Raya Open House 2009 Kota Kinabalu

Selamat Hari Raya to all my friend. During the first day of Raya, as usual I join the open house organizes by the TYT of Sabah and the Government of Sabah. Like previous year, one is held in the Istana and the other is in the Sport Complex Likas. The open house this year still crowded with people regarding of H1N1. The food is delicious and there is lots of variety from most of the famous hotel in Kota Kinabalu. The only disappointment this year is that Veda Blue ice cream did not participate in the open house hence, there are no free ice cream for me. Below is a picture of bbq cow (if not mistaken) took at Sport Complex Likas. You can refer to my previous visit here: 1.Istana , 2. Sport Complex Likas

National Day of Malaysia

Along all these years of National Day of Malaysia, I don’t really have any celebration or doing anything special to celebrate the biggest day of Malaysia. There’s only once that till now still leave me a good memory is during year 2004 where I’m still in lower six at S.M.K Batu Lintang, Kuching. During that year, our school having a competition to celebrate National that is to decorate our class. With the idea contribute by Chun Yi, Lee Sian, Lareina and Ke Xin ( hope the spelling of the name is correct.) which is making a big Malaysia Flag behind our notice board, we start to plan and buy material. Under the lead of our class monitor, Swee Yong, we only need to stay back after school for two days to finish up this project. The material we used is only newspaper, paint and glue. There are still other decorations that we have done to our class room but this is the one that give me more satisfaction than the other. However, the result of the competition has disappointed me because we only get the prize for most creative decoration but not the champion. Until today I still can figure out what make us not the champion and what make them the champion because their decoration look so normal. Well, this is the cruel part of the competition which we have to accept. The picture below show the Malaysia Flag we have build.

Malaysia Boleh!!!

In the picture above, from left to right: Swee Yong (class’s boss), Swee Lek, Wee Loong and Wee Khiang. I’m the one who sit and seem to be the boss, hehe….

Lastly, again is the slogan that never miss: “Merdeka!! Merdeka!! Merdaka !!”. Happy National Day to all Malaysian and all the best for the upcoming challenges.

DESA Milk Farm, Kundasang

Desa fresh milk can buy from any supermarket in Kota Kinabalu. In Sarawak, this milk can also be found in some of the grocery stall but the price is slightly expensive compare to Sabah. This is because this fresh milk is produce by DESA CATTLE (S) SDN. BHD in Sabah where their milk farm is located in Kundasang. The milk farm is not big but there’s lots of cow. I feel that the number of cows here does not enough to produce the milk for all the local Sabahan and at the same time to export to other state. This might be why not every day we can buy this milk.

The cow is in black and white which is alike to the New Zealand cow. I got no idea what species it is. They can be raise in Kundasang mostly because the weather here is very cool. The milk farm is open for visitors every day from 8a.m. to 5p.m. The entry fees is cheap which are RM3.00 for adult, RM2.00 for kids and student. If you come on the right time, you will have the chance to see their process for producing DESA fresh milk.

The view around the farm is very nice and the air is cool. It is very relax to spend holiday in Kundasang. You can fully enjoy the life in the countryside. Kundasang is located about 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu town. The milk farm is located about 15 minutes from Kundasang’s market.

Beware! There is lots of mine all over the field of the farm.

H1N1 in University Malaysia Sabah

Since last week, University Malaysia Sabah had one confirm case of H1N1. However, this does not bring UMS to the state of temporary shutting down for a week or two like what had been happen for other university in West Malaysia. I got no idea whether the decision of not shutting down is a good or bad. From a point of view of student, we all hope that we can have extra holiday which will also give us a better guarantee for not infected by H1N1. Seem the UMS decide not shutting down, we can do nothing but to accept the consequences.

Anyway I’m not going to talk much about the decision but to show what action have been taken after the decision is made. Seem the student who had been infected is from my faculty, the basic precaution step is being taken. Today, we are given free mask to wear. Of course every one of us went to take it no matter us willing to wear or not. Maybe we all know the seriousness of H1N1, we are all very cooperate with this action taken by the faculty. From the picture, you can see that all of us wearing the mask provided. Please ignore the unorganized lecture room in the picture, it is not the main point. We have already got used to study under this environment

H1N1 does not affect our study mood

Recently most of my friend fall sick continually, this really make me worry for myself. Well, I hope that this H1N1 can leave our ground as fast as possible. Although it bring extra holiday to us but it is not the holiday we really wish for. Here by I hope all of you took care of your personal hygiene and remember to look for doctor if you found that you have any similar symptom of H1N1. Take Care!

