Kuching city to organise 2012 ‘Regatta Bandarayaku’

KUCHING: Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) will be organising a regatta known as ‘Regatta Bandarayaku’ to kickstart riverine activities at Sarawak River for the New Year, 2012.

According to DBKU principal deputy director Kartina Zamhari, the event from Jan 28 to 29 is a platform to enhance the relationship between DBKU and the community.

“The event offers opportunity to statutory bodies, Ipta, governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector to get together to improve knowledge and experience in implementing their duties or responsibilities.

“It will also make DBKU area known as a water sports tourism area. The more the merrier,” she said at a press conference yesterday.

Participation is open to all, with attractive prize money to be won.

Besides the regatta, there will be other interesting side activities such as car boot sale, expo exhibition, karaoke competition, power boat, pump ski, auto shows and more.

Continue reading at: Kuching city to organise 2012 ‘Regatta Bandarayaku’

.
.

Two events set to lure tourists to Sarawak's Penrissen area

KUCHING: Two new sports and tourism-related events in Bengoh constituency were launched yesterday by Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Jerip Susil, who is also Bengoh assemblyman in conjunction with Respdemop Jogathon 2011 at Kpg Semadang.

The events – Sarawak River Treasure Hunt 2012 and Borneo Rainforest Run 2012 – are organised by an event management company – Ma’asa Event Management – owned by a local Bidayuh by the name of Ceasser Robert.

The Sarawak River Treasure Hunt will be held at Semadang River in July next year, starting from the river bank at Kpg Semadang to Kampung Danu upstream of Semadang River. The participants will spend a night at the village’s homestay. The Borneo Rainforest Run 2012 will be held in September at the Semadang-Skio road.

Ceasser said the events would be organised jointly with JKKKs of the two villages – Semadang and Danu.

He said the events would target local and foreign participations to complement the Tourism Ministry’s effort to lure tourists to the Penrissen area, one of interesting tourism destinations in the state.

The two events would be made merrier with live music, souvenir bazaar and food and drink stalls.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Two events set to lure tourists to Sarawak's Penrissen area

.
.

The Borneo Story: Fishermen of the Coast

The seventh in the series of The Borneo Story by Tom Harrisson and Hugh Gibb in the late 1950s courtesy of The Doozer.

A variety of fishing methods used by a Malay fishing village on the Sarawak River Delta are documented in this episode. Activities of women and children are also described.

The Borneo Story: 'Fisherman of the Coast'

from The Doozer on Vimeo.

.
.

Reliving history on the Sarawak River cruise

By NYL



Like other parts of Borneo, Kuching's earliest and still significantly important transportation lifeline is the river. The Sarawak River runs through Kuching, gently carving it in half. Kuching's main activity is concentrated at its waterfront.



The river is also the site of the annual Sarawak Regatta, where champion paddlers from all over Borneo come together to compete in traditional boat races.



On any given day however, dozens of boats can be seen making their way up and down river. Some are passenger express boats. Some are traders from upriver. Some are tiny covered sampan-like boats making their way across the river several times a day. These boats are called 'tambang' and for a fee of 50 sen per person, they ferry market goers, villagers, city folks, school children and of course, travellers across the river.



While in Kuching recently, I took a budget cruise on Lan Berambeh, a boat owned by the Koperasi Berambih Sungai Bedilku Kuching Berhad, to see the historical sites and the scenic beauty of the river. Not having taken a trip of this sort in a while, I was looking forward to the ride, which officially began as we took off from the jetty at the Kuching Waterfront.



"Welcome aboard," said Osman, our friendly boat operator as I stepped into the boat with 10 other passengers.



Dressed casually, the tourists on board seemed to come from all walks of life. Families, couples and friends boarded the boat where the coolness and serenity of the early evening seemed to put everyone in a jovial mood as they took in the sights along the cruise.



From the jetty, the boat sailed past several historical landmarks including the Astana, a majestic building with a romantic history built in 1870 by the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke as a wedding gift to his wife. Today, it is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the Governor of Sarawak.



Further upriver, Brooke Dockyard (1912), is the first modern ship yard established within Kuching city to offer repair facilities for the White Rajah's boats. Interestingly, it was built in the same year as the Titanic sunk. Today, it is still in operation and carries out repair jobs for government vessels.



Part of the fun on the one-and a half- hour boat ride came from watching people engaged in various recreational activities.



