KUCHING THE CITY OF DIVERSITY

KUCHING, to me is both enchanting and the city of diversity. It is the capital city of the state of Sarawak and boast to be the largest in Borneo, forth in Malaysia and the most populous city with half of a million people. It is so enchanting with various interesting spots and places to visit and worth your holidays. The city of diversified cultures, ethnic groups, spoken languages and dialects and foods. It is also the mixture and the blend of ancient and modern sculptures, architecture, the traditional and modern lifestyle.

The city is divided into two areas, Kuching North(MBKU) and Kuching South(MBKS) and each administered by a mayor; Mayor for Kuching Selatan and Commissioner for Kuching Utara.

I joined the pax of ten on 5 days and 4 nights trip to the city from 24th of October 2011 until 29th.

The WATERFRONT, one of the main attractions of the city. One can strolls, relaxes, snapping photographs and visits several food and souvenir kiosks and bazaars.

Ready for river ride and to cross the Sarawak River for sight seeing and
to have a special meal, the laksa Sarawak and the tasty local specialty, the mee kolok.

The city with numerous cat statues.
In the background is one of examples.
The word Kuching means cat

Another cat statue in the middle of the city.

The same spot but different figures

The waterfront, the state assembly building in the background

The Waterfront, one may notice the ancient building in the near background
and the modern one in the far background

Pasar Satok, a famous wet market in the city and the main place for dwellers to obtain sundry goods. The salted ikan terubok or ITM(ikan terubok masin) is the main goods for visitors and the price varies according to size and quality. The vendor will wrap nicely for you and safe to bring it home. A good reminder for visitors, please be careful the floor is wet and slippery

The pottery and ceramic shop.
Various type of local made products are displayed and to be sold
The products are so fine and the price is reasonable

The King Prawn Meal at the TopSpot Sea Food Restaurant,
the most popular seafood court in the city

Another Cat Statue in the midst of the city.
The costume of the statue varies according to festivals
to mark the main festival of the Malaysians.
The present is the Deepavali costume to mark the appropriate festival.

The directions in the Cultural Village or the Living Museum. The sign shows the way to various seven main ethnics groups in Sarawak. It is the one stop museum and the showcase for Sarawak's rich cultural diversity. One could experience clearly the external and internal structure of the houses, their lifestyles, dialects, traditional dances and costumes.
The 45 minutes Cultural dance show for the audience are staged twice daily.
The village is about 35 kilometres from the city

Crossing the bamboo bridge, the Cultural Village. It is optional, good experience and interesting but some could not dare to cross over it and choose the alternative.

The Penan gentleman in the traditional costume.
He speaks Malay language fluently just by daily communication with the visitors.
The Penans are expert in using blowpipes, the main weapons for hunting animals and against their rivals if possible.

Orang Ulu plucking 'sape' the traditional musical instrument.
It sounds melodious and perform it in their special festivals and welcoming the guests.

At the main entrance and the exit of the Cultural Village

Pantai Damai, Santubong, just a stone throw from the Cultural village.

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
The place of rehabilitation the formerly illegal captured wildlifes especially the orang utans. The animals are freed back into the wilderness but under the government care. It is fortunate enough if one could see them hanging around nearby because they spend most of the time in the wilderness searching for food especially in the fruit season. They feed on fruits and durian is the favourite.

Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse, Padawan, about 60 kilometres from the city.
Human skulls are well preserved and kept to mark the heroic history of their ethnic in defeating rivals. The leaders of the captives were beheaded and their heads smoked for preservation.

Bidayuh Longhouse, it is about 200 metres long with all dwellers live in one place in harmony and traditional lifestyle. Most of them are farmers and cultivate hill padi as staple food, fruits especially bananas, pineapple and maize. The buildings are erected on poles, about 10 feet above the ground. The main materials are wood and bamboo which are abundant in the nearby forest. The floors are absolutely bamboo and should be replaced in time, the older one are used as fuel.

Welcome to Kuching and worth your holidays.
Whoever come to Kuching plan your holidays wisely or else will miss
some interesting spots and experience.

Thank you and all the best.

BACHOK, THE GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME

BACHOK, Kampung halaman yang kukenang sepanjang hayat.

