Outing.. in Damai Puri

Good day in the new swimming pool in damai puri for my kids..the newly renovated children pool at damai puri could be a training ground before they go to sunway lagoon..Kuchingites need more this kind of facilities for weekend or school holiday outing..a public one..not the one restricted for "stay-in guests only"...of course we are looking forward to our own a-la sunway lagoon theme park to be built in kuching... as announced by the government!

Makassar Adventure Part 3

Visit to Fort Rotterdam - Fort Rotterdam is one of the historical fortress of the Dutch Colony that are still can be seen in Makassar today. The Fort was built by the Dutch colony sometimes in the 17th Century.

The entrance to the Fort

The overall area of the Fort

Some of the buildings in the Fort

The Fort cum museum displaying weapons used by the Dutch during the colonial time.

Makassar Adventure Part 2

Three days meeting in Makassar with tight schedule does not allow us to uncover Makassar to the fullest. The meeting arrangement is perfect, the host has done a fantastic job especially in meeting arrangement and reception.

Suprisingly I reunion with my good friend Halim in Makassar who is representing BDA. He was my Uni Malaya coursemate before.

Lets see what is there in Makassar....

Makassar is famous with its batik..which is called Batik Makassar. The following photos showing sweet Makassar model with some of the latest fashion made of batik.

Food is also something that attracting our attention in Makassar. "Sup tulang lembu" and grill prawn were the main dishes during the dinner.

Coto is one of the "must tasted" food for visitors to Makassar..which tasted like sup power.

We had chance for city tour on the final day after the meeting. The first destination was Rumah Adat in Kabupaten Gowa outside the city. Rumah Adat is actually the Singgahsana or Palace..former residence of the last Sultan of Makassar, Sultan Hassanuddin who governed the territory sometime in the 15th or 16th century. The palace kept all the Sultan's belongings and historical facts and artifacts that show the greatness and the power of the Sultan that time.

The entrance to the Palace..now converted into a Museum..it was made from heavy wooden structure. Those who read the history of Southeast Asia may aware the important role of Makassar in the trading activities in the early days until it attracted the attention of the western conquerors.

The visitors are welcomed to the palace with traditional dance similarly practiced in the early days when the Sultan receive visitors. The Palace is full of an invaluable collections of treasures such as the gold "mahkota" weight at 2.7kg! You can figure out its value based on today's gold price.

Golden Mahkota weight at 2.7kg!

Golden Snake

Gold coins from various part of the world showcased the evidence of trading activities in the old days.

Vicky 8th Birthday

Vicky's birthday was delayed as I was on travelling on the 6th November. As my promise, we had simple candle blowing ceremony at RasaMas@Boulevard on the 8th November.

As usual, the BOY whose birthday is in January become the birthday boy..the first blowing the candle.

Big Smile from birthday girl..you are 8th years old already. Lucky the aunt bought her the LULUBELE shirt which automatically become her birthday present.. Nicole tumpang sekaki ..always wanted her next birthday to be more grand than Vicky's.
Dunno what kind of smile is this!! Special smile from reuben

Makassar Adventure Part 1

Welcome to Makassar City

I had the opportunity to attend the regional grouping of BIMP-EAGA meeting in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia recently. Those who read history in secondary school might heard about Makassar...major centre for trade & business activities in the Southeast Asia in the 14th 0r 15th centuries. It has since become the capital city of South Sulawesi.

The Waterfront, projects the identity of Makassar city. The blend of blue ocean and groups of islands facing the waterfront create a scenic view

One of the Star hotel located near the waterfront area. The room rate per night could reach quarter a million pak...of course rupiah lah

One of the old area of the City ..major business is clothing & garments..makassar silk is quite famous here beside the markisa juice and coffee toraja

Don't surprise..Toyota's family e.g. vios, avanza & innova conquer the road..beside the motorcycles. Our proton cars does not seem to make its presence in Makassar yet

The new and modern part of the city..one way traffic is convenient for the motorist

Man U

Man U..Man U..united family in man united

Fly Man U fly...

Batu Beranak di Belaga

I joined the Kapit RDO officers visit the Sekapan long house in Belaga and was "introduced" to a set of stones which they claimed as "alive" or what they called "Batu Beranak". According to the local Sekapan people, few years back there were only 2 stones there ..a father and a mother. After several years, the stones delivered smaller stones which subsequently growing big . The locals believed by touching this stones, it can bring luck, especially to infertile couple.

Stone Family....the big one is the mother

Visit to Rumah Penghulu Ajang, Sekapan community in Belaga

Travelling to Belaga

Recently I got chance to tavel to Belaga on official duty. Knowing Belaga only from the Map and Aerial Photo before, I expected a tough ride to Belaga either by river or by land. I decided to go via Bintulu by land cruiser..and what I experienced is not what I always thought of..It just take about 3 hours ride from Bintulu..a comparative distance of Kuching to Betong. Although, we have to spend 2 hours on gravel and earth road (logging road), it is a smooth ride. Rejang River which connects Belaga to Kapit and other parts of State at downriver. It takes about 5 hours ride by express boat from Belaga to Kapit.

Belaga Town, a district and commercial centre that provide services to Belaga folks. District Office, Hospital, Schools, Police Dept., and few other agencies are located here.

A logging road which connects Belaga to Bintulu..become the main accessibility to Belaga town. I was given understand that the road condition has much improved compared to few years back.

China Made Exotic Food ..Dare to Taste?

while walking around along one of the beijing's busiest street, we stumbled upon an open air type of stall selling exotic foods. they sell various type of ready fried or roasted insects, snakes, sea horse, scorpions, etc.

put aside the snakes, cockroaches or grasshoppers, i can't imagine for myself to swallow a deep fried scorpion..but surprisingly the chinese managed to catch attention of the foreign tourist to taste this poisonous creature

Move Out - Move in

moving out then moving in..thats what my family experienced in the final week of may 2008. after more or less 4 years stay in our semi d house in jalan sultan tengah, we finally moved to our new house at mile 8 1/2. locality wise, it is more strategic location, closer to my kids school, my mrs office and commercial centres.

rev. fr. moses chua blessed our new home on 21 june 2008 with the presence of my family members, relatives and friends. i feel relieved that all the ding dongs on the house with the buyer, banks. lawyers, etc. in almost past 1 year has finally come to an end.

MY FeRRaris...

Yeahhh..I got 2 ferraris...I have to cry hard, scream and make myself crazy to get daddi to buy ferrari for me..though I have so many other cars in my collection..these ferraris I like the most...I wish to be one of the ferrari's engineer one day, so that I can test drive the real ferrari any time....as owning it maybe impossible

Nicole 9th Birthday

Yeah today is my birthday..i am 9 year old..i just woke up when daddi show me the birthday cake with 9 candles lighted up on it.

JKKK Kampung Bungan

As a government servant I cannot run away from the responsibility to the community as they need my service. Knowing that my area is still lagging behind in terms of development I get myself involved in the JKKK and render my help wherever possible. Recently, I was entrusted to facilitate the JKKK's General Meeting to select new Village Chief and its new "Cabinet". The Village Chief, Encik Justine Gobel has relinquished his post due to old age. The community then selected his younger brother, Encik Edmund Akau, a retired headmaster to take over as a new chief.