Mak Yong a Traditional Musical Theater

Mak Yong Traditional Musical theater which always has been the previlage of the royal of the state of Kelantan during the olden days of the Malay sultanage era.

A few months back, the Mak Yong traditional Musical theater was performed at the RTM Kuching, Sarawak theater. We love the traditional music played by the musician. The beautiful traditional costume wore by the dancer is beautiful. Hope that in future, more musical drama will be performed in Kuching. This will boost up the artistic scene in Sarawak.


The traditional music played by the musician.
The dancer of the Mak Yong. We still done really understand each of the movement of the dancer.
A beautifully and graciously movement of the dancer.

A Musical Charity Concert in Kuching: A Duo Recital

A Musical Charity Concert was organized by Sarawak Music Society and Co-organised by Borneo Rainforest (Sarawak) NPO featuring a duo recital by Aki Utsunomiya (Piano) and Misato Sakai (vocal) on 22 september 2009 at 7.30 pm at the Sarawak Tourism Complex.

" Tunggu Sekejap" a P. Ramlee's great and was one of our favorite song that night.

It was a rare occasion that Kuching have such kind of musical concert. I guess the music scene in Kuching is up coming and more younger generation is getting involved. The concert also featuring a few guest artist namely Drs. Yoesbar Djaelani, D'artes ensemble, Laura Pranti Tutom, Eddie Chan, Christopher Dino David Ebol.

Some of the song was composed and arranged by Laura Pranti Tutom a local composer and also Drs. Yousbar Djaelani a well known composer, arranger and conductor.

The evening started off by a lovely piano piece played by Aki Utsunomiya and followed superb soprano performance by Misato Sakai. This was a first experience listening to a wonderful pianist and suprano by some of the audience during that evening concert.

Miss Aki Utsunomiya and Misato Sakai given the audience a wonderful musical experience.

Misato Sakai graduated and major in vocal performance especially in Italian Opera and German Art Song and she also played the piano. she is currently lecturing in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. A wonderful suprano vocal by Misato.

A solo piano piece by Miss Aki Utsunomiya. Miss Aki Utsunomiya has numerous performance experiences and has appeared as a soloist in The Nishinomiya Symphony Orchestra in 1991. Currently she is the pianist at The Osaka College of Music.

The second half of the concert are jointly performed by the guest artist.

D' artes ensemble and Drs. Yoesbar Djaelani as the conductor. D' artes ensemble consisted of eight young talented musicians from varies professional background.

Drs. Yoesbar Djaelani, currently a lecturer in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. He has wide experience in arranging, composing music and conducting concert. We were entertained by two wonderful piece of music 'Putus sudah kasih sayang' and 'Tunggu Sekejap' by P. Ramlee and arranged by Drs Yoesbar Djaelani for the concert and performed by Misato Sakai. The song that most of us can relate to but the intense suprano by Misato give it a different twist that most of us have not experience it before.

The D' Artes in action with Pak Yoes as the conductor.

A lovely vocal duet by Misato Sakai (suprano) and Eddie Chan (Tenor) accompanied by musician.

A wonderful evening coming to an end with another song by the musician and lastly a presentation of bouquet of flower to the musicians.

I was unable to capture another guest artist performing with the musician. He is Christopher Dino David Ebol playing the percussion and sape. They performed a song called 'Suara Bumi Kenyalang' composed by Laura Pranti Tutom.

A total of 22 lovely pieces of music was performed during the concert.

I hope Kuchingite can experience more musical performance in the future.

Serene and Beautiful Giam Waterfall

Giam waterfall can be found in kampung Giam at Padawan. A short distance drive from Kuching's city and it is an enjoyable place with cool crystal clear mountain stream water. Lovely place to visit and have picnic.

The scenery around the waterfall taken a few week ago during dry season.

This pool is deep.


A 'sampan' was tied up near the waterfall, according to the local people, the river is connected to the main river of Sarawak. If i remember correctly it is connected to Sungai Sarawak Kanan.

Stutong Market, Kuching

The old market at Gambir Street in Kuching was moved to Stutong Market in the year 2007.

How the business at Stutong Market? I am not sure but usually at weekend a lot of people will do their shopping here for fish, prawn, vegetable and lots more. The market is clean and nice with ample parking space.

There is a few coffee shop nearby namely C121, Lee coffee shop, Kuali, Simply Sedap and J&J. It all up to the customer to choose from.

Stutong market.

Vegetables for you to choose from.

Vegetable section.

The seafood section. Fresh prawn.
All type of fresh fish can be found here.

KUCHING CITY AT NIGHT

Kuching City, it should be a garden city with garden and plants around city. As this concept has been implemented a long time ago but now I feel that the greenery have been reduced as more and more development occurred. Hopefully, it will be still a garden city in the future.

I was driving in the city at night thus i stop to takes a few snap shots of Kuching.

The baruk like building at the waterfront.


The Grand Margarita Hotel at the Kuching Golden triangle (shopping and hotels).


Who say the economic was bad? I took this picture at Jalan Song. A place that i usually frequent: Peach Garden. What to eat here? I especially like the oyster pancake.