Bachok is one of the administrative districts or jajahan in the state of Kelantan. Situated east and about 25 km from Kota Bharu. At present the total population is approximately 150,000 people, Malays are predominant, Chinese and Siamese are minorities. The main economy is agriculture apart from fishing, business and working in government and private sectors. Bachok Town is the centre of administration, business and transportation of the district. Other smaller towns are shown in the map below are famous for their wet markets and fair price groceries for the local folk.

Bachok Town or Bandar Bachok, recently declared as The Islamic Tourism Town or Bandar Pelancongan Islam by the incumbent mentri besar of Kelantan, Tuan Guru Hj. Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat on the &th of June 2011.

Bachok Town is my home town, the place I was raised and brought up since childhood. The place I received my primary and secondary education before I left to pursue my tertiary education in Kuala Lumpur. I came back forth later not to serve the town but to educate the children from the area in other place. Even though I have settled down in Kota Bharu I eventually visit the town and the surrounding area to remember the past. YES certainly I am so proud and grateful to ALLAH to be raised and brought up in Bachok.

Below are few photos to share about the places.

Map of the district of Bachok showing Bachok Town as the main town in red circle
and other smaller towns and settlements circle in various colours according to their size and importance.

The location of Bachok Town and other main towns in the state of Kelantan.
Its location is out of the main route to other major towns.

To reach the place without any difficulty, signboards are placed at
strategic junctions to guide motorists and visitors.
If in doubt friendly locals are ready to solve your problem.

One of the district boundaries

Polite and warm greeting steals the heart of visitors

To mark your entrance to the town centre

The landmark. Pantai Irama, a better sight before entering the town.
For elaboration please visit the previous posts

The lagoon of Pantai Irama and its clear reflection,
one of the main attraction to the town and of the district

Another part of the lagoon, so nostalgic to me.
I spent my young age to catch fish and mud crabs or ketam nipah
which were plenty at that time to supplement my pocket and educational purpose.
Currently I don't think there are any more of these marine lifes.

The current Bachok Town, Jalan Nahkoda Saamah,
the main business, monetary and transportation centres
that serves the needs of the population.

The remnant of the old portion,
was a prosperous business centre in the 1950s
before it moved to the new section
and then the later washed down by the combination of flood in 1967
and continuous high waves.
Formerly the Malays and Chinese ran groceries and goldsmith shops
and the mamak Malabari handling eating shops.

My home, the place I was raised and brought up.
The old traditional house has disappeared
and the abandoned patch of land is untouched

The main road, Jalan Pantai Irama, the business street.

The main road Jalan Nyior Chabang adjoining Jalan Pantai Irama,
the administrative, social and cultural centres.
I used to walk along this street daily to school about a mile away.
Another road was constructed to bypass the town
and the new site for future development

Other smaller towns and settlements

Beris Kubor Besar.

Tawang-Pengkalan Petah
famous for toasted fish and sea food restaurants

Pengkalan Petah
a terminal for deep sea fishing boats and trawlers

Kg Balai.
The Siamese settlement famous for it Twin Dragon Temple or
Wat Phothikyam Phuttqaktham, a Buddist temple.

Tangok
The main site for education and training centre.
The New University of Malaysia Kelantan campus,
government schools, Co-curricular Centre, National Service,
National Technical Training Institute
District Education Office and FAMA district office

Jelawat
the most populated town

Jelawat main road and business centre
famous for daily wet market and a boost for it
busy pasar tani on every Friday

Jelawat Wet Market

Chabang Empat Gunong
The name of the settlement derived from an isolated hill that can be seen clearly in the foreground. The meeting place from other districts
especially Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh before proceeding to Bachok town.
It is famous for the Royal Endurance Site and Shooting Training Field.


Thank you.

TUNJONG: FROM PADDY FIELD TO NEW TOWN

TUNJONG: DARI SAWAH PADI KE BANDAR BARU MODEN

TUNJONG is a village in the Kota Bharu District and administered by the City Council. Situated about 8 km from the city centre, the name is synonymous to a vast paddy field of the area known as Padang Tunjong or The Tunjong Rice bowl , but currently abandoned due to lack of labour force. At present the area is to be developed into new township especially along Jalan Kuala Krai and Jalan Kota Bharu-Pasir Mas-Rantau Panjang as Bandar Baru Tunjong(BBT) or Tunjong New Town. Kota Bharu City is congested with the increasing population. It will become the new development centre in Kelantan comprises the State and Federal government administrative, commercial, transportation centre and centre of modern living. Physical development such as the erection of commercial buildings and housing complex. The widening of road is in the process to cater for the future needs. This lead to the increasing of the land value which profits the owners.

