Someone asked in the comment box - "Spartan Rookie: Salam, wondering where we got started with our traditional pakaian melayu."
I don't really know. I know that in ancient Chinese history, there was a description of what Bruneians wore about 700 to 800 years ago. It was not the traditional pakaian melayu which we wore today. Incidentally Dr Siti Norkhalbi, the Director of Brunei Studies Academy
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Borneo jungle expedition unforgettable
Confrontations with tarantulas, leeches and gun-wielding tribesmen was the lifestyle for Picton lad Cameron Robertson during a three-week jungle expedition in Borneo.
The 17-year-old set off on a search for self-confidence and motivation in South East Asia last month.
He joined Operation Raleigh and was the only person from a country south of Malaysia on the expedition. The 77 other venturers came from Iceland, the United States and countries in Europe and Asia.
Operation Raleigh is a British-based youth development charity designed to help youth explore the world and discover their potential as leaders while working together to make a difference for poorer villages.
Cameron, who left Queen Charlotte College in November last year, aspires to be a helicopter pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but first he wanted an adventure.
At first he was hesitant, but on reflection it was the "best thing I could have ever done".
"For me I need to feel comfortable when I choose to pursue something, but for once I just jumped straight into Operation Raleigh, and man, I don't regret it at all."
The troops were split up into groups of 10 to 14 and deployed in remote locations across Borneo.
His group were responsible for building a kindergarten in the Sonsogon Magandai village in the Pitas district, near Sabah.
"It was amazing. It was hard work in tough conditions, but seeing the end result was so worth the effort."
Cameron recalls coming face-to-face with what he thought was a head-hunter on his way back to base camp – an experience he will never forget.
"One of our group members said, `hey let's go back the river way, follow it round back to base', so yeah, we didn't think anything of it and away we went.
The 17-year-old set off on a search for self-confidence and motivation in South East Asia last month.
He joined Operation Raleigh and was the only person from a country south of Malaysia on the expedition. The 77 other venturers came from Iceland, the United States and countries in Europe and Asia.
Operation Raleigh is a British-based youth development charity designed to help youth explore the world and discover their potential as leaders while working together to make a difference for poorer villages.
Cameron, who left Queen Charlotte College in November last year, aspires to be a helicopter pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but first he wanted an adventure.
At first he was hesitant, but on reflection it was the "best thing I could have ever done".
"For me I need to feel comfortable when I choose to pursue something, but for once I just jumped straight into Operation Raleigh, and man, I don't regret it at all."
The troops were split up into groups of 10 to 14 and deployed in remote locations across Borneo.
His group were responsible for building a kindergarten in the Sonsogon Magandai village in the Pitas district, near Sabah.
"It was amazing. It was hard work in tough conditions, but seeing the end result was so worth the effort."
Cameron recalls coming face-to-face with what he thought was a head-hunter on his way back to base camp – an experience he will never forget.
"One of our group members said, `hey let's go back the river way, follow it round back to base', so yeah, we didn't think anything of it and away we went.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Borneo jungle expedition unforgettable
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Monday, August 29, 2011
₱ 5.6-Billion Solar Power will rise in the Philippines - ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Inc
The Board of Investments has granted limited income tax holiday to the P5.676 billion 30-megawatt solar power project of wholly-owned Filipino firm ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Inc.
ATN, a joint venture of ATN Holdings Inc. and Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc., has proposed to sell electricity for P17.95 per kilowatthour. It would employ a total of 30 personnel when it starts commercial operation in December 2013. It is funded by 23.5 percent equity and 76.5 percent debt.
The project is under the Mandatory List of the Investment Priorities Plan and is entitled to incentives under the RE. Law or RA 9513. The firm is also registered with the Department of Energy as a new RE developer of solar energy resources.
In approving the project, however, the BoI said that once the feed-in-tariff (FIT) is in place, ATN should no longer be entitled to income tax holiday as the FIT is in itself the guaranteed return.
This decision is based on its general guidelines which provide that projects with sovereign guarantee or guaranteed rate of return are not entitled to income tax holiday.
However, the BoI Legal Department said that under the RE Act of 2008 (RE 9513), the firm is entitled to all incentives including the ITH. The law provides for a seven year ITH for RE projects. The BoI also noted a position forwarded that non-grant of ITH delivers a major impact on the proposed financial performance as the same is already considered when the proposed FIT was computed.
Given this conflicting positions, the BoI management committee has given instruction to communicate with the Department of Energy on all matters relative to the applicability/implication of FIT in the incentives granted to RE projects.
On the ATN's proposed a selling price of electricity of P17.95 per kwh, the BoI said that such rate shall still be subject to ERC approval in compliance with the feed-in-tariff rules.
The FIT system is a scheme that involves the obligation on the part of electric power industry participants to source electricity from RE generators at a guaranteed fixed price applicable for a given period of time, which shall in no case be less than 12 years, to be determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Based on its application, ATN will put the plant in the 324 hectare property of ATN Holdings in Montalban, Rodriguez Rizal, which is less than 10 kilometers away from densely populated business districts in Metro Manila.
The company said that its power supply during the peak hours would contribute in the reduction in capital cost of base load generating plants that use imported coal, and save the country's foreign exchange capital and operating costs for power generating units.
ATN is targeting to serve Metro Manila, particularly the peak demand of mall in the high growth business districts in Quezon City.
It can also sell electricity directly to end users under the Wholesale Electricity Sport Market (WESM) set-up. It may also negotiate with the National Power Corp. as primary off-take customers that will distribute power through the Transco.
The company claimed that its 30-mw solar project is equivalent to 60 million kilowatthours of clean energy.(BCM)
San Miguel Philippines will invest up to US$ 1 Billion to refurbish the Port Dickson refinery
August 29, 2011
The Philippines conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which acquired a 65 per cent stake in Exxon Mobil Corporation's interest in three businesses operating in the Malaysian downstream petroleum sector, plans to invest up to US$1 billion to upgrade and install new equipment in the 48-year-old Port Dickson refinery.
Member of the Board of Directors of SMC Eric Recto said the corporation was looking at bringing in new machinery to create more value-added products in the Malaysian market.
"We are looking at the same achievement we did when we acquired Petron Corporation three years ago.
"The Malaysian refinery is a useful asset, given that a fair level of investment is poured in to replace the old machinery and equipment," he told Malaysian journalists via voice-conference from Manila today
SMC holds 68 per cent equity in Petron Corporation
Recto, who is also Petron Corp president, said the plan would be executed over a long-term process between three and five years.
ExxonMobil and SMC signed a sales and purchase agreement for the latter to sell its 65 per cent stake in public-listed petroleum trading company, Esso Malaysia Bhd (EMB), and its wholly-owned, ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd (EMMSB) and ExxonMobil Borneo Sdn Bhd (EMBSB), to the Philippines' highly-diversified entity for US$610 million or RM3.50 a share of EMB.<
SMC is a Philippines business conglomerate and the parent company of Petron Corp, the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines.
Its 68 per cent-owned subsidiary, Petron Corp, is the largest integrated oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, with a crude distillation capacity of 180,000 barrels per day and over 1,700 service stations across the Philippines.
Under the deal, other than the Port Dickson refinery, 10 fuel distribution terminals (7 active); about 560 branded retail fuel sites (420 company-owned); and ExxonMobil's Industrial and Wholesale and Aviation fuel businesses, will be controlled by San Miguel.
Recto said the upgrading would enable the Port Dickson refinery, which currently produces 50,000 barrels per day, to maximize the plant's production capacity to 88,000 barrels a day.
The investment, he said, would be divided into two segments; the first 70 per cent would be derived from financial institutions, while the remaining 30 per cent would be from San Miguel.
"In this case, ExxonMobil Malaysian operations can stand on its own as it will fund 30 per cent of its operations in Malaysia.
"Only if extra investment assistance is needed, SMC would step in. However, we will be very careful from where the money comes from," he said, citing the recent concerns from locals about where the money will come from, given that San Miguel was a beer company initially.
Recto clarified that currently SMC, based in the Philippines, is a highly diversified conglomerate, with businesses ranging from food and beverages to petroleum, power, energy and infrastructure.
The company now derives more than 70 per cent of its revenue from the non-food and beverages segment.
As for the bank, Recto said banks from both Malaysia and the Philippines were keen to finance the company's investment expenditure.
"There will be no doubt that Malaysian banks will be given priority, given their achievements and capabilities," he said.
In enhancing human capital, Recto said SMC promises not to retrench any of the existing operational staff in the refinery and in other businesses as SMC needs all of them, and even more workers in the future in tandem with its goal to maximize utilization of the refinery.
"We will be creating more job opportunities and the first priority will be given to Malaysians.
"When we first acquired the Manila refinery, we needed around 20-25 per cent extra workers to rebuild and reorganize the plant," he said, adding that a similar workforce might be needed in Port Dickson
Philippines president leads business delegation to China Aug 30 - Sep 3
August 29, 2011
Philippine President Benigno Aquino will lead some 300 businessmen when he visits China from Tuesday August 30 to September 3, 2011.
Mr Aquino's state visit comes amid the ongoing tensions in the Spratly Islands, and the anniversary of the Manila bus hostage tragedy that killed eight Hong Kong tourists.
Trade and investments will be the main agenda of President Aquino during his visit to China.
Among the trade agreements to be signed is a five-year development program for trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
It will focus on infrastructure, mining, energy, information and tourism, which will generate US$60 billion in investments for the Philippines.
Liu Jianchao, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, said: "The President said last year that the Philippine economy is taking off and China is ready and willing to add power to the wings of the Philippine economy. So this is a perfect time that our business leaders meet and seek the ways and channels and opportunities for future cooperation."
Contentious issues such as the territorial dispute over the Spratly islands might also be raised by President Aquino, but both sides agree that the controversial issue will not affect bilateral relations.
China maintains its willingness to partner with claimant-countries including the Philippines to jointly explore the contested group of islands.
Liu said: "We do hope that this will materialize as soon as possible because we do believe that this is the best way for the claiming parties to have opportunities of cooperation rather than indulging in any kind of conflict. I hope that we can all be open and we can always be realistic, so that we can really find something that we can agree upon so that we can have joint exploration and cooperation."
Aside from promoting the Philippines as a business destination, President Aquino will also promote the Philippines as a tourist hub.
With tourist arrivals from China posting an annual growth rate of about 20 per cent, it is now one of the country's fastest-growing markets. This is despite the bungled hostage rescue last year that killed eight tourists from Hong Kong.
Though China will not be asking Hong Kong to lift its black travel warning to the Philippines, China will continue to promote exchanges with the Philippines.
Liu said: "Yes, the relationship really has gone through some tests in the past year but our past experience tells us that we could put solutions to all these crisis, all these issues in a way that will not affect the relationship. But rather, after we successfully found solution to these problems, we can even strengthen the relationship."
Aside from Beijing, President Aquino will also be going to Shanghai and Xiamen, where he will be paying respects to his Chinese ancestors. It is such kinship between the two countries that gives rise to optimism that both countries will be able to resolve sensitive issues that have strained bilateral relations.
₱ 2.5 Billion expansion of Procter & gamble Philippines and to add new 500 jobs
Procter & gamble in responds to the fast growing demand of the products will expands their production in the Philippines for ₱ 2.5 Billion and will also expand their workforce from 1, 400 to around 2,000 in 2011 or hiring more than 500 new workers.
Doubling the production of high demand products is necessary to meet the fast growing demands in the local and international market.
By doubling its diaper production, Procter & Gamble Philippines Inc. (PGPI) expects to add more than a hundred jobs a year, an official said on Friday.
"The investment will result in the addition of over 500 direct and indirect jobs," corporate communications manager Anama A. Dimapilis said.
The local unit of the Cincinatti, Ohio-headquartered P&G Co. said the increase by a third of the company's total 1,400 workforce will result from the P2.5-billion investment to expand its diaper production line at the firm's manufacturing facility in Cabuyao, Laguna. The expansion will occupy 8,500 square meters (sq.m.) of the total plant area of 220,000 sq.m.
"Currently, our baby care line capacity is at 10 million [diaper] pads per year. Upon completion of the 3-year expansion plan, capacity will be doubled to 20 million pads per year," Dimapilis told the BusinessMirror after the groundbreaking ceremony at the company's plant inside the Light Industry & Science Park (LISP).
Dimapilis said they plan to triple production on the expanded line's fifth year. Thirty of the multinational company's 140 branded products, including disposable diaper brand Pampers, are being sold in the country.
P&G put up the production line at the LISP in 2006 for P360 million after reorganizing its Philippine business into "a toll manufacturer providing the service of converting raw and packing materials to finished products and other related services for the account" of other affiliated companies, P&G said in a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About 40% of the company's diaper production is for export while about 30% of the production of the new line would mainly serve the domestic market, a company official said.
A statement said the Cabuyao plant serves the Philippines and several markets in the southeast Asian region.
The Laguna complex manufactures fabric and home care products under five brands, personal cleansing and skin care products under three brands and feminine care products under the Whisper brand.
British heroes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches remembered
There was a solemn air at the Kundasang War Memorial as large crowds gathered to remember British prisoners of war (POWs) who fell in the infamous 1945 Sandakan-Ranau death marches.
Local dignitaries, led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, and top brass from the British army, led by Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery Major-General CC Wilson, were present at the ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.
A total of 641 British PoWs died in the Sandakan-Ranau death marches.
A series of forced marches through marsh land and dense jungles in Borneo also caused the deaths of over 2,400 allied PoWs.
Of the figure, many also died in prison camps in North Borneo (Sabah) after they were captured by the Japanese during World War II.
Only six people, all Australian servicemen, survived the horror after they managed to escape.
“This is a simple yet important ceremony to remember all those who sacrificed their lives for a Sabah that we now cherish,” Dr Yee said.
Describing the event as a very moving ceremony, Gen Wilson said while all these were history, the past continues to haunt people these days.
“We had not really understood what the ordeal was sixty-six years ago until Major Tulloch John did all this research and we came to know that the Royal Artillery suffered very badly.
“The death march is a terrible thing to have happened,” he said.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British heroes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches remembered
.Local dignitaries, led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, and top brass from the British army, led by Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery Major-General CC Wilson, were present at the ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.
A total of 641 British PoWs died in the Sandakan-Ranau death marches.
A series of forced marches through marsh land and dense jungles in Borneo also caused the deaths of over 2,400 allied PoWs.
Of the figure, many also died in prison camps in North Borneo (Sabah) after they were captured by the Japanese during World War II.
Only six people, all Australian servicemen, survived the horror after they managed to escape.
“This is a simple yet important ceremony to remember all those who sacrificed their lives for a Sabah that we now cherish,” Dr Yee said.
Describing the event as a very moving ceremony, Gen Wilson said while all these were history, the past continues to haunt people these days.
“We had not really understood what the ordeal was sixty-six years ago until Major Tulloch John did all this research and we came to know that the Royal Artillery suffered very badly.
“The death march is a terrible thing to have happened,” he said.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British heroes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches remembered
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Sunday, August 28, 2011
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Happy Merdeka Day 2011
To all our Muslim visitors, clients and partners,
E-BORNEO.COM wishes you a joyous Eid Mubarak, or how we greet in Malaysia:
'SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI'
and
'MAAF ZAHIR BATIN'.
and
'MAAF ZAHIR BATIN'.
May you have a wonderful, prosperous and safe celebration with your family, relatives and friends.
As this year's Hari Raya festival will coincide with Malaysia's 54th Independence Day, we would like to wish all Malaysians, here and abroad
'A HAPPY MERDEKA DAY'
Sabah and Sarawak gained its independence from the British 48 years ago on 31 August 1963, before forming Malaysia 16 days later, together with the Federation of Malaya, and Singapore (who left the Federation in 1965).
