Integrated Recreational Centre in Kuching.

The Kuching Integrated Recreational Centre (KIRC) located at the car park of the Civic Centre in Kuching City was officially opened on March 12th ,2011.KIRC  as an alternative to Central Padang catering for medium scale occasions, tourist attraction and for the people to meet up and conduct various community activities.The place will incorporate the backdrop of the nearby historical Sarawak Club and the Civic Centre Tower which will provide an interesting touristic landmark.

Among the facilities included into the centre are three modified futsal courts, two sepak takraw courts, two basketball courts, one badminton court, two volleyball courts and an area for tai chi or wushu demonstration.

The public in Kuching can now enjoy proper sport and recreational facilities near their neighbourhood, so as to keep an active and healthy lifestyle.
# all above photos taken with my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Sarawak tourism stakeholders want MAS to initiate air accessibility.

 Sarawak’s tourism stakeholders want to work closely with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), on air accessibility to certain selected destinations in Europe and Australia, following the Kuching International Airport’s new runway extension.The extension is to accommodate the Boeing 737 and Airbus A380 aircrafts.

State Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the local tourism industry, including the state government, is expected to engage MAS on such a possibility based on a 50-50 business joint venture.“MAS wants to make money and we want to attract tourists as part of our marketing strategies,” said Abang Johari who has been tasked with looking after the state Tourism and Heritage Ministry.
He was speaking after meeting with local stakeholders to discuss the industry’s roadmap here.
In terms of aviation and linkages, MAS and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MASWings which serves the Sarawak-Sabah sector, operates 206 weekly flights for the international routes in the state at present.
In January this year, MAS launched its Kuching-Seoul direct flight via Kota Kinabalu as well as its Kuching-Tokyo and Kuching-Osaka direct flights to attract more tourist arrivals from Korea and Japan.

According to the ministry’s data, both airlines also operate 132 domestic flights in Sarawak
Other international routes to Sarawak include those operated by AirAsia which has 224 flights per week, Firefly (28), Tiger Airlines (seven) Silk Air (five), Batavia Air (three) and Royal Brunei Airline (two).
AirAsia has another 42 flights weekly on the domestic route. 

## All above photo taken with my Lumix LX3 camera.

Wesak Day in Malaysia.

Wesak day celebrated on 17th May by Buddhists which marks three momentous events in Buddha's life - his birthday, enlightenment, and achievement of Nirvana. Its declared as one of Public Holiday in Malaysia. That's the beauty of Malaysia, the multiracial and beautiful mixed culture. I hope, we still can unite in harmony...as we always be.

 1Malaysia. Everyone is free to practice their own belief............
I take this opportunity to wish the people of Buddhist faith a Happy Wesak day.

FireFly-Melaka Air.

Affordable air travel: Budget carriers like Firefly is making transit time faster for busy people

MALACCA: The Batu Berendam International airport here is poised to get a stimulus with a new airline interested in turning the facility into its air transportation hub.
Servicing seven air routes between Thailand, Indonesia and local sectors, the FireFly-Melaka Air is expected to make its maiden flight on Nov 11, 2011, symbolising the favourite numbers for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - (11/11/11).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said NN Flyers, a aviation company based in Kuala Lumpur who holds an equity of 90% in the company will collaborate with state-owned agency, Yayasan Melaka, who owns a 10% share in the airlines.

 Melaka International Airport.
“NNFlyers will lease the ATR-72 aircraft from MAS affiliate FireFly with the cost of USD190,000 where the collaboration will be known as Firefly-Melaka Air,” he said after chairing the weekly Exco meeting here on Wednesday.
Mohd Ali added that the airlines will serve Medan, Pekan Baru, Padang and Pelembang in Indonesia, Hatyai in Thailand while Penang and Kota Baru are the two local routes.
The frequency of flights are between three to four times in a week while the ticket prices are expected to be announced later.Mohd Ali said he had calculated the maintenance of each aircraft at RM800,000 including the salaries of crew members of the new airline.We anticipate the revenue of the new airline to be lucrative considering that Malacca is a top tourist destination,” he said.
He also noted that two other airlines Wings Air and Riau Airlines that have landing rights at the airport here would not be affected by the debut of the new service.

The airt transporation providers currently serves Pekan Baru-Malacca-Pekan Baru with frequencies of three flights, a week.On a separate matter, Mohd Ali announced that foreigners will be granted to procure properties here that cost more than RM200,000 but with the condition that they have to fork out a levy of 2%He said the new ruling will take effect immediately where the revenue collected from such levies would be used to aid the needy in the state
Mohd Ali added that the collection will be channelled to state Public Aid Fund where the fund would be wisely utilised to aid the locals who are in need of financial assistances.
He said the state hoped to yield some type of revenue due from the property boom in the state, especially with the overwhelming demand from foreigners, especially Singaporeans who are keen to own properties here.
News courtesy of The Star.

 

DiGi WWWOW Awards.

DiGi passionately believes in Internet For All. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or what your point of views are – The Internet has a place for everyone to be themselves. For the first time in Malaysia, we’re celebrating the Internet with the DiGi WWWOW Awards that is by the people and for the people. The choice is in your hands!
I submit my entry for the category "Fave Person Over 40" my blog is Kuching Daily Photo by Awang .
I want your support and  kindly VOTE for me...Thank You

Nurses Day Wishes.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The theme of the International Council of Nurses for 2011 is: Closing The Gap: Increasing Access and Equity.
Nurses.. They are concerned for the hapless patients more than their leisure and comfort.

I would like to congratulate them all for their all out committed efforts on this occasion of World Nurses Day.

Another Hot Day in Kuching.

Month of May began, the weather in Kuching and major parts of Malaysia had started to gone terribly wrong with high temperature of even 37 degree celsius is recorded.



There have been already many people complaining on the extremely hot and unusual weather through conversations and even on social media  like Facebook and Twitter. It is not only me that feels such weather is unusual, but also all the people. It is even reported on the news. It’s a very hot month.. I saw a weather statistic, stating that the usual humidity in Malaysia of over 70 percent has dropped to around 40 percent. It is not only hot, but it’s also arid or dry…very dry….until you will feel breathless if you stay outdoor for a long time.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department, meanwhile, recorded 19 areas affected by haze including Malacca, Kuantan, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Sepang, Ipoh and Petaling Jaya.it said the current dry period was due to the tropical storm Aere over north-east of the Philippines and low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea.