Year of Tiger

Sri Aman Picks Up The Chinese New Year Beat

The Chinese New year songs echoed around Sri Aman Town on Saturday night when the Rasa FM Sri Aman organised 'Gong Xi Fa Chai' concert at the Mini Stadium. The crowd had fun and I certainly enjoyed snapping away at the performers who comprised mostly of local artises. When I say local artises, they are mostly people I meet around town. It was a pleasant surprise to see local talents delivering stellar performance. I also discovered that one of the schools was actually active in martial arts. The entertainment function was officiated by the YB Datuk Francis Harden Ak Hollis, the Assistant Minister for Land Development. Below are the pictures:.

VIPs at the function (From left): Pemanca, Puan Felicia Tan (Acting Resident), YB Datuk Francis Harden Ak Hollis, Ruth Jampong (RTM Sri Aman).

Children performing at the concert awaiting their turn to go on stage

Tuned to entertain and also dressed to suit the occassion (our keyboard player in red)

Colourful movements by the children performers

The chidren enjoyed themselves that night

We had a singer who sang and danced some fancy moves ~ his shuffle was a hit with the younger kids

Kong Si Kong Si Nie......i think that was the tune that I can catch and understand. i hope they have the 'Ang Pow Lai Lai' song next time which I am eager to learn

The SK Engkilili must be some Kung Fu school also as the students from the school showed their Kung Fu skills to the audience

This small lady in particular had the right posture and moves that would send her opponets running for cover ~ including me!

'Daddy'...are you gonna buy me the toy or not? Kung Fu pose by this young SK Engkilili student. Perhaps I should allow my Shania attend that taekwando class organised by her school,

"Daaddyyy....Are you gonna buy the toy for me or not....." then again maybe I would not send my daughter to any martial arts school lest I get beaten up with a broom...nah...just kidding :) This small lady is on the way to be the next Michelle Yeoh?

If you don't buy me that toy, I am am gonna stand on my head till I turn blue.... ayoyo.... kids nowadays. This SK Engkilili young boy received claps of approval from the audience

My favourite mechanic from Sri Aman singing a lovely Chinese number..... I was like... wow....he has more skills than just changing tyres. I must make sure to tune my car engine at his shop the next round

The closing number ~ the Rasa FM and Radio Televisyen Malaysia Dee Jays rendered their numbers too.

Everyone had fun that night including me. I had to apologise to the organisers for not joining the reserved chair even when some of the Councillors insisted. I can't as I was moving here and there with my camera (most of them were not used to seeing me running around taking photos). Honestly I would not look good in one of those chairs. Unless they get ready a different VIP for me then I may consider....  i mean Very Inexperienced Photographer's place. So wishing all my friends a Gong Xi Fa Chai :)

A Day With YB

YB Encik Mong Dagang Visits Rumah Wilson, Po Ai

YB Encik Mong Dagang the assemblyman for N.26 Bukit Begunan and recently appointed Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Tourism visits Rumah Wilson at Po Ai, Sri Aman to assess its potential as a homestay destination and also to see if it can be the venue for Gawai 2010 in Sri Aman for tourists this coming June 2010.

Bare footed VIP guests greets the longhouse folks of Rumah Wilson (The Tuai Rumah wearing batik in the middle)

Pretty maidens of Rumah Wilson hand over the welcome drinks to the Yang Berhormat

An Iban warrior leads the Yang Berhormat along the longhouse ruai

Pua kumbu weavers exhibit their skills toYang Berhormat

Miring ceremony performed by the Yang Berhormat with the other VIP guests from right (Encik Abang Shamshudin Abang Seruji, Yang Berhormat Encik Mong Dagang, Encik Ik Pahon and Encik Ahmad Johaniff)

All the shutterbugs taking the photos under the presence of pala antu ~ do they feel any invisible presence? Looks like they sense something. Hehehe...

We wish to thank the officers from Tourism Malaysia's Sarawak Director Encik Ahmad Johanif, Ministry of Tourism and Heritage Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ik Pahon Joyik and his staff for the opportunity. Hopefully the Ministry will come back to Rumah Wilson soon with some good news.