In conjunction with the Hari Raya and Merdeka Day public holidays, please kindly be informed that our office will be closed for a week starting Monday, 29 August 2011 and will only re-open on Monday, 5 September 2011.
For travel and related requests, do note that your e-mails enquiries may be replied during this holiday period (depending on priority and/or importance) but earliest confirmation can most likely only be processed on 5 September 2011 (working hours +0800 GMT MYT).
Any inconvenience caused is very much regretted.
Happy Holidays and Best of Health.
Best wishes,
E-BORNEO.COM TOURS & TRAVEL SDN BHD (862652-M ; KPL/LN 6169)
Lot No. 7, 2nd Floor, Block C
Lintas Jaya Uptownship
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Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Malaysia
Tel: +6-088-722606
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Email: travel@e-borneo.com
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Information on the Maliau Basin Conservation Area
The following is a content from at our sister site called Borneo Tropical Vacation for your Sunday reading pleasure:
Maliau Basin Study & Research Centre
Maliau Basin or Meliau Basin, or also Maliau Basin Conservation Area, is a region in the Malaysian State of Sabah, which represents a geological catchments surrounding the Maliau River.
Located in the South central part of Sabah in the Sandakan Division, it was designated as a conservation area by the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah) in 1981.
Dubbed as Sabah's "Lost World", the 588.4 square kilometers Maliau Basin Conservation Area was upgraded to a Protected (Class 1) Forest Reserve by the state government in 1997. The region also features Mount Lotung (1,667 metres), Maliau Falls, and Lake Linumunsut.
The Maliau Basin contains an unusual assemblage of 12 tropical forest types, comprising mainly of lower montane forest dominated by majestic Agathis trees, rare montane heath forest and lowland and hill dipterocarp forest. The incredible Maliau Basin rim is about 25 km in diameter, which is slightly bigger than the Island of Singapore.
Maliau Basin Study & Research CentreMaliau Basin or Meliau Basin, or also Maliau Basin Conservation Area, is a region in the Malaysian State of Sabah, which represents a geological catchments surrounding the Maliau River.
Located in the South central part of Sabah in the Sandakan Division, it was designated as a conservation area by the Sabah Foundation (Yayasan Sabah) in 1981.
Dubbed as Sabah's "Lost World", the 588.4 square kilometers Maliau Basin Conservation Area was upgraded to a Protected (Class 1) Forest Reserve by the state government in 1997. The region also features Mount Lotung (1,667 metres), Maliau Falls, and Lake Linumunsut.
The Maliau Basin contains an unusual assemblage of 12 tropical forest types, comprising mainly of lower montane forest dominated by majestic Agathis trees, rare montane heath forest and lowland and hill dipterocarp forest. The incredible Maliau Basin rim is about 25 km in diameter, which is slightly bigger than the Island of Singapore.
A partial view of the rim of the Basin from Lobah HelipadThe main gateway for visitors to Maliau Basin Conservation Area is the Shell Maliau Basin Reception and Information Building, which was officially opened in April 2007. This building aims to strengthen the role of Maliau Basin as a centre of knowledge and learning on biodiversity conservation.
For tourists, the highlight of the adventure is to trek through the rainforest to reach the Camel Trophy Camp and later, to reach the Luba Camp, all the way to the majestic 7 tiers Maliau Falls.
For tourists, the highlight of the adventure is to trek through the rainforest to reach the Camel Trophy Camp and later, to reach the Luba Camp, all the way to the majestic 7 tiers Maliau Falls.
The picturesque Maliau FallsRecommended Tour Packages:
- 5D/4N Maliau Basin "The Lost World" Adventure Vacation (ex-Tawau)
- 5D/4N Maliau Basin "The Lost World" Adventure Vacation (ex-KK)
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Bird-watching at Sabah’s Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan
WE recently went with a group of photographic and birding friends to Sabah’s Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), after hearing so many good stories about birding there.
RDC is located in Sepilok and the world famous orang-utan sanctuary run by the Sabah Forestry Department is only 2km away. The Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve (4.294ha) and the Sepilok Forest Reserve (1.835ha) are adjoining.
The primary function of this area is to create public awareness of the importance of conserving the rainforest and natural resources. A large part of this forest is made up of old growth lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. There is a visitor centre, orchids and pitcher plants arboretum, ginger and associated plants arboretum and many more attractions.
The 300-metre canopy walkway with two watchtowers is a great facility for bird-watching. Present records show that Sepilok forest is host to over 300 bird species in 52 families, with 15 endemics including the rare Bornean bristlehead, the blue–headed pitta and the white-fronted falconet; all of which are much sought after by bird-watchers from all over the world. It is also home to the superb barred eagle owl – the largest owl in Borneo.
RDC opened to the public in 2006 and the trails are well marked. On the first day, we saw a black-naped monarch breeding and the male and female took turns to sit on the eggs. It is sad that people still have to learn that they should not disturb the animals by using a flash. Visitors should not make noise too. When we checked a few days later, we discovered that the poor bird was not sitting on its nest but standing near it and we worried that it had abandoned the eggs. In the daytime it’s not necessary to use the flash, plus the pictures are so much better without.
It’s a great bird-watching area and you can see, if you are lucky, several different species of kingfishers including the beautiful ruddy kingfisher, along with hornbills and pittas.
The first day when we arrived at around 5pm, we went straight to the place where we saw a flying squirrel and its nest last year.
We waited without knowing if it still lived in the dead tree. Suddenly around 6pm, I saw his head popping out to just look around and then it went back into the hole and nothing further happened. At 6.30pm, his head came out again and this time he left the cavity; climbed higher up the dead tree and took off to the next tree. We all got a shot of him in the tree but not of him flying since we had no clue which direction he would jump. It was great to see this animal flying (or gliding really).
The next morning at 6.30am, we set off to the RDC, which is only 400 metres away. We immediately saw three oriental pied hornbills flying, playing, eating and all cameras came out in a flash. It was so amazing to see hornbills flying above gardens.
After shooting a lot off good pictures, we headed of to the trail where we heard a strange knocking. Two orange-backed woodpeckers, male and female, were tapping their way around the stem of a huge dead tree. We also saw the ruddy kingfisher, black monarch, and the very interesting black-capped babbler, which mainly forages for insects on the forest floor.
I checked the canopy walkway for birds, but not so many were seen. Then I went up the 40-metre tall tower with my husband and saw the incredibly brightly coloured male and female scarlet minivet as well as a beautiful green leaf bird. In addition we saw many large-winged butterflies gracefully manoeuvring just above the leaf canopy. We also saw oriental pied hornbills and raptors overhead. Finally we heard the distant call of the rhinoceros hornbill.
Some of you might remember that excellent talk by Dr Pilai Poonswand from Thailand about a year ago. She succeeded in putting up nest boxes on tall trees, as most tall nesting trees have been removed through logging operations. Hornbills have made their nests in them. We saw quite a number of these boxes attached in several high trees in Sepilok, but I don’t think it has been done here in Sarawak yet.
In the evening, as we were resting at the first pondok (shelter) to wait for the squirrel we saw the evening before, we checked the hornbill nest box that had been put up on a tall tree opposite the pondok and discovered a flying squirrel peeping out of the opening. I decided to stay there while the others went to check on the flying squirrel we saw the previous evening. It is interesting to note that squirrels have taken to hornbill nesting boxes. Around 6.30pm, I saw it coming out through my lens. When it went up into the tree, I found another following it and realised that there were two in the nest box and caught them on film, but only my husband got a good shot of them flying.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Bird-watching at Sabah’s Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan
.RDC is located in Sepilok and the world famous orang-utan sanctuary run by the Sabah Forestry Department is only 2km away. The Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve (4.294ha) and the Sepilok Forest Reserve (1.835ha) are adjoining.
