I suppose one doesn't have it easy when one migrates to a foreign country. There will be a new language to learn, a new culture to understand and the people and government of the day may not even be that welcoming. When the Chinese migrated to Malaysia; then Malaya, in the early 19th, they had to help each other; hence the formation of many Chinese associations the likes of Hokkien or Kwangtung association which could be found all over the country. Immigrants who were alone and without family members would seek solace and help here in the advent of troubles and difficulties like falling sick, death; or things like that. In Taiping, there is one which I didn't pay much attention to or knew exist, the Shun Tak Association at Kota Road. Members of this association came from Shuntak or Shunde District, a district of the city of Foshan, Guangdong in China; the ancestral home of the famous Chinese martial arts master, Wong Fei Hung and Bruce Lee, too. The 1896 building that housed the association is now a heritage building; rather big by local standard and has a big courtyard; typical of a traditional Chinese building. Before, it was a community hall for social, cultural and religious activities but for a few years now, it is another eating shop in town. I remember being there for lunch with Mau Wei one Chinese New Year. The crispy golden brown roasted chicken was rather memorable.
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