SK Klassen Bridge

How The Bridge Was Damaged in 2007

Waiting...waiting for the SK Klassen Bridge to be built. I managed to get the Headmaster to get me some pictures which I intend to send over again to the relevant authorities who are willing to listen. The bridge was damaged by the 2007 flood a few years back and it has been affected by high waters ever since.

High water levels and the force of the water current damaged the hanging bridge in 2007


Water steadily rising causing anxious moments for those who cross the bridge

Students - like this kindergarden student had to be piggy backed by the parents and sometimes teachers to make it across the bridge - just to attend school

Though a few letters and emails has been criss crossing to the relevant people, the YBs have done their best and the State agencies have done their part, we have to thank them for the completion of Phase I but that is just confined to the foundation. It stopped for a while as we have to 'follow financial procedures' before Phase II can start. It is hoped that the federal agency which provides the fund for this projects understands that the hanging bridge may not last while waiting for the Phase II to begin. A second contractor needs to be chosen instead and it will have to go through the 'yawn' quotation process.... When I look at these pictures I feel sad for the parents, children, teachers and Klassen folks ~ what they have to go through day in and day out as the present hanging continues to deteriorates. Its just waiting for the moment to snap. Forgive me if I sound like an alarmist but if you come by yourself to the place you will understand what I mean. Only the Fear Factor contestants will dare to cross it.

Adios Mango Tree

The Old Old  Tree

Blogging is quite a high risk hobby now. So many people watching or on the watch out for blogs. If it is found to be 'offensive', it will be targeted for a Lockdown. Something like a Wrestling hold by some of the authorities and you won't hear the last of it. So it is pretty much like driving along a stretch of road with potholes while being blinfolded and the mission of the blogger is not to hit any of the potholes. Wow..... But anyway, today I will just blog about a tree and post some photos of it. In fact I will post something about a tree being cut and probably raise the anger of some tree loving community. But hey, for the record its our tree okay and we called in the relevant authority to have the tree cut. In fact my parents decided to cut down our 20 years old mango tree which was behind our house in Sibu. And I happened to be at home. And my camera happened to be at home too, so its only fair that we joined forces to catch a few snaps and share it with the blog reading community. The tree was already termite ridden and fruits were inedible. Being more than two storeys tall it was hovering precariously over our roof and also the neighbour's. There was no choice as it can fall any time. We called in our friendly Sibu Municipal Council's contractor and they sent in their team to handle the job. I can say it was a good team because they approached the tree cutting quite professionally. In a matter of hours the tree was down. If I was the one who did it, it would take me just a matter of minutes with a chainsaw. I would just cut it from the base like any timberman would do, shouting 'Timber!' and the tree will fall down damaging as many things it can take down. Which is why I must salute these tree cutting tribes who took the time to analyze how to cut the tree and trim it branch by branch.

The contractor decides the best strategy to cut down the tree to size so as to minimize the damage to surroundings including our fence, house roof and the neighbours' house too

Skilled in his line of job - Little by little, the branches are cut with a chainsaw

The highest point versus the chainsaw

And down it goes.....

On top of the world: Going for the final cut - with mission almost complete the Chainsaw man takes a puff of smoke

Finally - a much deserved rest after a hard days work

The tree cutting was over after two hours and the workers took the branches and pieces that were cut onto their truck. It was quite a fascinating scene to see the skills shown by the tree cutter. I also noticed he did not have any safety gear or something while he was doing his job. Could he have been Tarzan's long lost sidekick or the Tarzan of South East Asia? Would the Occupational, Safety and Health Authorities frown at the explanation that he may be Tarzan's cousin? Oh yeah...I should not say so much as not to offend anyone or cause my blog to be under some scrutiny by the Blog Patrols. Okay...this is just a blog post about tree cutting and why we should cut down trees that are deemed dangerous. Goodbye Mango Tree. Cheers.

Roadside Rainbow

Treasure Found

Some people believe that one finds treasure at the end of rainbows. But the sight of a Rainbow on the Sri Aman bound road somewhere in Simunjan is a treasure by itself that I had to stop. But the sun was coming down fast that I missed its full effect. will have to wait again for another of those days to get the right rainbow shot.

Any treasure at the end of this rainbow? I won't want to find out as the vehicles plying here goes 130 km/h. Click on the photo for a larger version and you will see the rainbow on the road.