The Wooden Fort

/ Geraldine Ho

On the 17th of July 2013, I was one of 18 participants which comprised facilitating teachers and local school children attending a site visit to Fort Alice, Sri Aman. The visit was conducted by Mike Boon and coordinated by Mr. Goh Kaw Sze. The aim of the visit was to give the school children a chance to see the structural core of the Fort before it was to be taken down completely.

We gathered at the foot of the hill at 2.30pm where we were treated to a view of the desolate-looking Fort. Being an architectural student from Kuching and having never seen a wooden Fort before, I was curious and tempted to investigate but security tapes had been used to cordon the area off.

Fort Alice with her fabric in the process of being dismantled, recorded, and stored for reuse.

Bare to her wooden frame with paint peeling and various vegetation poking out from her many crevices, the Fort has definitely seen better days. There was also that all-pervading smell of must, which rather reminds one of unpleasant things that crawl in the dark which could preferably be avoided. I had also been told some workers had to chase out friendly neighbourhood snakes from one of her watchtowers during dismantling works. Rest assured though, I’m sure the organisers have made the proper arrangements to ensure every visitors’ safety on site.

The school children loved it. How often does one get a chance to explore a construction site, let alone one that is considered a valuable historical aspect of our country and pride of their hometown? To their inquisitive minds, it must have seemed like a playground filled with new sights and smells.