Traffic around Kuching at night.

Kuala Lumpur: Night scene

It have been another day, shopping in KL especially at Bukit Bintang area. Thus, was tired and went during the trip back to the hotel, we took some of this photos.

The Petronas Twin Tower. This picture was taken from the hotel room.


Another landmark of KL. Took this picture during the outing for dinner.

Bukit Bintang area, shopping and relaxing.

Capturing the scenery at night around KL. I especially likes the plants and lighting as in a city it hardly can see any plants.

Malaysia National Museum (Muzium Negara)

History taught us about what we needs for the future. Without our Malaysian history, we will be at loss as a young nation.

we have a short visit to the National museum due to some work related visit thus was able to go to only one gallery. I would like to advice those individual to take at least one day trip for the visit to understand what have been displayed.


A traditional and artistic wooden house at the museum ground.

The Orang Ulu, burial pole.

Fairy Cave and wind cave at Bau, Sarawak

A wonderful place to bring your family to visit and have a picnic. Fairy Cave is in Bau, situated 40 minutes car ride from Kuching, Sarawak.

It consisted of limestone and limestone forest. Which a river run through at the side of the cave. The fairy cave and Wind cave is under the care of Sarawak Forestry Corporation. Thus to go into the cave you have to registered yourselves at the cave entrance.

A Baruk (Tradiotional Bidayuh House) situated in the main entrance of Fairy Cave as the office of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

An big parking space.
The Baruk style for visitor to rest.
Nice walk way and BBQ pit provided for visitor to BBQ.

Plants: A different perspective through colour adjustment

We were exploring with the function of the camera and took some pictures from our backyard. Hance, this month we will feature PLANTS.

The Lantana camara, a beautiful shrub that flower throughout the months.

The same Lantana camara but was taken after adjusting the camera function. Only red or orangy colour are highlighted.

The same function use to take this picture.

The creeping Aracaceae.

BINTULU: Nice and lovely town

Bintulu town has changed and developed into a lovely and modern town. The nick name as 'The cowboy town' is no longer applicable. Bintulu's little town used to be dominated by male pedestrians, partly because it is an industrial town with lots of foreigners. Now, Bintulu has changed its face; beautiful and it is indeed a unique place to visit.

I still remember Bintulu's airport used to be situated right in the center of the town. When you arrived you no need to worry if you can't catch up a cab as you're landed just about 500 meters from the busy little town of Bintulu. Now, the new airport is far away from town and make sure to leave the Bintulu town way ahead of time afraid you might missed your flight, especially if you are boarding AirAsia!

The housing estate is getting more, new shop is coming up and development is still in progress. Its landscape is beautiful especially if you are driving alongside the old airport road with trees are lining up which provide nice and scenic view and shade. Tanjung Batu is just a couple of minutes drive away. Was there with a friend from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu campus for a drink and chat. It was a lovely breezy afternoon!


The picture shows Tanjung Batu beach during its low tide. It is a perfect place for an outing with families and friends and of course a perfect track for hardcore joggers too!

The center of the town. Love to visit the open air market to see the local produce brought in to be sold by the local communities.

The pillar full of dragon from a Chinese temple facing the Kemena River.

We had our breakfast at a 'Popular Cafe'. I ordered a plate of ' gravy fried noodle' (mee goreng basah). It wasn't the best but it sure is delicious. I have always love this noodle as it is quite different from the way it is prepared in Kuching. If you travel up north, make sure you get a taste of this noodle because it is simply delicious!


As we're there for an important occasion, we had a chance to be entertained by one of our uncles with his melodious sape music. It was a perfect night for all of us and wish i could have know how to play sape too.



Cheers Bintulu! Will visit you again!

LONG ATIP CHRISTMAS 08

It was a wonderful Christmas 2008. We have spend sometime in Long Atip Village during the Christmas. It always been a wonderful trip. It took us 6 hours from Miri's city to Long Atip using 4X4 vehicle of road. A relaxation retreat from the hustle of a city life. Long Atip is a Kayan village.

The picture below is Kampung Long Atip with the modern facilities such as satelite phone, satelite TV, electric generator, water filter system, church, and school.

The kayan maiden during christmas day. Dress up in the traditional attire. Their graceful dance move is very captivating.

Candy's parent house in Long Atip with the tiles floor and timber parquate wall.
The group picture taken after the long dance.


The Christmas eve dinner. All the villagers will assemble in the main hall and eat together as thank giving.


On our way across the river using the hanging bridge. Our vehicle are waiting for us to take us to Long Bemang Village about 2 hours driving distance.


Our uncle who carve the traditional string instrument called Sape and he play the sape very well.
Hanging at the back of him are some of his work for sales. The sape cost between Ringgit Malaysia 8oo to a few thousand.
A view, early in the morning of the river that go through Long Atip Village.


We spend a night in Long Bemang then took a 4 X 4 vechile to Temalak timber camp to catch the river 'Boeing' - express boat to Marudi. It took us 3 hours to reach Marudi town.

A view on top of the express boat.