After the first election in Pangkal Pinang, we actually had a chance to go to the first city found in Bangka - the city of Mentok. As always, I am always facinated with the society and urban activities (if we can call this palce urban). City of Mentok, was known as the plac eto export white pepper - even though now it is ancient history since the value had gone down and they have decreased the productivity by a significant number (and do you know that Kentucky Fried Chicken used to have contract tiuse Mentok pepper just abotu a year ago? but now they have to take from other sources, since Mentok can no longer provide enough stock) -
let's all hope it will come back again.

The old port in Mentok, as usual, fisherman boats and little warung - definitely Asian.. the china town, the mansion on Tjong A Fok, the temple that is located next to the mosque... there has always been harmony, at least that what is explained by the local..





But what happen now? all that simplicity of friendship among different believes and culture will be put aside, only over money, power and status... what a sad thing to think about.

If only we all realize that at the end, nothing that we need to achieve, aside then we always hope we do something good for the society and family, for the future of our children...

Here goes Mentok! (in mentok, both of these buildings are located side by side, even with connectting door!!!! great, huh?)