Pesta Benak-Part Three

Is the word 'BINTULU' someting  to do with pesta benak.I guess Bintulu is promoting the Kite Festival which is annual big event in Bintulu.This huge flag look a alike huge kite.

Batang Lupar River is three to four hour journey from Kuching. You can get there by bus and stop at a town called Bandar Sri Aman, previously known as Simanggang. Though cruising along the river is not advisable due to the bore but you can still watch the fascinating phenomena from the jetty (pic.below)

 

 

    

The esplanade also serves as the observation centre for the famous tidal bore or known locally as benak .

More on part four.

Pesta Benak -Part Two.

It's hot humid Saturday(01/05/2010).Thousand of people flocked to Sri Aman town for the annual Pesta Benak (28 Apr-02 May).

Thousand of people...to this Pesta Benak.

Young & Old....

of many races in Sarawak and  also foreign tourist to witness the Pesta.

More..on part Three (Let's the picture speak a thousand words).

Cheers....

Bergendang or Bermukun and Joget.

Among the Malays, Melanaus and Kedayans of Sarawak, the "Bergendang" ceremony is kept very much alive. The photos above(taken this evening) shows a "Bergendang" performance that is held at the Kuching Waterfront. Guess what? Anybody is welcomed to participate in the dancing, young and old. Visitors to Sarawak can pick up the dance steps very quickly. But the real fun begins when the ladies playing the drum ( named " Mak Gendang" = Lady Drummer) and singing the "Pantun" ( a four-line verse poetic message) gets response from the men. The men reply back in pantun-style the message or question embedded in the "Mak Gendang" pantun. Thus this answering and replying of pantuns continue for hours on end. Today the " Bergendang" is very much part of a wedding celebration activity and held mainly during the night in many villages through out Sarawak.

Sibu Town-Dolphins vs Swan.

Recently I walked onto Sibu Town and I see this shiny stainless dolphins sculpture opposite to Sibu central market.The existence of dolphins certainly brought my attention because all this year local council keep promoting swan mascot as Sibu Town landmark.Anyway ,the existence of this Swan sculpture had added more color to the swan town,SIBU.

Perhaps the symbol of Dolphins bring good luck.

The Reservoir Park in Kuching.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

SAD CONDITION OF THE RESERVOIR PARK IN KUCHING

Posted by: nor3337

I hope the DBKU(Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara)Mayor will hear of this. The reservoir is a favorite for joggers,old and young to converge,be it early morning or afternoon.But the place is an eye sore. As a regular there, I look in dismay at the rubbish strewn all over the place. There are more at benches up the slope. The mineral water bottles, cheap wine bottles, sweets, chocolates and 'keropok' wrappers clearly shows the disregard the visitors have for the authorities. Its really terrible and its very embarassing when tourists come to the park and just imagine the impression they will have of Kuching City folks.OH, not forgetiing those lovey-dovey couples who seems to enjoy the 'secluded' areas on the slopes to do whatever they are doing. Now let me see,aaah yes the glue sniffers, and guys,we do have the toilet.please don't do your business in the open. There is a public toilet provided. And for those who love to bring your dogs there..PLEASE KEEP THEM ON A LEASH..Respect others. Hopefully those DBKU officers will do something about the cleanliness of the reservoir. And the lake too please...the water is really dirty...and it is great place for the mosquitoes to breed.

Well I have a lot more to comment but I will save it for another day!!!!!!!!

LET'S KEEP MALAYSIAN CLEAN!!!!!!!!!

I read the above article in the star citizen blog dated Sunday,December 03,2006

Sunday ,January 10,YEAR 2010 I took a walk through The Reservoir Park and found it a good spot for a walk and jogging.I agree with the statement above and below is the photo of The Reservoir Park taken yesterday Sunday January 10,Year 2010.

Good spot for walking & jogging.

And the lake too please...the water is really dirty...and it is great place for the mosquitoes to breed.

The Park is the favorite place for the Old & young and even the squirrel.

I do hope they keep the park clean.This reservoir was built during the Brooke era and the park that surround it has been around since the colonial time.