Practical in Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR)

I have already finished my practical last two week and now it time to start my final year in UMS. During my practical in JKR Sarawak, there is a place that I used to visit. It is the resource centre in JKR Head Quarters. I’m a person that not used to go library however during my practical, things have change. The main reason I always visit the resource centre is that I can view the nice scene of Kuching inside the resource centre. I like the raining view the most.

The resource centre is located at 14th floor of Wisma Saberkas. Well, I’m not just coming here for the view but also because I need resource to finish my given task. In the resource centre, I can find reference books, wiring regulation, the British Standard and the Malaysia Standard and also other book related to mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. There’s also book about management and accounting. The environment in the resource centre is really good for me to finish my task. It is a good experience for me to do practical in JKR.

There’s a table located just beside the window. This is my favorite sit.

These are part of the resource centre.

Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyer

The fourth book for Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer is Breaking Dawn. This is also the last book for twilight series because the fifth book, Midnightsun is only repeating the first book but from the point of view of Edward Cullen. In this book, Bella marry to Edward and they went for a honeymoon. Unexpectedly, Bella pregnant and this is not a normal baby. It is a baby of half human and half vampire.

They return to folk and Dr Cullen lie to Charlie that Bella caught a serious disease where no visitor is allowed. Jacob Black thought that Bella already dead and wanted to revenge for her. He when to the house of the Cullen and finally found that she is alive and still human but pregnant. The baby grew fast in her body and feed on blood. The membrane cover the baby is as hard as the vampire skin which makes all of them believe that the baby will tear out from Bella stomach and bring her to die. Edward worry that Bella will die after give birth to the baby, he wanted to stop her but Bella insist to give birth the baby and look for Rosalie help.

Finally the baby is born. Bella almost dead at the moment however Edward manage to change her into vampire in time. Now, Bella have her new life as Vampire and own a half human half vampire baby Renesmee. Irina a vampire from the Tanya though that the baby is a vampire baby and reported this to the Volturi. Having a vampire baby is violating the rule of the vampire world. The Volturi come to Folk for the justice. For the Volturi, they wanted to use this chance to eliminate the Cullen family and Aro wants Alice’s talent so much. The Cullen ask their friend from all over the world to be their witness that the baby girl is not a vampire child but a half human and half vamoire child. All their friends gather in Folk and agree to become witness after the see Renesmee.

The Volturi had come to Folk, the Cullen prove to the Volturi that they did not violate the vampire rule. However, the Volturi which to eliminate the Cullen so much that they try to find an excuse to take action. While the three ancient discussing their decision, their follower, the twin witches, Jane and Alec attack the Cullen with their talent. However, it is stop by Bella Shield. The Volturi finally retreat when they know they got no chance to win the fight with Bella shield. Bella, Edward, Renesmee and the other entire member live happily ever after.

After reading this, I feel a bit disappointed again because the Volturi had not been defeated and eliminate although we already know they are. I really wish so much to see all the Volturi guard being killed. Throughout the story, Emmett is known as the strongest among the Cullen but the book never talk about his fight to show that how strong he is. Overall, this is really a great Novel and worth for a read.

A Short Trip to Lundu Sarawak

Lundu is town in Kuching division at south west of Sarawak. This is my first time when to Lundu. Lundu is a place famous with the beach call Siar Beach, Gunung Gading National Park and Keropok. Gunung Gading National Park is the home of numerous rare plants including the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia tuan-mudae (bunga pakma) which can stretches nearly one meter in width during full bloom. The peak of Mound Gading is about 900 meters high. My visit here is neither for the purpose to visit the beach nor the National Park but got some job to be done here. After finished the job, we went to buy keropok at the road side stall near the bridge. The famous keropok maker makes keropok at their house in Lundu. I’m not sure that they are sold here or not but I’m sure you can get it straight from their house if you want. It is located somewhere near the stall here and I’m sorry that I didn’t take the picture of the house. However it is very easy to recognize because you can see the many keropok outside their house if the weather is good.

Beside the stall, there is a river. There used to have ferry service here to take passenger to the opposite or from opposite site to here. Since the bridge had been build, this service no longer requires. Now the hut here is used by visitor to view the river. For people who like to fish, I think it is not so suitable for fishing due to the tow poles here.

On the way back, we use another route which is to Rambangan if I’m not mistaken to back to Kuching. By using this route, we need to take a ferry. In Kuching, we don’t have a change to take ferry, I think this is only my second time using a ferry. My first time riding ferry is at Asajaya.

The worker on the ferry is fishing the small fish in the river. I don’t think they eat it because it is very small. Most probably they use it as bait for bigger fish at some other places.

