From 2001 : "The Oldman Selling Doves at Pasir Puteh Market"

These images were made at one of the busiest Saturday market in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan in December 2001. It was a chance encounter while out making pictures at the market and meeting up with some old friends. My mother had spoken about this gentleman and his birds on numerous occasions, she's even bought a couple of singing ketitirs from him in the past.

This occasion was a significant one to me purely for the fact that it's about an oldman adamant about pursuing a dying tradition that I have always been fascinated with but have never entertained. There are two types of birdlovers, one falls under the conservationist category and the other those who likes to care for the birds and train them. Most of the second category birders are found in the East, much less in the West who are more keen with keeping the birds for companionship. Those for the East acquire, care, and train their charge from wee fledglings. While those from the West acquire their companion from pet stores or bird fairs of Europe.

The fact that I myself almost have not met this old man had I not decided to hang around the market that Saturday was also significant to me. What chance might there be for my son to discover this once favorite past time?

The oldman breeds and trains about 5000 ketitirs (spotted and zebra doves) singing birds at his home, they cost between a few dollars to a few thousands each depending on bloodlines. Those from famous prize winning parentage can fetch upwards of ten thousand each ... prized possession to those who seriously indulge in this past time and actively compete.

The oldman has been at it since as long as he can remember ... now with grown up children he finds all the more reason to continue with this passion. His market days are normally filled up by chance meeting like this or running up and down the state entertaining his clients and friends and showing off his latest prized birds.

We parted company after a couple of hours and a few rolls of Neopan ... he did try to convince me of the joy of keeping birds at the same time trying to sell me a pair of singing ketitirs and a MYR$500 beautifully handmade birdcage that comes with it. Had it not been for the trip back to the Netherlands, I would have accepted his invitation to visit his home to meet his other prized songsters. Having heard the songs from my mom's $2.50/pair ketitirs on the porch ... I can't truly imagine how his $15,000 birds must've sound like ... pretty close to heavenly no doubt ... why else would anybody do this for a lifetime.