Against the bright rays of the setting sun, we sat back, relaxed and observed people catching fish and big boats creating great waves as they sailed past us.



Listening to the constant drone of water and the sound of the boat's engine, I dozed off for a good 20 minutes, just to wake up and see a jet skier showing off his best moves and paddlers practising for the Sarawak Regatta.



After making a turnaround at the Satok Suspension Bridge, we headed back to our starting point but not before passing through various attractions down river: the Old Court House (1874), Square Tower (1879), Main Bazaar (1864), Chinese Museum (1912), Fort Margherita (1879) and the Malay villages of Kampung Boyan and Kampung Surabaya (1860)



According to Osman, Lan Berambeh started its operations in March and is slowly gaining in popularity among visitors especially those with families. Its winning features are its affordability and flexibility.



Prices range from as low as RM15 for the cruise package to RM35 for the leisure package, which includes servings of local cakes and delicacies.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

.

.

Sarawak - Take it to the streets

IT'S dusk on the Sarawak River. Crouched in a longboat, a fisherman unravels his tattered nets, his lined face lit by the flickering flame of a paraffin lamp. The ropes cause scarcely a ripple as they hit the water's surface and from across the river, the call to prayer echoes from a nearby mosque. Tonight, the fisherman could be in for a long wait but in these parts, no one seems in too much of a hurry.

Despite its status as the capital of Sarawak, a visit to Kuching is a reminder of a time when Asian cities were far less hectic. Until about 150 years ago, Sarawak was the name of the tidal river cutting through a province initially ruled by the Sultan of Brunei. In 1872, the city earned its present name under the second white Rajah, Charles Brooke.

Kuching literally translates to "cat" and while there are numerous theories as to how the name came about, the most likely explanation stems from the Indochinese word cochin, meaning port.

Mistranslations aside, to this day, Kuching retains a vaguely unhealthy obsession with cats. There are cat statues on roundabouts, outside temples, inside shops. There's even a cat museum. Resembling a flying saucer from the outside, it's a bizarre tribute to all things feline - there are figurines of every conceivable size, shape and colour, as well as displays charting their history in anything from movie posters to advertising campaigns, comic books to literature. One exhibit even displays photographs of owners who have tattooed their bodies with portraits of their beloved pets.

Cat obsessions aside, Kuching is a city with many attractions. Undoubtedly, one of the main drawcards is the Semenggoh wildlife centre, 24 kilometres south of the city. Though not as famous as the Sepilok centre in Sabah, Semenggoh acts as a rehabilitation facility for more than 20 of Borneo's injured or orphaned orangutans and the primates can come and go as they please within the 740-hectare forest enclosure. The centre comes across as a decently run enterprise where the animals' welfare takes precedence over the tourist dollar.

Within Kuching itself, there are numerous attractions. For an overview of the history, geology and wildlife of the region, the Sarawak Museum is a good bet.

Though stately from the outside, the interior - which dates to 1891 - is a little jaded but among the chipped cabinets and fading glass, some exhibits shine through. Some of the best include the gruesome headhunting history of the region and the origins of oil pioneering in the 1800s.

Also worth a look is the recently restored Fort Margherita on the banks of the Sarawak River. Built in 1879 to guard Kuching from pirates, it now houses the Police Museum and showcases interesting artefacts such as old cannons and a collection of "laughing skulls".

Other popular attractions include the much-lauded (though vaguely kitsch) Sarawak Cultural Village, with its daily dance routines and traditional longhouses, the Astana, which is now the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak, and the Chinese Museum.

While all these sights have merit, the best way to experience Kuching is simply to go walkabout. With a population made up of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribal people, this is a city rich in cultural diversity. Its compact centre also means most areas of interest are easily accessible on foot.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sarawak - Take it to the streets
.
.

New strategies to attract tourists to Kuching Heritage Trail

KUCHING: Traditional villages and colonial buildings, including shops more than 100 years old along the Sarawak River here, can become the new attractions of the tourism sector in Sarawak, State Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said yesterday.

He said the state government would adopt several new approaches to popularise the local tourism sector through the “Heritage Trail” yet to be fully known by foreign tourists.

“The Heritage Trail can endear foreign tourists to Kuching city which is rich in history and culture,” he told reporters after the pre-launch of the Bernama Walk Hunt 2011, carrying the theme ‘Land of the Hornbill Heritage Trail’, organised by the news agency Staff Club (KKB), here.