The primary function of this area is to create public awareness of the importance of conserving the rainforest and natural resources. A large part of this forest is made up of old growth lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. There is a visitor centre, orchids and pitcher plants arboretum, ginger and associated plants arboretum and many more attractions.
The 300-metre canopy walkway with two watchtowers is a great facility for bird-watching. Present records show that Sepilok forest is host to over 300 bird species in 52 families, with 15 endemics including the rare Bornean bristlehead, the blue–headed pitta and the white-fronted falconet; all of which are much sought after by bird-watchers from all over the world. It is also home to the superb barred eagle owl – the largest owl in Borneo.
RDC opened to the public in 2006 and the trails are well marked. On the first day, we saw a black-naped monarch breeding and the male and female took turns to sit on the eggs. It is sad that people still have to learn that they should not disturb the animals by using a flash. Visitors should not make noise too. When we checked a few days later, we discovered that the poor bird was not sitting on its nest but standing near it and we worried that it had abandoned the eggs. In the daytime it’s not necessary to use the flash, plus the pictures are so much better without.
It’s a great bird-watching area and you can see, if you are lucky, several different species of kingfishers including the beautiful ruddy kingfisher, along with hornbills and pittas.
The first day when we arrived at around 5pm, we went straight to the place where we saw a flying squirrel and its nest last year.
We waited without knowing if it still lived in the dead tree. Suddenly around 6pm, I saw his head popping out to just look around and then it went back into the hole and nothing further happened. At 6.30pm, his head came out again and this time he left the cavity; climbed higher up the dead tree and took off to the next tree. We all got a shot of him in the tree but not of him flying since we had no clue which direction he would jump. It was great to see this animal flying (or gliding really).
The next morning at 6.30am, we set off to the RDC, which is only 400 metres away. We immediately saw three oriental pied hornbills flying, playing, eating and all cameras came out in a flash. It was so amazing to see hornbills flying above gardens.
After shooting a lot off good pictures, we headed of to the trail where we heard a strange knocking. Two orange-backed woodpeckers, male and female, were tapping their way around the stem of a huge dead tree. We also saw the ruddy kingfisher, black monarch, and the very interesting black-capped babbler, which mainly forages for insects on the forest floor.
I checked the canopy walkway for birds, but not so many were seen. Then I went up the 40-metre tall tower with my husband and saw the incredibly brightly coloured male and female scarlet minivet as well as a beautiful green leaf bird. In addition we saw many large-winged butterflies gracefully manoeuvring just above the leaf canopy. We also saw oriental pied hornbills and raptors overhead. Finally we heard the distant call of the rhinoceros hornbill.
Some of you might remember that excellent talk by Dr Pilai Poonswand from Thailand about a year ago. She succeeded in putting up nest boxes on tall trees, as most tall nesting trees have been removed through logging operations. Hornbills have made their nests in them. We saw quite a number of these boxes attached in several high trees in Sepilok, but I don’t think it has been done here in Sarawak yet.
In the evening, as we were resting at the first pondok (shelter) to wait for the squirrel we saw the evening before, we checked the hornbill nest box that had been put up on a tall tree opposite the pondok and discovered a flying squirrel peeping out of the opening. I decided to stay there while the others went to check on the flying squirrel we saw the previous evening. It is interesting to note that squirrels have taken to hornbill nesting boxes. Around 6.30pm, I saw it coming out through my lens. When it went up into the tree, I found another following it and realised that there were two in the nest box and caught them on film, but only my husband got a good shot of them flying.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Bird-watching at Sabah’s Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan
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Cultural treasures from Sarawak highlands
Traditions and heritage still alive and kicking in Bario and Ba Kelalan
WHEN young Jenette Ulun first saw her great-aunt expertly crafting the famous Kelabit beadwork, she knew then it would be her calling to continue the legacy.
Little did she realise, however, that her own daughter would carry on the tradition in her own right.
“I was delighted when Nicolette, my eldest daughter, showed interest in the beadwork,” the 53-year-old craftswoman told thesundaypost during a recent visit to her handicraft shop – Bario Unique Trading – in the town centre of Bario.
“I’m proud and happy to see that the tradition will be preserved, at least by another generation.”
Born and raised in the highlands, Jenette opened her shop in Bario about 10 years ago after spending most of her adult life with her husband in Miri before the couple decided to retire in their hometown.
Cosy and quaint, Bario Unique Trading showcases a kaleidoscope of intricate beadwork items – most noticeably the traditional Kelabit women headdress called ‘peta bao rawir’. A simple piece without much elaborate beadwork design would take Jenette at least two days to complete.
She cautioned with a smile: “Simple as it is, don’t make any mistake about it being cheap. The lowest it can go is about RM800 per piece. The highest offer I ever got was RM1,500. This is only for the ladies’ headdress.”
The fully-adorned traditional costume worn by Kelabit women, called ‘sapa harit’, could go for twice as high or even higher.
Apart from the meticulous details and toilsome effort needed to produce even a plain peta, Jenette said the high price would also be factored into the main raw materials – the beads, either clay or glass – which have to be imported from neighbouring Indonesia.
“While I’m happy to see that Nicolette and other young women here are keen to continue the tradition, I believe more should be done to encourage the younger generation to do the same.
“I truly believe Bario should have an industrial centre for manufacturing beads – just like what I’ve seen in Lawas. Apart from manufacture, the centre should also provide beadwork classes to those interested who now have to travel to Miri (the nearest point) to learn the craft,” she suggested.
Jenette, a member of the Sarawak Craft Council, also highlighted the government’s efforts in upgrading the basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and clean water supply in the area.
“Still, much more can be improved – perhaps 24-hour electricity supply for all of Bario soon,” she added.
Bario is home to about 1,200 people, predominantly Kelabit. While regarded as quite isolated compared to the other towns, it has, however, seen tremendous growth over the past 10 years with the latest development project being the e-Bario, an information and communication technology (ICT) community programme undertaken jointly by National ICT Malaysia Council, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Mimos Bhd.
As much as beadwork is regarded as the trademark of the Kelabits, the traditional bamboo windpipe instrument, collectively named as ‘bas suling’, will be identifiable with the Lun Bawangs of Ba Kelalan, a sister highland town about 70km north of Bario with a population of about 1,500.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Cultural treasures from Sarawak highlands
.WHEN young Jenette Ulun first saw her great-aunt expertly crafting the famous Kelabit beadwork, she knew then it would be her calling to continue the legacy.
Little did she realise, however, that her own daughter would carry on the tradition in her own right.
“I was delighted when Nicolette, my eldest daughter, showed interest in the beadwork,” the 53-year-old craftswoman told thesundaypost during a recent visit to her handicraft shop – Bario Unique Trading – in the town centre of Bario.
“I’m proud and happy to see that the tradition will be preserved, at least by another generation.”
Born and raised in the highlands, Jenette opened her shop in Bario about 10 years ago after spending most of her adult life with her husband in Miri before the couple decided to retire in their hometown.
Cosy and quaint, Bario Unique Trading showcases a kaleidoscope of intricate beadwork items – most noticeably the traditional Kelabit women headdress called ‘peta bao rawir’. A simple piece without much elaborate beadwork design would take Jenette at least two days to complete.
She cautioned with a smile: “Simple as it is, don’t make any mistake about it being cheap. The lowest it can go is about RM800 per piece. The highest offer I ever got was RM1,500. This is only for the ladies’ headdress.”
The fully-adorned traditional costume worn by Kelabit women, called ‘sapa harit’, could go for twice as high or even higher.
Apart from the meticulous details and toilsome effort needed to produce even a plain peta, Jenette said the high price would also be factored into the main raw materials – the beads, either clay or glass – which have to be imported from neighbouring Indonesia.
“While I’m happy to see that Nicolette and other young women here are keen to continue the tradition, I believe more should be done to encourage the younger generation to do the same.
