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.

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!!!

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.

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.

Chinese New Year's Firework 2009

Chinese New Year 2009 nearly comes to an end. Before it ends, I think it is still not too late to say GONG XI FA CAI to all of you. Well, during this CNY, I’m enjoying visiting relative and friends. Like what we already knew, happy moment always end fast. My one week holiday just pass through like flash and until now I’m still in very strong CNY mood which cause me can’t concentrate on my study for the time being. I should skip more classes to make my holiday longer.

Beside visiting relative and friends, the most enjoyable moment during CNY at 12.00a.m. on the first day of CNY. During that time, we Chinese will play with fire cracker and firework which is believe that it will chase away bad thing and bring good luck. However, this year I found that the amount of firecracker and firework in my area have decrease. This might due to the economy crisis. Well, no matter what I do hope that this only for temporary and all the good things are coming in this New Year.

Below is the short clip I took during the 1st day of CNY. Although I did not have the clip for pass few years but the amount of firework really decrease at my place.

Civic Centre Kuching

Civic Centre Kuching is one of my favorite places where I always visit when I’m in Kuching. There is a Civic Centre Tower where visitors can view Kuching city at a higher point. This is really a relaxing place for me. It is also a place where I can see quite a number of foreigner visitors.

Here are some shot of Kuching, Sarawak.

The tall building here is Wisma Saberkas which can be said as one of the oldest shopping complex in Kuching. Now, it is known as a shopping mall where you can shop for hand phones, Computers, Laptop and other’s electronic equipment. However, the opening of 1TJ might take over this place in the future.

The mountain shows in the picture below really look similar to Mount Kinabalu. I’m so surprise the moment I look at it. I got no idea whether it is Mount Santubong, Mount Serapi, or Mount Matang.

Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak where it is still under construction. Do you notice a colorful building at the bottom of the picture below, that is Star Cineplex which is one of the cinemas in Kuching.

Sarawak Club.

Random shot of Kuching.

Besides enjoying the nice view of Kuching, there is also a shop selling souvenir.

If you get to visit Kuching someday, Civic Centre Tower is the place you must not miss.

Padawan Festival 2008

Yesterday was the first day of Padawan Festival of Kuching. It is held at the MJC New Town Ship Batu Kawa. Here, you can get to eat the local food at one point. There are also car exhibition and a mini fun fair. This year, I found that the varieties of local food are very few. The car exhibition also only fills a small corner of the whole area.

As for the fun fair, it certainly not like what you can see in GENTING HIGHLAND, but the fun and enjoyment is still there if you try to enjoy it.

This 'Bang Bang Car' is the most popular among all the above.

Besides, there are still games where you can win prizes easily.

Very clear that you roll down a ping pong ball and stop in the hole with red square to win prize

Open the egg!!

Throw the dart to hit the green square mark for Cash.Two darts in one green square consider as one dart.So you have to hit all 9 squares to get RM200.00

The kid is being reward for his fishing skill!

Among all those games, the one I like the most is this.

There are 8 colors for you to bet, after you place your bet, all the 8 balls which represent each color will be release and roll freely down to the bottom of the board. The first color ball that rolls into the hole at the bottom of the board is the color that will win the bet.

Balls are rolling down the board heading to the hole at the bottom.

So what we bet for…certainly not money. This is just a game, so we bet with carbonated drinks where one tin of drink cost RM1 and will get 6 tin in return if we win the bet. We can win easily if the luck is on our side, but mostly we won’t bother to bring back all those drink, so for me I’ll keep playing and in the end…I win nothing but enjoyment.

This is what i win at the beginning.Lost all in the end!

Anyway, yesterday I wasn’t going back with empty hand. I did win a prize. Here it is. I won this prize from this game.