Also present at the event were Sarawak Information Department director Resat Salleh, Sarawak Broadcasting Department director Abdul Jalani Mahmud and Bernama deputy editor-in-chief and KKB deputy president Datuk Zakaria Wahab.

The walk hunt, scheduled for July 16, will begin at the Kuching Waterfront and take the participants, expected to number 500 including from the peninsular, along a pre-determined route during which they have to find answers to questions, among others, on places of historical significance and attractions in Kuching.

Abang Johari said efforts would be made to conserve old buildings such as the row of shops along Jalan Main Bazaar besides providing more pedestrian walkways.

He also said that products such as the Heritage Trail could benefit the local people, especially those in the traditional villages along the Sarawak River, engaged in small businesses, water transportation and homestay programmes.

Continue reading at: New strategies to attract tourists to Kuching Heritage Trail

.
.

Promoting Sarawak as an international meeting destination

KUCHING: Sarawak, also known as ‘Land of the Hornbills’, and popular for its natural splendor and colourful history, is now being promoted as a Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) venue.

Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) has, through strategic planning, arranged for 18 international events to be held in Sarawak between 2011 and 2016, attracting at least 600 participants per event.

These events include the ASEAN Australian Engineering Congress (AAEC) event (25-27 July, and the Global Conference 2011 (30 Nov-3 Dec).

Some of the preferred venues for the MICE programme are the five-starred Pullman Hotel; Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching (BCCK); Damai Beach Resort; Sarawak River Cruise; and Four Point by Sheraton, Kuching.

More events planned for 2012

A total of nine MICE events have been lined up for 2012, including the 50th MD 308 Lions Convention 2012. This will be held at the Pullman Hotel from 19-22 April, and will bring 2,000 participants.

Others events include the CDA/MDA 69th AGM Malaysia Dental Association Conference and Trade Exhibition 2012. This will be held between 30 May and 1 June at BCCK, and will attract 3,200 participants. Additionally, the 9th World Congress of Chinese Medicine 2012 (WCCM) will be held during 20-23 Oct, attracting 1,000 participants.

SCB’s chairman Datuk Seri, Dr Muhamad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah, said Sarawak is not in competition with Kuala Lumpur and other cities as a destination for MICE, since it has its own unique attractions.

“When they are looking for a new perspective, they can consider the Sarawak River Cruise, as it is unique. They can watch the beauty of the sunset while cruising,” he said.

“This is about what is different in Kuching and not available elsewhere.

It’s our focus. We can provide both river-cruise packages and rainforests, depending on what they are looking for,” he said.

Growing as a mice destination

Explaining the purpose of SCB, Dr Muhamad Leo said that the non-profit organization, established in 2006 by the state government, has a mandate to promote the state as a leading MICE destination.

Chief executive of SCB, Jill Henry, added that an estimated RM57 million will be spent by the attendees of business meetings here, between 2011 and 2016, based on the number of confirmed international association meetings.

A driving force in MICE-industry development in Sarawak, SCB does not, however, intend to stop at this figure. It is aiming for a larger slice of the global industry, worth RM11 billion.

Malaysia currently has a 1.1 per cent share of this pie.

As the first agency created exclusively to promote the MICE industry in the state, SCB is confident the state has what it takes to achieve this objective.

Continue reading at: Promoting Sarawak as an international meeting destination
.

.

Sarawak’s budget river cruise making waves

KUCHING: Barely three-months in operation, a river cruise touted as the state first-ever budget cruise is raising eyebrows among established cruise operators.

Wholly-owned by Koperasi Lan Berambeh Sungai Bedilku Kuching Berhad, a cooperative operated by a Malay village located in Kuching City, it is now eyeing to expand its appeal in the domestic and international markets.

The cooperative’s chairman Zamahari Saidi said among the winning features of the cruise since it started operations in March were affordability and flexibity factors.

“We are charging as low as RM15 per person and if they want a river cruise together with beverages, then it will be RM35 per person for a one-and-a-half hour trip,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Zamahari said the cruise offered flexibility as passengers could request to be picked up at any river jetty as long as it was on the route.

He said the popularity of the cruise was fast catching up as the number of passengers has risen from a total of 330 passengers in March to 347 in April and 589 in May.

He said the 70-feet-long and 10 feet wide wooden cruise boat cost about RM120,000, had a 24-horsepower Yanmar engine and could accommodate 40 passengers and a crew of five.

Continue reading at: Sarawak’s budget river cruise making waves
.
.

