Have you ever heard of a tukang besi, or blacksmith? It’s a noble job that’s sadly becoming less common. The traditional way of forging iron tools is disappearing, and most of the modern tools we use are made by machines. I’ve hardly seen this skill around, but it seems to be mostly concentrated in small towns in Malaysia. With all the industrialization, not many people seem interested in it anymore. But I believe that in the future, people will go back to this because it’s something that’s truly unique and shows the master craftsman skills of the blacksmith.
I took this throwback photo back in 2006 in Malacca. It was one of those random trips I take to capture more photos. I was super committed and gung-ho back then. I’d love to do it again, but the time and commitment are much less now compared to before. My work schedule means that weekends are meant to just laze around. I should probably change that because I really enjoy it.