“I truly believe Bario should have an industrial centre for manufacturing beads – just like what I’ve seen in Lawas. Apart from manufacture, the centre should also provide beadwork classes to those interested who now have to travel to Miri (the nearest point) to learn the craft,” she suggested.
Jenette, a member of the Sarawak Craft Council, also highlighted the government’s efforts in upgrading the basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and clean water supply in the area.
“Still, much more can be improved – perhaps 24-hour electricity supply for all of Bario soon,” she added.
Bario is home to about 1,200 people, predominantly Kelabit. While regarded as quite isolated compared to the other towns, it has, however, seen tremendous growth over the past 10 years with the latest development project being the e-Bario, an information and communication technology (ICT) community programme undertaken jointly by National ICT Malaysia Council, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Mimos Bhd.
As much as beadwork is regarded as the trademark of the Kelabits, the traditional bamboo windpipe instrument, collectively named as ‘bas suling’, will be identifiable with the Lun Bawangs of Ba Kelalan, a sister highland town about 70km north of Bario with a population of about 1,500.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Cultural treasures from Sarawak highlands
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Saturday, August 27, 2011
The Philippines is perfect place to study faith, globalization - Tony Blair
The Philippines is in many ways the perfect place to explore the complexities surrounding the relationship between faith and globalization, both past and present. As a society deeply influenced historically by Spanish, Indonesian, Malaysian and indigenous cultures, it finds itself in the 21st century occupying a delicate and profoundly important role in both Asian and Western trade and foreign affairs. I am therefore pleased to announce that the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (TBFF) has just established a deep and extensive partnership in the Philippines: A schools initiative to make inter-faith dialogue a part of social education, a program presently in 17 other nations; and a consortium of universities that will join the global Faith and Globalization course that was begun at Yale in the USA and is now in eight countries around the world.
Britain abused and rejected the Philippines
Tony Blair is a youngest with a longest service period Prime Minister in the United Kingdom. He resigned from his all position in the politics and political party last June 2007 after so many criticisms of his participation in the Afghanistan and Iraq invasion led by Former President George W. Bush.
He might be no escape of the dirts in the politics reason he resigned and starts to serve the people by his own will and own direction without the measure from the dirty world of politics.
The Britain government is still having the huge unpaid indebtedness to the Philippines after they turnover the North Borneo Territory (Sabah) to the ally Malaysia. Without respect and rejecting the ruling Sultan of Sulu, the British Government include the North Borneo (Sabah) to the crown treaty and turnover to Malaysia in spite of the several warning from the United States that the North Borneo (Sabah) is not belong to the crown treaty and must remain free and part of the Sultanate State of Sulu under the Philippines Government.
The stupid mistake of the British Government is a prime reason for the never ending conflict in Mindanao as the locals are keep on longing to take back the missing piece of their territory resulting to continues revolution until the present time.
With the pride of the British Government, they did not accept mistake. The conflicts continue rising and already tallied around 150,000 death. The 150,000 death is enough for the Britain to correct their previous mistake and they are accountable to all of this.
The initiative of the defecting Tony Blair is good for the Philippines but this is not enough to clean the mindset of the aboriginals (Muslims, Subano and other tribe in Mindanao) that they lose a piece of land because it was stolen by the British Government. Read more here about this issue.
Enormous possibility
The Philippines is a great place to have such ideas. It is a fascinating country on the move, facing big challenges but with enormous possibility which it is starting to fulfill. It has a new president with a strong mandate and the determination and capability to succeed and a people behind him willing him on. It is a nation of 100 million, situated in the middle of the rising East, with resources, culture and beauty to exploit. Its people are hard-working and smart. Its poverty remains real, but so does its potential.
Faith is also a big part of the country. It is predominantly Christian and Catholic; but it has a significant Muslim population. In the past years the Philippines has witnessed a tragic dispute in its Mindanao region, where the majority of the Muslim people live. Largely ignored by the outside world, this conflict has resulted in the death, in recent decades of 150,000 people, displaced two million and inhibited what could be huge investment in the southern part of the islands which is rich in deposits of oil, gas and minerals. It is actually the second oldest conflict on earth after North/South Sudan.
Faith-based programs
Hence the need for, and the importance of faith-based programs that promote peaceful coexistence. Of course, here, as in all such situations there are a myriad of political and territorial issues that complicate. However, here also, we cannot hope to establish peace without accepting that religion is part of the problem and therefore must become part of the solution. To its great credit the government is prepared to recognize this and help make it happen.
The TBFF will be working closely with the government on two levels. In the first place, we will be working with the Department of Education to bring our “Face to Faith” program into Filipino public schools. This program will provide the next generation of Filipino leaders with the opportunity to learn essential communication skills while also gaining greater understanding of inter-faith dialogue and the role of religion in the world. Second, we will work with the Commission for Higher Education, the Office of the Peace Process and a consortium of universities in our “Faith & Globalization Initiative,” which gives university students from around the world the opportunity to learn more about religion’s complex relationship with the forces of globalization.
Pervasive and complex
From this example, we can see a wider truth about the way we live and work today. The role of religion in today’s world can be described in two words: Pervasive and complex. Religion extends its influence over a myriad of aspects of our daily lives in the globalized 21st century, whether or not we have religious faith ourselves. Religion can claim responsibility for some of the most profoundly positive and important events and movements the world has ever known. Yet it has also been associated with some of the most heinous and horrible crimes against humanity.
Unstoppable force
Globalization is an unstoppable force, driven partly by technology and partly by people. Its impact is to thrust people online and physically together through mass travel and migration. So today people are aware of, mix with and compete with those of a different faith. There are then two responses. One is to make sense of this interaction by establishing ways and means of living together, learning from each other and coexisting in mutual respect.
The other is to react against the changes such a process brings and use religious faith as a badge of identity in opposition to those of another faith. The world over, this struggle is being played out. There is a risk that extremism grows unchecked except by security methods whereas what is needed is a combination of hard and soft power. But the other side effect is that faith itself is discredited, seen as the cause of the world’s problems not a vital civilizing force for its future.
This would be sad; because the single most compelling fact about faith and the reason those of faith are still growing in numbers not diminishing is that amongst all the potential for conflict, it still does immense good for the people of this world, in caring for them, supporting them when weak and counseling them when strong. This, not the extremism is the true Face of Faith.
Tony Blair is the founder and patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/blog/entry/the-phillipines-government-and-tony-blair-announce-plan-for-peace-building).
The Philippines' products stand tall over China's territory
By MARIA TERESA T. ALMOJUELA (Minister and Consul General, Philippine Embassy Beijing)
Philippines — One may ask — amidst the preparations for the summitry of the State Visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to China next week and its weighty agenda — how is the Philippines seen in China?
A quick survey of Philippine presence in China would bring up an eclectic mix of Philippine “flag bearers” – things, people and places that shape the images conjured by the word “Philippines” in the minds of the common Chinese.
The list would be topped by edibles found in the markets like dried mangoes, the pan de sal (labeled “Filipino bun”), Philippine bananas grown in Mindanao and Oishi snacks and mango juices. Seafood from the Philippines is also in high demand – gaining ground in high-income cities in mostly-landlocked Chinese consumer markets.
Since the success of Philippine lobbying in the 1990s to secure access of Philippine bananas in China, the country has become the third largest market for Philippine bananas. These days, Mindanao-grown cavendish is a staple in Chinese tables – one sign of the dramatic change in consumption patterns in China over the last two decades, a change that has accultured the Chinese to the best of what the outside world could offer – from food, music and clothes, to luxury cars and yatchs.
Thanks to the efforts of the Department of Tourism to build up the Philippines in a very competitive but numbers-rich outbound travel market in China – Boracay (called the Changtan Dao – meaning Longbeach Island) has carved its own name in China.
The strength of the Boracay brand, as an island-paradise get-away that is not far from China, and the market’s familiarity with Cebu, resonates in the popular impressions of the Philippines’ tropical destinations among the Chinese.
