. As usual when we are on a chat times passes by fast indeed. I look at my watch and found that I had been there more than an hour already. I decided to just go and have a look at what has happen to my sandals. I notice that one is ready and the cobbler is dong the other pair. I tried and found it well done and felt the comfort. I then move on to continue my coffee at another place at Starbucks and surfing the Net as well, without realising that I am wearing one of my own sandals on one foot and the borrowed one on the other.  After a while I went back to see whether my sandals are ready and saw him polishing one of it. He told me that I am wearing different sandals on both feet. I was surprised that I did that and just laugh it off. He says he wanted to have the other sandal to polish it as well. I sat there and watch him put a finishing touch to both my sandals. When all are done my old sandals now look new and it does make me happy.  I then paid him for a job well done and move on wearing my 'new' pair of sandals. Indeed an interesting and productive week at the mall.

Have a nice day.

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