When we reach the opposite site, we continue our journey back to Kuching. Here it is, we left crossing the boundary into Kuching from Lundu. The weather seem like going to rain and unfortunately that the car break down somewhere near Matang Wildlife Centre. We have to wait JKR’s mechanic come to fix the car. However, all this did not making me late for going home. I’m thinking to pay a visit in Gunung Gading National Park someday although my colleague told me that there nothing special in the national park. Need Crazyfool to bring me there with his four wheel drive!!!

Moonwalker,Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is one of the most famous stars in the world. It can be said that every people in the world know him regardless of their age (of course not a new born baby) or from which country. Unfortunately he had passed away and left everything he created as a history. It is shocking news for me, when hear from radio news that he had pass away.

I got nothing much to talk about him seem you can Google for his profile easily. Seem Michael Jackson is famous and everybody knows him, but how you know this name? As for me, I can’t remember which year but I know him since I’m a kid. However, I don’t know that he is such a famous singer and dancer that create dozens of record. This is because I know him when I play a SEGA game call “Moon Walker”. Michael is the main character in the game fighting with bad guys. The greatest skill he had in that game is his dance. You use the skill, then all the bad guys will follow Michael dancing then they will be killing in the end of the dance. Although during that time the SEGA graphic is not as good as now but the way the Michael in the game dance is very nice.

I still have the game with me now but it is play with PC where an emulator is needed. A nice game to play but I can’t run it now with window vista. I wonder how many people have tried this game before? Well, this is the way I know the name Michael Jackson. After the knowing him from the game, then I start to listen to his song which is “Beat It”, “Smooth Criminal” and “ Billy Jean” where it is played in the game too.

Eclipse Stephenie Meyer

The 3rd book of Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer is Eclipse. In this book, the story, the Cullen has once again return to Folk and the triangle relation between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black started. At the same time, Victoria has return for her revenge against Bella and the Cullen who had killed her mate, James. She creates dozens of new born vampire army to against the Cullen. Since Victoria's friend, Laurent who lived with Tanya family and killed by the werewolf when he wanted to kill Bella told Victoria about the ability of the Cullen, Victoria able to void herself for being seen by Alice vision. Hence, the Cullen doesn’t know the attack not until Victoria orders the new born army to attack Folks.

The attack builds up the ally of the Cullen and the werewolf who also wanted to protect Bella and people in Folk. Jasper Hale who had century of experience in fighting new born vampire teaches his family and the werewolf the effective way to fight the new born army. They won the battle and Victory killed by Edward Cullen.

The triangle relationship between Bella, Edward and Jacob carry from the beginning till the end of the novel. Although Jacob knows how much Bella love Edward, but he still try his best to make Bella change her mind. He knows that Bella will be change into vampire once she marries to Edward. However, his attempt fail when Bella agree to marry Edward and Jacob can hold his disappointment and leave Folk.

In this novel, I feel very annoy with the way that Jacob Black act in order to change Bella mind. First, he kissed Bella by force and second he force Bella emotionally to kiss him by telling her he is going to die in the battle. Jacob act stubbornly in this novel.

Sematan Beach and Market

Last week I had gone to Sematan. This is my second visit to Sematan. Well, before I come here that day, I have went to Lundu which is located not far away from Sematan, I think about 1 hour drive maybe. In Lundu, I did not go for visiting although the beach in Lundu is well known as one of the best in Sarawak. I go to Lundu for some supervision work follow my supervisor to the district office for some JKR work.

Well, I’m not going to talk about what I do in Lundu but what I want to share here is what I had done after the supervision work. After we left Lundu, we went to Sematan to have our Lunch. Sematan is a place near the sea side. Hence, you can buy fresh sea food here. The wet market in Sematan is not big but the sea food here is fresh and cheaper than the price in Kuching market. After we finish our lunch, we walk to the market to see what we can bring back.The choices are not much in Sematan market because all the sea food sell here is based on what they can catch.

This is horseshoe crab. Have you ever eat this? They are still alive. I never eat this before but from what I know they did not eat their meat but eat their egg. Hence all the horseshoe crabs here are female. I wonder how they differentiate their gender. I bought my self 2kg of crab home. Quite regret for not buying the horseshoe crab, next time must buy and have a try.

After leaving the market, we headed to the beach. There’s a resort call Palm Beach Resort in Sematan where it is a nice place to relax yourself. We did not go there but to the public beach in Sematan. Well, we did not swim, just drop by to feel the sea wind before we take our way back to office. Sematan did not change much since my last visit.