One would easily know this from cab drivers and pedestrians who voluntarily share these images of the Philippines when they encounter a Filipino.
This branding has made Cebu and Boracay the most popular destinations of Chinese tourists in the Philippines. The market is booming and blooming: China is one of the fastest-growing markets for Philippine tourism, ranking fourth in terms of arrivals in 2010.
Chinese impressions of the Philippines are enriched by personal contacts with the increasing number of Filipinos in China – currently estimated at 10,000. This includes Filipino musicians and bands playing in watering holes from Xinjiang to Tibet to Heilongjiang to Shanghai, English teachers, and corporate executives and engineers employed by global giants and Philippine companies.
There are many individuals of notable distinctions – from tycoons like Carlos Chan (known as Shi Gong Qi) and Lucio Tan (Chen Yong Cai), whose business interests span the entire Chinese map, to journalists like CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime Flor Cruz, Harvard-educated Intel executive Lara Tiam, architect Marco Torres who carried the Beijing Olympic Torch and who persuasively tells the Chinese of the wonders of the Philippines through networking sites, blogs, tweets and his lifestyle magazine, chef Rey Lim who has been whipping up appetites in high-end Western fusion restaurants in the Chinese capital in the last 17 years, and Elmer Reyes, an athletics teacher at an international school who runs ultra marathon and triathlon races.
Among these individuals are agents of cultural interaction such as soprano Anne Luis of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe, who studies Beijing Opera at the National Theater Academy of China. With her, the Chinese people are very much taken by the homage a Filipino talent is paying to China’s ancient theater form.
The Philippine Consul General in Beijing, Maria Teresa Almojuela, says that “the Filipino men and women in China are not merely bearing witness to China’s changes: they are contributing to the energy of the Chinese society and taking part in its history.”
There were three Filipinos, who enthusiastically threw themselves into the City of Beijing’s fervor for its 2008 Olympic hosting: aside from Marco Torres, the father-and-daughter team of Jaime and Michelle Florcruz were chosen by the Beijing government to be among the 58 expats to carry the Olympic torch. It was the first time for Philippine nationals to run with the Olympic torch since the 1964 Tokyo games – and these Pinoys delivered with aplomb.
These Olympic torch bearers reflect the Filipinos’ penchant for giving themselves to Chinese civic causes. The Philippine Ball in Beijing, organized by the leaders of the Filipino community bi-annually, raises funds for Chinese charities. There are community projects like schools and orphanages in China which are supported by Filipino benefactors and volunteers.
These examples have strong historical precedence. Records show that in 1930s Shanghai, Philippine veterinarian Dr. Honorio Evangelista led the Philippine company of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, ready to help the city in the outbreak of hostilities. The Filipino volunteers were said to be “keen volunteers and always participated in activities and hazardous assignments, earning for themselves medals and honors.”
Since the 1990s, China has warmly received teachers from the Philippines, mostly in the English language. To date, there are over 2,000 Filipino citizens who teach English in all levels of education in China, from pre-schools to graduate schools.
Filipino educators also founded the first international school in the province of Fujian in 1993. The Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS), founded by Filipino educators Roman and Mildred Go, now boasts of a student population of 328 students representing over twenty countries.
A Filipino traveling to China will be surprised that most Chinese know the Presidents of the Philippines by name. The Chinese are after all an educated people who still devour books, read newspapers and watch the evening news, keenly following China’s public affairs.
The average Chinese could easily remember the names of Presidents Marcos (Ma-ke-si Zhongtong), Estrada ( Ai-si-te-la-da Zhongtong) and Arroyo ( A-lou-ye Zhongtong). It is also known in China that President Aquino ( A-ji-nuo Zhongtong) is the son of former President Corazon Aquino, whose visit to China in 1988 included a journey to the laojia (hometown) of her great-grandparents’ ancestors in Fujian.
The Chinese profess an admiring impression of the women leaders of the Philippines and hold the Philippines as a model for gender equality in politics. This is the reason Philippine women Presidents like Aquino and Arroyo capture the imagination of the Chinese public.
The older Chinese generation in their 60s, 70s and 80s could still recall their first enchantment with the Philippines and the Filipino woman in the image of Imelda Marcos. Her visit to Beijing in 1973 was beamed in Chinese state television. And so the image of Filipino women to that captive audience – and for a very long time in China - was Imelda Marcos herself – regal and svelte in pink terno being toasted by Chairman Mao Zedong, and carrying both beauty and power as she paved the way for our formal ties.
Contemporary Chinese hardly miss the fact that the Filipinos are a musically-gifted people because of the presence of Filipino musicians in China.
Filipino musicians are among the most sought-after performers in the Chinese music scene, headlining shows in the most popular bars and hotels in China. Some bands have so captured the fancy of their Chinese audience that they are even invited to perform in variety shows on local television channels.
It is estimated that there are over 3,000 Filipino musicians working in China. While it may seem on the surface to be a recent trend, records show that Filipino musicians were in fact very much in the Shanghai music scene in the 1920s and 1930s – playing nightly in the plush clubs, cabarets and hotels in the city in combos with 6 up to 12 members until the wars stopped the music.
The Philippine presence in Shanghai in its days as Paris of the East was such that the former French concession had a Manila Road (pronounced locally as Man-nun-la-lo). Today, this is named Yan’An Road – a busy beltway of flyovers at the heart of the city.
Philippine flavors are also making headway to the Chinese palate. The importation of fruits and food products to China, including dried mangoes, banana chips and polvoron (shortbread cookies), mango, calamansi, coconut juices, purees and concentrates are adding new flavors in a country whose young, diverse, and open-minded market welcomes new culinary experiences.
Many Chinese are becoming more aware that leading snack food brand Oishi is made by Liwayway Marketing Corp., a Filipino company which first ventured into the Chinese market in 1993 with two companies in Shanghai. In less than 20 years, its China operations has expanded to 14 facilities all over Mainland China under the head company Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd.. Oishi’s range of range of products includes more than 50 variants of salty snacks, cereals, popcorn, cookies, powdered juices, and sauces.
Bistro Luneta is flying the Philippine flag proudly in downtown Shanghai, serving amazingly delectable squid sisig, chicken empanada, chicken and mushroom adobo, lechon kawali and other Filipino gastronomic treats.
Luneta is probably the only Filipino restaurant in the entire Mainland China. By doing successfully, it may also be paving pathways for other Philippine restaurateurs to enter China’s culinary scene.
Oishi and Bistro Luneta both represent the range of investment ventures that Filipinos have made in China’s dynamic and huge market. Since China’s opening up at the beginning of the 1980s, the cumulative volume of Philippine investments in China has grown to US$2.78 billion by the end of 2010. Currently, the Philippines is one of Asia’s top sources of investments in China and ranks as China’s fourth largest ASEAN investor.
This is one of the key features of the bilateral economic relationship, and places It also places the Philippines in an extremely good vantage point to engage China towards a stronger economic partnership, especially as the latter has recently become, according to the UN World Investment Report of July 2011, the fifth largest source global investor.
A Filipino travelling to China will find numerous high-rises, malls, factories, and ventures across the territory that illuminate the role of Philippine investments in contributing to the synergy of the country’s economic transformation in the last three decades.
Family Adventure Vacation at Sarawak Cultural Village
The following article is from our archive for your reading pleasure. It is for families or those who want to explore the best of Sarawak in half a day. The Sarawak Cultural Village, the venue of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival since 1997, will showcase Sarawak's cultural heritage and colourful cultures, which boasts 27 ethnic groups.
Click on Image above for a larger view
The Sarawak Cultural Village is a MUST visit destination for anyone who is visiting Sarawak, Malaysia Borneo, especially on a Family Adventure Vacation.
Located about 35km from Kuching city and tucked away on the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, the Sarawak Cultural Village is built on a 14-acre site of equatorial vegetation, next to a scenic man-made lake.
Sometimes referred to as a living museum, the Village depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle.
