TraxxFM in Sarawak

Hello Traxx

This weekend Shania and I managed to meet up with the Deejays of our favourite radio station Traxx FM as they make their way through Sarawak and Sabah. They have their own website for this event at The Chronicles of TraxxFM. You can visit their website and Blogsite to catch up with your favourite Deejays.

Shania growing up with Traxx FM Radio Station since 2004 - picture here taken with Green Man, the evergreen Deejay of Trax FM.

Traxx FM Station Team outside tHe Spring on 25th July 2009

Visitors having a try at the game on the Monster Truck outside tHe Spring

Breakfast with the Traxx FM Team at C121 Stutong, Kuching before they leave for Sibu

Navsta meets up with TraxxFM listeners at C121 Stutong Food Court - Mr. & Mrs. Richard Ras and their baby. Maybe another reunion in the near future like Shania :)

At Lachau, Sri Aman: On their way to Sibu I suggested that they either drop by at my area in Sri Aman - be it at Sri Aman where the famous Ikan Bulu Carnival is going on or Lachau which is a famous stopover for tourist. I suppose the name Lachau was a bit unique for them and they stopped there.

Traxx FM Deejays enjoying with the people of Lachau before they proceed with their journey to Sibu. More pictures in their website in the other parts of town.

Shania and me posing with Green Man, Navsta, Mary and Madonna (background). Thanks for the time and fun guys and gals. Shania is trying her best to hide her front teeths which are missing. She is growing up. Enjoy your trip to the rest of Sarawak! Cheers.

Sri Aman Fun Fair

Bringing Fun to Sri Aman

This month Sri Aman gets pretty busy as the activities pick up steam. For those who dropped by from Miri looking for me, I have to apologize for not being able to be with you. Sorry Dennis, Clarice and the Sibu bike team who came into town. My nature of duty is not the normal 8 a.m to 5 p.m. here so you do understand. But well you guys are big guys and gals now so you know your way around and I am glad you had fun :). The Karnival Ikan Bulu, Kembara TV3 in conjunction with its 25th birthday and of course the Fun Fair was an added attraction, mainly due to the famous Iban artises who are performing there. Here are a few pictures of the fun fair which I manage to capture for this blog. I discovered that it brought me back to the time I was a little boy - meaning, nothing much has changed in the setup and games variety. Please note some of the picture effects are intentional.

The entrance to the Fun Fair. Its RM2 per entrance for Adults.

The 'toy fishing' game is pretty good for young kids

Canned drinks game of chance is also another exciting game ~ using the Roullete concept of betting on colours

Thomas had a try at this game where you put the canned tins on the Coloured Square of one's choice

After that the gamemaster at the counter will release the ball of various colours found on the board into a reclining funnel. The ball which goes into the canal will be the winning colour and you will be rewarded with the same number of cans you betted on

Bumper cars never fail to thrill those who ride it

Of course I believe some of the riders look like qualified road bullies ~ they seem to have nothing else better to do but ride the machine from the time the game starts until late at night. I wonder where they get their money bumping other users around in the arena. I was worried at first as there are kids in the other cars and these bullies make it a point to bump their cars into the others real hard (coupled with additional body movements to provide more force).

The spinning Ferris Wheel is a definite must in any fun fair. This used to be quite an attraction during my younger days too.

The speed of the spinning Ferris Wheel is acceptable for the young children - i think. Some rides are quite fast and some are slow. It depends on the mood of the operator maybe.

Thomas and I managed to sample the ride and well I'll say it will be scary for first timers but seasoned roller coaster riders like us, its a piece of cake

Whee...... one would think this also seems scary like the Euro Fun Fair version

The swinging Columbus ride is another 'safe' ride for young children

The stalls are decorated with attractive stuffed dolls. To win these dolls one just need to play the creatively designed game of chance. To win one depends on Mr. Probability and Mrs. Luck.

Sniper training @ Shooting for fun - the shooting game is an attraction for the guys. So if you are a sharpshooter you will be able to win the dolls. Okay....Guys & Dolls? Hold it! Something is wrong here.

Interestingly I observed some shoot with style ~ expert mode and will be rewarded with some cute dolls for a perfect shot. Not that living doll in jeans at the background.

And the Fun Fair's attractions, Iban artises will croon the night away. If anyone likes the Apek song, Angela Lata Jua was there to entertain visitors. There will be joget and poco-poco sessions of course.


Anjela Lata Jua, our Iban songstress also has a Punk music fan attending her concert

The famous Rickie Anderson had young fans coming on stage to sing to his poco-poco Iban version.

As I mentioned earlier, nothing much has changed since twenty to thirty years ago. The Scary House or Hall of Horrors were not there too. Well, if one has nothing much to do, it will be fun if you participate in the fun for a few ringgits or so. And its not impossible to win prizes if you look at the pictures. The games are simple and straighforward. Hopefully we get more creative organisers next time around. Cheers!