New Moon Stephenie Meyer

New Moon is the Second book of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. In this novel, the story is more about how the love between Jacob Black and Bella Swam is being built up when the Cullen leave forks. Besides, it is also an introduction of the character for the third and fourth book of Twilight series. I said so because the rise of the Quileute tribe as werewolf and their ability is being told and the ancient coven of the vampire in Volterra of Italy, Volturi is introduce to reader. The Volturi is the ancient and the strongest coven in the vampire world. They are more likely the ruler of the vampire because their coven is the strongest with almost all the vampire in the coven have special ability.

In New Moon, Edward Cullen decided to leave Bella because he feels that he will only bring danger to Bella. When the Cullen leave fork, Bella’s live change. She can’t accept the live without Edward and she found that she can hear his voice whenever she is doing something danger. Hence, Bella bought two non-function bikes and bring it to Jacob Black to fix. She believe that riding bike will make her able to hear Edward voice because it is dangerous act. This had improve her relationship with Jacob Black. When Bella try with another dangerous act which is the cliff diving, Alice Cullen who has the ability to view the future vision but unable to see vision when the werewolf Involve though that Bella commit suicide. She returns to folk to check for Bella safety. On the other hand Edward thought Bella already dead had decided to go to the Volturi and make them kill him. Alice and Bella go to the Volturi to save Edward. The Volturi let them go with the promise that Bella will be change into vampire within a year so that the secret of the vampire world is safe.

In this novel, Victoria who is the mate of the hunter, James that killed by the Cullen had return for revenge. However she is unable to penetrate the defense of the werewolf into folk for Bella. Her friend Laurent that meet Bella in the meadow while he is hunting is killed by the werewolf when he wanted to kill Bella.

As I had mention that this novel is more like a preparation for the up coming books, there are lots of characters being introduce here. The love of Jacob Black with Bella also forms a triangle in the third book.

In Kuching, you can get this book in most of the bookstore. There is also e-book to download.

Twilight Stephenie Meyer

I’m sure that many of you have already watched the movie Twilight from the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Have you read the book yet? I wonder how many people have already read the book before the movie is out. As for me, I watch the movie before I start to read the novel. This is because after watching the movie, I feel that this is an interesting novel. Hence, I when on to and get the novel.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer contain 4 books in series. The 1st book is Twilight follow by New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. During this semester break, I have already finished all the 4 books. Very interesting novel that make me can stop to read. Well, actually there’s another book name Midnight Sun which is about the 1st book, Twilight. In Midnight sun, the story is told from the point of view of Edward Cullen.

Twilight series are novel about romance and love. It is about the love story of a human and a vampire. The love for this novel is not only about the love among couple but also the love among family for such as the relationship among the family of the Cullen which is unbreakable.

The main characters are Isabella Swam (Bella) which the story is told from her point of view. Edward Cullen the mind reading vampire who fall in love with Bella. Jacob Black the warewolf that love Bella. The other members of the Cullen family are, Carlise Cullen, Esme Cullen, Emmett Cullen, Alice Cullen, Rosalie Hale and Jasper Hale. Charlie Swam and Renee who are Bella parent that already divorce.

In the 1st book, Twilight the story is about Bella who move to folk and stay with her father so that her mother can travel with her new husband meet Edward Cullen and his family who are vampire. Bella started curious about the identity of the Cullen when Edward Cullen stop the car from crushing her with his hand in a lightning speed. She get the cruel from her friend Jacob Black that tell her the legend of his tribe Quileutes and the Cullen Family who in the legend known as the Cold One. However, when Bella found out the truth about the Cullen, she does not scare but fall in love with Edward. The story comes to an end when the hunter, James and his mate Victoria wanted to hunt Bella but kill by the Cullen. Victoria had escape.

After reading this novel, there’s only one part that I’m disappointed with that is the fight between Edward Cullen and James. Well, seem this is a love and romance novel, it is understood that the fight between them is not a necessary to be emphasis. Beside, seem the story is told from the point of view of Bella, the moment Edward arrives to save her, she is already unconscious and her head is burning so she did not see the fight like in the movie. However I personally feel that it will be more interesting and excited if the fight is being described.

In Kuching, you can get this book in most of the book store. If you want E-book, you can download it from net too.

Golden Toad

Have you ever seen this before? A Toad carries another small little toad on the back. What are they doing? When I see this, I think the small toad is the male toad while the big one is the female toad and they are prepare for making. This is just my guess anyway.