Kuching Reservoir Park is right in the city centre, within walking distance from the Kuching Waterfront. It is very popular with joggers and strollers in the evenings - there are usually quite a number of people there when the weather is good. It used to be the fresh water reservoir for Kuching town and the park was developed around it.The Japanese Bridge crossing the main lake is one of the truly iconic structures in Kuching. This park definitely holds a sentimental value for many people.

Being right in the city centre, it is quite surprising to find a place with so many tall and mature trees. The trees here could be some of the oldest in Kuching, as they seem to have been there forever.

This is a great place for exercise as the trees provide plenty of shade and the tracks give you a choice of either an easy run around the lakes, or a more strenously trek on the hilly slopes . There is also a nice playground for the kids.Hopefully the authority will do something about the cleanliness of the reservoir.

My World Tuesday-A Day Trip to Annah Rais Village.

For virtual tour to other part of the world just visit the home page

HERE

 

Annah Rais belong to the Bidayuh tribe with over 80 families living in the long house.My research is that it had a written history of 175 years and unwritten of 500 years with 8 generation of Bidayuh who lived here.

Annah Rais Village is not far from the Sarawak/Kalimatan Indonesia border as I can see our Malaysian Immigration & Custom office is located there.

A Bidayuh maiden will serve  you a welcome drink  with  their local rice wine "TUAK".

Enter the Village & the long house.

 

Traditionally,the long house is one unit where many families occupy their own space in the divided only by manimal bamboo partition

 

The Head House.............

 

The Skull.........

Just don't miss the HEAD HOUSE...this is must visit house if you are at Annah Rais Longhouse .Perhaps 100 or more years ago head hunting was a common practice.They say the more head you collected meaning you are the most powerful person.

The villagers use traditional sugar cane crush to make sugar cane juice.

Annah Rais Village Hot Spring........

After the long house tour I went to the hot spring which is another 5 minutes drive from the village and followed by 3 to minutes walking through the jungle.

If you have chance to visit Sarawak , don't miss this little adventure ..just e mail me at uncleawang at G mail dot com.

My World Tuesday-Borneo Highland.

Visit the site H E R E     -Thank You.

During the Christmas Holiday I decided to have a one day trip to Borneo Highland.The place is about 60 kilo meter from the city and it is about an hour drive using my small compact car .It's a zig zag  and single dual road so I have to drive carefully.I reached Borneo Highland  foothill,however I am not allowed to enter because I did not made an advance booking.I did not know that a day trip to the highland  need an advance booking unless we stay over night for a room booking.The rate for day trip is Rm100 per guest including drink & food.

 

The welcome gate at the foothill of the Borneo Highland.

The guard told me I have to make my booking at the city office in Kuching then they will arrange a 4WD lorry to guide us to tour the Borneo Highland.

By the way this is the powerful 4WD lorry or bus that they use to ferry their guest to tour the Highland.

This photo courtesy of Tourism Malaysia-Thank You.

Borneo Highlands is one of the most exciting and unique environmentally friendly resort.   Cocooned in a lush jungle and snuggled within the hills, it is a retreat one of its kind, offering an exclusive membership club and truly unique residential development by creating a sanctuary for you to retreat to in this region.

Located just an hour's drive (60km) southwest of Kuching city, the capital of Sarawak, the resort stands at the height of 1,000 metres above sea level on the Sarawak-Kalimantan border and is nestled amongst the oldest and second largest tropical rainforest in the world.

A resort created with emphasis to blend with nature, the resort offers boundless opportunities to experience numerous outdoors activities all year round in stylish comfort.

Take pleasure in the finest natural wonders and find luxury in the bare basics. At Borneo Highlands Resort, it all about getting “Back to Nature, Back to Basics”

Since my trip to Borneo Highland is failed,why not I go further about 10 minutes drive to go to another tourist attraction  the Annah Rais Village.The attraction is the oldest long house and the hot spring.Anyway I will do the posting about the village on my next My World Tuesday that is next year 2010.