Sarawak tourism ministry urged to maximise use of Sarawak river

KUCHING: The Tourism Ministry has been urged to maximize the use of the as an alternative transportation network in the city to help ease traffic congestion around the Sarawak RiverKuching Waterfront, as well as enhance the appeal of the state’s tourism industry.

Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) chairman Datuk Seri Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah said the state government planned to introduce water taxis as a public transport system for locals and tourists.

Speaking at a reception for a group of media representatives after the launch of the new Sarawak River Cruise package, here yesterday, Muhammad Leo said the initiative would start with 10 to 20 water taxis to meet the needs of locals and tourists.

“The concept is similar to what the Melaka government has introduced. The difference is that in Melaka, water taxis are geared for the tourism sector, whereas, here, we are trying to use them for public transportation as well,” he added.

Muhammad Leo also suggested an increase in the number of cruise ships for the Sarawak River Cruise to further develop tourism and business sectors in the state, which has been dubbed “The Land of Hornbills.”

He said the cruise service was “unique” and had potential for continued progress in the future, particularly as a venue for the government and corporate sectors to organise meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

“Sometimes, people want a change, a break from the normal pattern. During those times, they can hold these events onboard the Sarawak River Cruise for a change, and be treated to a spectacular sunset in the process,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sarawak River Cruise managing director Fiona Marus Rasa said the company had only one cruise ship for the service so far, which sets sail from Kuching Waterfront at 5.30pm.

Continue reading at: Sarawak tourism ministry urged to maximise use of Sarawak river
.
.

‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises to boost Sarawak tourism industry

KUCHING: The ‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises will act as the catalyst to spur developments and boost tourism industry along the Sarawak River.

“Within the next 10 years, the infrastructures along the Sarawak River will be upgraded. There will be a great change, different than what is seen today,” said Minister of Housing and Urban Development Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg prior to the maiden cruise of ‘Lan Berambeh’ from Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar’s Nibong jetty last Sunday night.

Costing RM120,000, the 70 feet long and 10 feet wide boat is built with a capacity of 40 passengers (25 below deck and 15 upper deck). It promised to be among the first among its kind to traverse the Sarawak River, besides the Equatorial.

“We have a lot of attractions along the Sarawak River for the locals and tourists alike to enjoy,” said Abang Johari of the river cruise which will do pit stops at Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar, Pengkalan Sapi, Kampung Boyan, Kuching Waterfront, Kampung Lintang and Kampung Paroh jetties.

He enthused that Kuching is unique, famous for its rich culture and the rarity of a river which divides the city centre and residential areas.

“This creates the opportunity for tourism like the famous Venice which recorded more than 60 million visitors a year,” said Abang Johari who believed in re-enacting the stature of the Venice River in Kuching.

Abang Johari, who is also state assemblyman for Satok, said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given an allocation of RM15 million for upgrading works along the Sarawak River.

“The pit stops that were identified will be colourfully lighted at night with loud signboards to let passengers know on which part of the Sarawak River they are traversing,” said Abang Johari of the routes which will encircle from Kubah Ria to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

“With Lan Berambeh in full operation, it is now possible for people to visit the new Satok Market and Kubah Ria via river while enjoying the beautiful sceneries instead of by road, which is prone to traffic jams,” said Abang Johari who is in the midst of remapping the public transport system for the new market.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: ‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises to boost Sarawak tourism industry
.
.

Making Kuching Waterfront attractive with more activities

KUCHING: Kuching Waterfront’s management company Sara Urusharta Sdn Bhd will work closely with stakeholders such as the Sarawak Tourism Board in organising activities to attract more visitors to the waterfront throughout the day.

Its event and public relations manager Arthur George Clancy said the waterfront had been receiving a constant number of visitors, peaking at a specific time of the day.

“We have locals who commute across the Sarawak River to the city everyday for work and school. Due to our hot weather, there are more people from 3pm till sunset. During weekdays, we have a few hundred people passing through, and two to three bus-loads of tourists are common,” he said.

There were more people throughout the weekends, he told reporters here yesterday.

Arthur said the move was also in line with the Culture & Community 2011 programme launched by Tourism and Heritage Assistant Minister and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip last year.

Therefore, events would be held to encourage people’s participation in recreational activities and showcase Sarawak’s diverse cultural extravaganza with the hope that these would further improve the waterfront as an iconic centre for arts, music and community-based activities, he said.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Making Kuching Waterfront attractive with more activities
.
.