However, another thought come into my mind when I saw this is that I need to bet for MEGA in Toto Sport. This is because the color of the toad is something like gold color. The big toad is carrying the small toad which symbolizes as the big toad is carrying gold and come into my house. YES!! This means that I’m going to strike tonight. I do hope so. Wish me luck!!

Koo Kien Keat in Sudirman Cup 2009

Yesterday was the semi-final of Sudirman cup and Malaysia meets China. Malaysia lost to china with the result of 3-0 is what we Malaysian don’t wish to see. Furthermore, I personally don’t wish to see Lee Chong Wei lost to Lin Dan but it happen yesterday. Anyway Malaysia team already try their best and performed well in the competition.

What I discuss here is the sportsmanship of Koo Kien Keat. I think all of us that watch the match yesterday noticed that Koo Kien Keat show middle finger to his racket during the match with China. Although he did not point this to the opponent but to a non living thing which is his racket but it is still not what a professional athlete should do in international stage. All his action is capture by all the camera there and the competition is live for people all over the world to watch and yet he dare to do such action. However, I understand his motive to release his emotion and during the match, sometimes emotion is hard to control.

Picture from http://unansweredbleakness.blogspot.com/

Jabatan KerJa Raya Kuching

Jabatan Kerja Raya Kuching (JKR) is not a place new to me. The Picture above show the JKR Kuching division office which located at Batu Lintang Kuchig, There lots of department here and now I’m having my industry training in the electrical department. As we all know that most of the government projects are out source to other private company, hence there’s nothing much for me to do or even to learn in this department. My 1st week in JKR has just pass and my life in JKR is totally free plus boring but I did not regret about the decision to do training here because it is in Kuching and near my house. That is the priority I’m looking for when I choose my training place. I receive the accept letter from Nexus Resort Karambunai in Kota Kinabalu but I wanted to came back to Kuching more than in Kota Kinabalu. There are still 8 week for me here and I believe that no matter how there will still have something for me to do and learn in JKR.

This is just the division office in Kuching. The head quarter of JKR is in Wisma Saberkas which I will have my training there on my 5th or 6th week. The division office is not big. Pictures below show the area of the division office.

This place is not new to me even though this is the first time I having my Training here. Why I said so? This is because when I’m still in form 2 and form 3, I used to come here once or twice or few times a week. During that time, the JKR basketball court is still open to public. Hence I used to come here with my friend. The condition of the basketball court here is well maintained compare to the public basketball court.

The other reason we choose to come here is that my friend, Crazyfool 's house is just next to the basketball court which is the main reason we come here. Let me zooms the picture so that the house can be view clearly. Do you notice there’s only a fence as the border of the house and the basketball court? During that time, the fence was not in this good condition, so we use to climb over the fence to the basketball court. Those times were really fun. However when JKR stop the public for using the basketball court, they rebuild the fence. Starting from that day, we did not go to that basketball court anymore. Furthermore, we seldom play basketball because there is a new activity that we had attracted to, COUNTER STRIKE. Hence, starting from that day, we spend more time in cyber café than playing basketball.

Times really pass fast and those times are only memories for us. Really miss those times.

Dry Market Kota Kinabalu

Every semester end before I go back to Kuching from Kota Kinabalu, there is a place in Kota Kinabalu that I must visit. Or I should say that every time before I got back from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, there is a place that I must pay a visit. It is just a dry market call “ Pasar Ikan Masin” located in the centered of the Kota Kinabalu Town. If I’m not mistaken, this place consider as the Filipino Market.

What so special about this market? Well, it is a place where you can buy fish’s air bladder 鱼鳔, sea cucumber, dry scalloped, salty fish咸鱼, and other dry product. Fish’s air bladder and sea cucumber is what we Chinese like to buy as a gift when you go one place. However this is not for my case because it is my grandma that wanted me to buy those foods.

Fish Air Bladder 鱼鳔, Do you know how to value the grade? I’m not pro in this, all I know is the ticker it is, the best it will be. So I always look for the thick one. The type of fish is also the factor for the quality but I not sure that which type of fish give the best fish’s bladder.

Sea Cucumber, Various size of sea cucumber you can find here. The bigger it is the higher the price

The price in this market is reasonable. The advantage of buying thing here is that you can bargain. If you are gifted with the talent of bargain or you equip with a good bargain skill, for sure you can get a cheaper price. As for me, I don’t have those skills, but somehow the price I get still consider cheap if compare to the price in Kuching. Hence, if you like to buy all those dry product, you must not miss this place when you visit Kota Kinabalu.

Next to the dry market is the fruit market and the handicraft market. The picture below shows the fruit's market. Most of the time you will find mangoes sold here.