Papan is one of the smallest and oldest towns in Malaysia, and part of its charm is that half of the town lies in ruins. It is almost a ghost town, yet many of the buildings are still occupied. Some have even been freshly painted.

It was incongruous to see a row of three buildings, one a total ruin, the next one sporting a new coat of paint and the third in its original state. Facing these, across the road was a row of derelict buildings with trees almost covering the masonry, and birds swooping in and out, enjoying the wilderness.