TUNJONG ialah sebuah perkampungan di dalam daerah Kota Bharu dan ditadbir oleh MPKB BRI. Terletak kira-kira 8 km dari bandar Kota Bharu, nama ini sinonim dengan sawah padi yang luas yang dikenali "Padang Tunjong", tapi sekarang ini terbiar kerana kekurangan tenaga kerja. Pada masa ini, kawasan ini sedang dibangunkan untuk dijadikan bandar baru yang moden kerana bandar Kota Bharu telah sesak. Kawasan ini akan dijadikan pusat pentadbiran, komersil, pengangkutan dan penghidupan yang moden yang melibatkan kerajaan negeri dan pusat. Pembangunan secara fizikal seperti pembinaan bangunan dan pembesaran jalan raya sedang giat dilakukan untuk memenuhi tuntutan semasa. Nilai tanah juga semakin meningkat dan menguntungkan.

Below are some photographs to view the location and the development

The main road showing its earlier developed neighbour, Wakaf Che Yeh in the foreground
Jalan utama arah ke Wakaf Che Yeh yang sudah membangun

The beginning spot of the area of Tunjong,
the main road leads to Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang.
Development is in progress on both side of the road as shown below:
Kawasan Tunjong dengan jalan utama ke arah Pasir Mas dan Rantau Panjang,
pembangunan berlaku di kedua-dua belah jalan tersebut.

The both sides of Jalan Kota Bharu-Pasir Mas-Rantau Panjang is developing.

Kedua-dua belah jalan ini sedang dimajukan

Sorry for the inconvenience.
The 20 hectare TEMAN or Terminal Agribisnes Negara or National Agribusiness Terminal

is wholly owned by FAMA(Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority), a collecting and distributing centre for agriculture and fishery products both on wholesale and retail system.
It is an ideal spot for Pasar Tani

TEMAN oleh FAMA sebagai tempat pengumpulan dan pengagihan hasil pertanian
secara borong dan runcit dan tapak pasar tani yang amat sesuai

The existing abandoned paddy field of the area
is waiting to be reclaimed and turn into more valuable asset.
Once the area not only produced staple food
and also for netting fresh water fish, collecting siput sedut,
catching grasshoppers and hunting edible birds for the local folk.

Sawah padi terbiar yang akan dibangunkan, dahulunya penanaman padi,
menangkap ikan, siput sedut, belalang dan burung oleh penduduk tempatan.

One of the administrative buildings is under construction
Bangunan pentadbiran sedang dalam pembinaan.

The state Chief Director of Land and Mineral office
Bangunan Ketua Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Negeri

Jalan Kuala Krai, notice the shops on both sides of the road.
Development is in progress along the road
Jalan Kuala Krai, kedai dan bangunan sedia ada
dan pembangunan di kedua-dua belah jalan utama ini.

The reclaimed paddy field for housing development project.

Tanah sawah yang ditimbun untuk projek perumahan

The newly completed shop houses, the Darul Naim Business Centre
Pusat Perdagangan Darul Naim

The almost complete State Education Office
Bangunan Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri yang hampir siap.

The existing business complexes.
On the left it offers equipment for modern living and
on the right is the bumiputera owned furniture complex
Kompleks perniagaan yang sedia ada, sebelah kiri dengan alatan hidupan moden
dan kanan kedai perabot kepunyaan bumiputera tempatan

The existing super market owned by the local entrepreneur
Sebuah pasar raya kepunyaan usahawan bumiputera tempatan

Another reclaimed paddy field
and is said that the largest hypermarket and shopping complex
in the country to be built on this 18 acres of land and with estimated cost of RM100 million.
Satu lagi tanah sawah ditimbun untuk membina
sebuah hypermarket dan kompleks membeli belah.
Tanah ini seluas 18 ekar dan kompleks tersebut bernilai RM100 juta

With the completion of the New Town,
Tunjong will change it present identity to the modern way of life

Bila siap nanti nama Tunjong akan bertukar identiti dari
kehidupan desa ke penghidupan bandar yang moden.

ONLY ALLAH KNOWS
WALLAHU 'ALAN

Thank you/Terima kasih.