The village boasts seven ethnic houses representative of the Malay, the Chinese, the Penan and the longhouses of the Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and the Melanau.
Take a stroll around the village and observe the inhabitants of the various houses displaying their skills in making traditional handicrafts such as beading, wood-carving, bamboo-carving, pua-weaving, etc. You can also view traditional methods of making sago, and crushing sugar cane.
One of the highlight is to take a look at how the Penans make blowpipes and other hunting instruments, and try out your blow piping skill..., aimed normally at a balloon from a distance.
Another highlight is the 45 minutes live cultural dance show at the theatre. You will be entertained in the comfort of the air-conditioned mini-theatre where award-winning dancers and musicians present their famous multi-cultural performances.
Continue reading at: Family Adventure Vacation at Sarawak Cultural Village
Click on Image above for a larger viewThe Sarawak Cultural Village is a MUST visit destination for anyone who is visiting Sarawak, Malaysia Borneo, especially on a Family Adventure Vacation.
Located about 35km from Kuching city and tucked away on the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, the Sarawak Cultural Village is built on a 14-acre site of equatorial vegetation, next to a scenic man-made lake.
Sometimes referred to as a living museum, the Village depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle.
The village boasts seven ethnic houses representative of the Malay, the Chinese, the Penan and the longhouses of the Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and the Melanau.
Take a stroll around the village and observe the inhabitants of the various houses displaying their skills in making traditional handicrafts such as beading, wood-carving, bamboo-carving, pua-weaving, etc. You can also view traditional methods of making sago, and crushing sugar cane.
One of the highlight is to take a look at how the Penans make blowpipes and other hunting instruments, and try out your blow piping skill..., aimed normally at a balloon from a distance.
Another highlight is the 45 minutes live cultural dance show at the theatre. You will be entertained in the comfort of the air-conditioned mini-theatre where award-winning dancers and musicians present their famous multi-cultural performances.
Continue reading at: Family Adventure Vacation at Sarawak Cultural Village
Recommended Tour Package:
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Our Brunei Heritage
My third book "Our Brunei Heritage" will be available at The Best Eastern bookshops and will also be available at other bookshops very soon. This third volume comprises of articles that I wrote for my column The Golden Legacy in The Brunei Times for the year 2009. Limited copies are also available directly from my office.
The 51 articles in the book are as follows:
Sultanate of Sambas -
The 51 articles in the book are as follows:
Sultanate of Sambas -
Friday, August 26, 2011
British soldiers re-trace routes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches
RANAU: Lieutenant Harry Hyslop thought that after five months of strenuous training, he would be ready for one of the biggest challenges he had ever embarked on.
Although the 23-year-old British soldier knew he was in for a surprise, Hyslop was very much determined to pursue this lifetime opportunity.
Just a few months back, he found out about the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches.
“I knew that British soldiers served in Myanmar and Vietnam, but not in Borneo. What was more intriguing was the death marches involved Australian and British soldiers. I have never heard of that part of the history until recently,” he said.
And when he heard about a selection process to pick British soldiers to embark on the first ever journey to re-trace the routes of the death marches, it did not take him long to sign up for the challenge.
At least 40 soldiers signed up for the challenge, but after thorough screening, the number was reduced to 14. Hyslop was among the lucky ones.
“It was a challenging experience one could ever feel throughout the march, but it was also equally fascinating. It was fantastic.
“I have always like challenges, it is for physical development. When I learned about the death marches, I was very much intrigued. The more we talked about it, the more I wanted to do it (the walk).
“In a way, I believe it is a way for me to show tribute to the fallen heroes. It is a historical moment that should be re-liven,” he said when met at the Kundasang War Memorial yesterday.
Although he was happy to be able to complete the challenging walk, Hyslop admitted: “I do not think I would have survived if I had walked the walk about six decades ago.”
The Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches were a series of forced marches in Borneo which resulted in the deaths of over 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 allied prisoners of war held captive by the Japanese during World war II at prison camps in North Borneo (now Sabah).
By the end of the war, of all the prisoners who had been incarcerated at Sandakan and Ranau, only six Australians survived, all of whom had escaped.
It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.
The idea to re-trace the routes was mooted by retired Major John Tulloch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in England.
“I was visiting Sandakan in 1999 and made a shocking discovery. Of the 641 British soldiers who served here, 400 were from our regiment. So I thought to myself, something must be done to honour them.
“And so I set my course, met up with some expatriates and locals who introduced me to the right group of people. They gave me the encouragement and told me that it can be done,” he said.
Tulloch spoke to several others who shared his passion, and he was more determined than ever to make his dream a reality.
Well like any beautiful stories, Tulloch’s determination and passion pushed through. Fast forward several years later, and after getting the green lights from the relevant authorities, he managed to inspire enough people to re-trace the death marches routes. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.
For the 65-year-old, what was more interesting was the involvement of the Sixth Malaysian Royal Regiment which also sent 15 soldiers to accompany the Britons in their journey.
“We have the memorial service to honour the dead on August 27 annually, but I felt there was something lacking. So by having the walk to re-trace the death marches routes which ends with the memorial service, it would bring a lot of difference, it is like the pinnacle on top of everything,” he said.
Tulloch understands the challenges one has to endure when trekking through the thick jungles.
“I know the jungle very well but that does not mean I lived in the jungles. I grew up in Penang and as a child, I used to run in the hutan (jungle) a lot, as oppose to doing homework … that was my early exposure to jungle life, an early jungle training.”
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British soldiers re-trace routes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches
.Although the 23-year-old British soldier knew he was in for a surprise, Hyslop was very much determined to pursue this lifetime opportunity.
Just a few months back, he found out about the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches.
“I knew that British soldiers served in Myanmar and Vietnam, but not in Borneo. What was more intriguing was the death marches involved Australian and British soldiers. I have never heard of that part of the history until recently,” he said.
And when he heard about a selection process to pick British soldiers to embark on the first ever journey to re-trace the routes of the death marches, it did not take him long to sign up for the challenge.
At least 40 soldiers signed up for the challenge, but after thorough screening, the number was reduced to 14. Hyslop was among the lucky ones.
“It was a challenging experience one could ever feel throughout the march, but it was also equally fascinating. It was fantastic.
“I have always like challenges, it is for physical development. When I learned about the death marches, I was very much intrigued. The more we talked about it, the more I wanted to do it (the walk).
“In a way, I believe it is a way for me to show tribute to the fallen heroes. It is a historical moment that should be re-liven,” he said when met at the Kundasang War Memorial yesterday.
Although he was happy to be able to complete the challenging walk, Hyslop admitted: “I do not think I would have survived if I had walked the walk about six decades ago.”
The Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches were a series of forced marches in Borneo which resulted in the deaths of over 3,600 Indonesian civilian slave labourers and 2,400 allied prisoners of war held captive by the Japanese during World war II at prison camps in North Borneo (now Sabah).
By the end of the war, of all the prisoners who had been incarcerated at Sandakan and Ranau, only six Australians survived, all of whom had escaped.
It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War.
The idea to re-trace the routes was mooted by retired Major John Tulloch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in England.
“I was visiting Sandakan in 1999 and made a shocking discovery. Of the 641 British soldiers who served here, 400 were from our regiment. So I thought to myself, something must be done to honour them.
“And so I set my course, met up with some expatriates and locals who introduced me to the right group of people. They gave me the encouragement and told me that it can be done,” he said.
Tulloch spoke to several others who shared his passion, and he was more determined than ever to make his dream a reality.
Well like any beautiful stories, Tulloch’s determination and passion pushed through. Fast forward several years later, and after getting the green lights from the relevant authorities, he managed to inspire enough people to re-trace the death marches routes. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.
For the 65-year-old, what was more interesting was the involvement of the Sixth Malaysian Royal Regiment which also sent 15 soldiers to accompany the Britons in their journey.
