The Blue House of Love...

The Blue House; so what is so special about this Blue House. I do not know why it is call the Blue House but I can say that it is situated not that far away from the blue sea where the sky above is always blue. Perhaps that is why they name this house of love the Blue House. Anyway I like the colour blue for it is always associated with peace and tranquillity, an atmosphere that allows one to enjoy life in all the colours of the rainbows. So what is this house is all about. 

Well let me tell the story my way, the way I know best. It may differ from the version of the owner of this gorgeous house under the sun. But it does not matter for this is my story. Let me digressed a bit. In July 2010 I was in Kuantan and for no obvious reason decided to go and have a look at the house of my late auntie and uncle in Galing, not that faraway from the hotel where I was staying. With my nephew we drove to the vicinity of the house and found that many buildings had been bulldozed and the land been filled with laterite soil. There stand two broken-down buildings that were once the grandeur of buildings in this part of the kampong. The houses where my late auntie and uncle and my late granduncle* live from the time this corner of land near a tributary of the Kuantan River was developed. In those days it was easy to get to the house from the Jalan Baserah but now one had to wind one's ways to get to it. Anyway we were there that day and what I saw made me sad indeed. That two houses are been left to rots or left without repair. Despite its condition I saw there are people living in both houses. I took some photos of both houses and posted it on my Facebook wall with a note hoping that someone would take step to preserve these heritage houses and saved it for the future generation. Soon there were many comments on my wall. Most are with positive thoughts and I like it.  

Years later I saw a posting of the Blue House in a relatives FB wall and eventually found that they had indeed took apart that old houses and reassembled it at a new site. I was delighted with that happening. They have indeed saved that old house for the future generation. I was hoping I would get to see it whenever I am in Kuantan. Then the opportunity came knocking almost on my door...

It was a beautiful day with clear blue sky but as usual at this time of the year the weather in Kuantan was hot and humid. I sat in my hotel room in the Vistana Kuantan listening to a German TV program in German while surfing the Net. With that kind of atmosphere I felt like been in Germany in summer where I once live. Outside the weather look great just like summer in Germany. While on Facebook I notice a posting from one of my niece saying that she is at the Blue House now. I then post a comment saying that I would love to see the Blue House and appreciate if she could pick-me-up at the hotel since I did have a car with me. Just before 4PM on that gorgeous Thursday afternoon I received an SMS from her saying that she would come over to fetch me up in about thirty minutes. I then dress up and went to the lobby to wait. She arrived with her dad Azhar a retired teacher. I hop in and they drove away to our destination, the Blue House. On arrival met my cousin Nor, Azhar's spouse. We sat to chat over Tea. 

There was so much to talk about but as usual in a situation like this time passes by fast indeed. Hardly have I known it was almost six thirty and I almost forgot that I had a dinner date at seven. Mesmerized by the way they had reassembled that old house and the green surrounding that enclaves the house I got lost of the tread of time. In fact I had overstayed their hospitality.  A quip from Azhar brought me back to reality that it was time to go. They then send me back to the hotel.  

Well folks in the story of my life whatever I wanted to see or get, I always get to it in one-way or the other. It just likes destiny one talk about in the journey of life. One can never tell what going to happen next. I had decided to just get to Kuantan and take it easy but never for a second thought that I would get to see the Blue House that soon. But then life is like that and thanks to the Internet communication became a means to an end. Facebook was the mean and the end that Blue House. Amazing isn't it what life had to offer in this beautiful world of ours. 

Thanks Nurul, thanks Azhar, thanks Nor for making my day; that Blue House of yours is simply gorgeous, a gem indeed. 

Below are the two houses before it was taken apart and reassembled as seen above. These images was taken on July 6, 2010.

*Note: The granduncle mentioned above is Abu Bakar bin Mat, the younger brother of my maternal grandmother Mariam binti Mat.

 Have a nice day.