Photos

An occasional but adept boatsman like many others in the neighbourhood, this man paddles effortlessly towards the 'bank', navigating through narrow 'canals' and cross currents.

For people in this area, year-end flood is not a disaster in itself for they mostly grow up to see it coming and going almost every year. Long before organised rescue efforts involving the authorities, media and politicians were there, they have evolved to adapt to the situation.

Like many others too, a sampan is kept under their houses built on high stilts so that they won't be confined for a week on end. Deployed at proper time, the sampans serve as essential means of transportation in and out of the riverside villages. Provisions and supplies, including those from the relief centres where folks like this man can sign for packs of rice, cans of sardines, coffee, tea and sugar, the works, can be brought back to families back home who'd probably waiting with pots of tea.

Life goes on for the folks on the banks of the mighty Kelantan river.