“We have the memorial service to honour the dead on August 27 annually, but I felt there was something lacking. So by having the walk to re-trace the death marches routes which ends with the memorial service, it would bring a lot of difference, it is like the pinnacle on top of everything,” he said.
Tulloch understands the challenges one has to endure when trekking through the thick jungles.
“I know the jungle very well but that does not mean I lived in the jungles. I grew up in Penang and as a child, I used to run in the hutan (jungle) a lot, as oppose to doing homework … that was my early exposure to jungle life, an early jungle training.”
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: British soldiers re-trace routes of Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches
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DO NOT BUY MADE IN CHINA - CODE 690 to 695
Broken? Ohh! Made in china!
Identifying Product “Bar Codes”
Refer the first 3 number codes below to know which country the product is made
Warning for these codes are made in China!
6 9 0 – 6 9 5 are made in China
6 9 0 ********* Made in China
6 9 1 ********* Made in China
6 9 2 ********* Made in China
6 9 3 ********* Made in China
6 9 4 ********* Made in China
6 9 5 ********* Made in China
4 7 1 ********* Made in Taiwan (China)
===
0 0 - 1 3 are Made in USA
0 0 ********* Made in USA
0 1 ********* Made in USA
0 2 ********* Made in USA
Until 13 ***** Made in USA
3 0 to 3 7 **** Made in France
4 0 to 4 4 *** Made in Germany
4 7 ********* Made in Denmark
4 9 ********* Made in Japan
5 0 ********* Made in UK
7 6 ********* Made in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
6 9 0 – 6 9 5 * Made in China
4 7 1 ******* Made in Taiwan (China)
4 8 0 ******* Made in the Philippines
6 2 8 ******* Made in Saudi Arabia
6 2 9 ******* Made in United Arab Emirates (UAE)
7 4 0 to 7 4 5 * Made in Central American Countries
8 8 0 ******* Made in South Korea
Do not be confused! Be sure to read before buying. Do not buy china’s Back market products. For Countries surrounding China like South Korea, Japan and Vietnam, There are products which are actually design from their country but still manufactured in China for example the code 880 which is a Korean code product but when it is manufactured in china, it will appear as made in China.
For Filipinos, always buy product Made in the Philippines or made in other country except made in China.
4 8 0 ******* Made in the Philippines
It is always a big issue talking about made in china because of the burgeoning china’s economy is made of fake and substandard products which exported through smuggling system to avoid the quality classification of the country’s destination.
China becomes dominant in the world market for producing cheap products which lure buyers to but the product because of a very low price.
Many issues of buying china’s products being ignored because of their dominance in the market but buyers must supposed to be wise because buying Made in China products is a big loss in their part with respect to the quality.
A simple advice to the buyers not to buy electrical products which is made in china because it is proven about 96% cause of fire. Do not waste your money saving the cheap electrical products which are made in China that would burn your whole Million worth property.
There is no Original and genuine product in China
So many factor why not to buy Made in China. It is not just because of the very poor quality that could lead to shame and property destruction but also for piracy issue. Piracy is the highest issue for China made because China never manufacture product which is design from their own ingenuity. China is wise. They are not willing to spend for the research and development to discover a new product but just to copy and infringe the rights of the owner “PIRACY”.
China leads the world in piracy not just for small product like toys but also including bullet trains, ships, cars and even the defense weaponry.
The fake and pirated china learned how to develop a Stealth Helicopter after the death of Bin Laden in Pakistan and they are now in the move on how to manufacture a stealth helicopter like USA but it would take time as there are so many factors to be considered to avoid detection. It is not just measurements but also the materials and many other things.
The recent boasting of China’s bullet train is also a pirated version of the Japanese bullet train which even Japanese government suit china for the issue.
Smart Bro Wireless Internet in the Philippines is MADE IN CHINA
Made in china is not just a big issue in the Philippines but also the most hated label. Filipinos are born to be to be peaceful, patriotic and jovial which issues of china’s invasion to the Philippines waters in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) the Spratlys alarmed the whole country and call for “Boycott Made in China”.
“Boycott made in china” could not be possible if buyers are not familiar with the product codes because China tried to hide the label now. Most Product made in China didn’t show the label “Made in China” so the only way to distinguish is to check the first 3 numbers in the bar codes which starts from 690 – 695.
Techy and internet lovers in the Philippines; We would like to remind you that the “Smart Bro wireless internet” dongle is Made in China.
Few reasons that the ASEAN countries must not buy Made in China
1. The more china’s economy will grow, the more they would become rich and they could develop more sophisticated war weapon to attack the ASEAN SEA (West Philippines Sea or South China Sea)
2. The More you will buy china’s product, the more they could have power to invade the world including your land
3. The more you will buy Made in China, the more you hurt your economy.
4. The more you will buy Made in China, the more you will become fake like china.
5. The products are Sub standard specially the electrical product. ASEAN countries are tropical countries which houses are usually made of light materials “Cottages” to avoid fire that would risk your lives, in your cottage, do not buy made in China.
6. China is the leader of piracy. Do not buy Made in China to obey the anti piracy law
We encourage you to make research what are the products that are made in China and post them here so the people would be aware. We submit this article in this site because this site as we noticed gain thousands of visitors every day which means thousands of people would know this. DO NOT BUY MADE IN CHINA
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monster Black hole caught in act of swallowing a star
This still photograph from a NASA video animation depicts the supermassive black hole Swift J1644+57 eating a big star, a process that scientists witnessed for the first time using the Swift satellite.
SPACE NEWS: For the first time, a black hole has been caught in the act of tearing apart and swallowing a star that got too close.
Scientists, who until now had witnessed only the aftermath of such events, say the observation is shedding light on "relativistic jets," bursts of matter that shoot out at nearly the speed of light.
At the centers of virtually all large galaxies are supermassive black holes. These monsters, which are millions to billions of times the mass of the sun, can rip apart passers-by, gravitationally pulling at stars in gigantic versions of how our moon tugs on Earth's oceans to generate tides.
Evidence for this destruction may come in the form of a bright flare of ultraviolet, gamma and X-rays, a flare that can theoretically last for years as the star is gradually consumed. Although scientists have observed the aftermath of such "tidal disruption" events several times, they had never seen the onset of one.
"Now we've seen the start of this event for the first time," study co-author David Burrows, an astrophysicist at Pennsylvania State University, told Space.com.
The Swift satellite observed a string of extremely bright bursts of gamma rays from outside our galaxy that began March 25 and lasted about two days. Scientists have detected gamma ray bursts in the past, but this pattern of light was completely different.
"It was nothing like we expected for a gamma-ray burst," said Ashley Zauderer, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who co-authored a different study on the event.
Additional observations by several radio telescopes suggested the flare occurred in the center of a galaxy, and that the source of this radiation was expanding at 99.5 percent the speed of light. This suggested the flare came from a relativistic jet released after a black hole ripped apart a star, which scientists named Swift J1644+57.
Based on the wavelengths of light emitted by the flare and the way it evolved over time, the scientists concluded that it originated from matter falling or accreting onto a black hole about 1 million times the mass of the sun, comparable to the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.
NASA / Swift / Stefan Immler
Images from Swift's Ultraviolet/Optical (white, purple) and X-Ray telescopes (yellow and red) were combined to make this view of Swift J1644+57. In the past, scientists had missed the fact that relativistic jets could form as black holes ripped apart stars. This helps explain why the flare had X-rays 10,000 times brighter than predicted for a tidal disruption event: Basically, relativistic jets are focused bursts of energy.
"It's not surprising that such an event would cause jets, but it was just never discussed in past publications," Burrows said.
Future research could reveal more outbursts of this kind. Knowing how often these occur will help scientists figure out just how many galaxies harbor supermassive black holes, what the properties of these monsters are, the density of stars in galactic cores, and how these jets form.
"There are a lot more surprises in space for us to discover, especially as we continue to make huge strides in the technical capabilities of our instruments," Zauderer said.
The scientists detailed their findings in two papers in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Nature.
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