Ben My Buddy

Up Close With Ben

Coupled with a high tide fine weather, I decided to go down to Batang Lupar by boat to meet Ben (short for Benak). Its normal to call friends by their short name after you know them so well. I think after a year in Sri Aman and seeing the Benak or tidal bore I feel we are more like friends now. Usually I ask my staff, what time is Ben coming today and if time permits I will go to the viewing tower and meet up with Ben. Ben came in at about 5:10 p.m yesterday and our boat was just a few metres ahead of it.

Thumbnail of Ben. Click for bigger picture

Video of Ben while we were on the boat....he is loud and likes to make waves for us.

Btg Lupar Riverine Park

A Landmark Set To Shine

Something is set to put smiles on the faces of Sri Amanians or Simanggagians soon. The completion of the Batang Lupar Riverine Park Phase 1 was featured in my previous blog entitled No Mee Segera Recipe in March this year.

Aerial view of the Riverine Park during my helicopter ride on March 2009


This was the place where Humpty Dumpty had a Great Fall in my December 2008 blog post.


Construction of the Watch Station in April 2009


YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu making an inspection of the project site April 2009


Ongoing construction on April 2009

Almost Completed

Large crowd of people can now be seen at the almost completed waterfront. More if its the high tide as they will get to see the tidak bore or benak phenomenon which never fails to amaze the locals and also tourists.

The Riverine Park provides a conducive environment for relaxing


The benak occurs during high tides at a specified time. Most Sri Amanians can predict the time one can see the benak waves


Viewing tower from a distance


Crowds at the Viewing Tower - awaiting the approaching benak waves from a distance


When the benak waves come nearer the crowd gets excited


A section of locals and some tourists at the Riverine Park during the benak waves' approach

Night At the Park

At night, when the Riverine Park offers a different setting - a place for families and friends to spend the leisure hours. Though it is yet to be fully completed, many visitors drop by at the Riverine Park

Viewing Tower from a distance at night


The yellow lightens up the Viewing Tower at night


The path leading to the Viewing Tower has miniature lights making it look like an airport runway


The lighting at the park makes the place look spectacular at night


View of lighting from another angle

The Batang Lupar Riverine Waterfront is set to become Sri Aman's icon should Phase 2 takes off. This would allow the park to cover more distance. Though it would not be a grand as the Kuching Waterfont, it means something for the people here. So it is hoped that itchy hands and eyes would not spoil this recreational area. After all, vandalism is a more famous phenemenom compared with the benak. Lets train our minds to be first class ~ parallel to the first class facilities. We eagerly await for its official opening. Cheers!

SK Klassen Revisited

State Development Office Visit

This week I managed to link up a few agencies to solve the case related to SK Klassen's bridge. The State Development Office (SDO) or Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department came down to view the state of the SK Klassen Bridge. Thanks to Encik Sulaiman Han and Cik Dorisi Resit of SDO headquarters in Kuching and also Cik Haslinda of SDO Sri Aman. We then contacted the school's administration and they were ready at hand to present their case to the ICU Officers on the conditions the hanging bridge. After that it was technical talk between our Jabatan Kerja Raya Sri Aman and SDO on the specifications. One will see that the process of project request, planning and implementation is not that straight forward. Reason being also, the expectations of the various parties and the funds available. The school would love to have a permanent concrete bridge twin lane bridge while another party may feel another 'hanging bridge' to replace the existing bridge or it could be a Bailey Bridge (I - Beam) as temporary measures. That is the greatest challenge of serving here as one needs to be involved in the projects beginning with project identification phase. If it does get approve the cost will determine what bridge is to be built and the responsibility will fall on to another agency (District Office). They may have their own way of doing things, thus, the advantage of being in the Resident Office is to be able to channel this complicated processes with the cooperation of everyone including the areas' representative (the people who owns the land if its to be built somewhere nearby, surrounding longhouse folks and also area's Yang Berhormat). Something to share with any future administrators who will be handling this case if it happens to drag on.

The State Development Office officers Cik Haslinda and Encik Aliff being briefed by the teachers of SK Klassen

Harzadous crossing along the bridge....i mean her name is not 'Harzadous', its Annliza our ever reliable Assistant Engineer from the Sri Aman JKR Office. Okay let's focus on the bridge now.

Incidently being a Friday I managed to see the students going back from school for the weekend especially those who are staying in the hostels

Kindergarden students crossing the SK Klassen bridge

Parents, Students and Teachers/staff of SK Klassen use this hanging bridge everyday. They are aware of the danger but this is the only crossing to the school at the moment

Excited children going back from school ~ its a sight to watch. Being the eldest in the family I was usually the one who have to pick my younger brother and sister from school. So its something that's near to the heart when one sees the kids running out from their classes.

This student has her Mum picking her up from school

This hostel student has her week's belongings in the bag as she returns for the weekend

A physically challenged student by the name of 'Boy' crossing the SK Nanga Klassen Bridge.

Though it is my hope that the case of SK Klassen can be solved quickly, one always have to be ready for disappointments. There are a hundred and one development requests around the division to look into. If SK Klassen's situation can be solved, then I see hope in the others. If I can't even get this one through I might as well pack my bags and get some desk job somewhere, fiddling with computers. Here's a chance to see 'Rakyat Diutamakan' in action.