Bario a place where eight people from four different countries bonded

Like a dream came true, the Asian Music Festival on last October in Miri has became a gateway to our visit to Bario. The little adventure has brought eight people from four different countries closer. It has also bonded us with the people in Bario.

After the AFM ended, the next day we were transported to Miri airport to catch the flight to our next destination. While we check in, we bumped into the musicians who performed at AFM, we exchanged smile and took several pictures before we went separate ways.  

Taking the MAS Twin Otter plane, our journey takes only 30 minutes. Sitting in such a small aircraft, nervous crawled into my vein but it quickly turns into an excitement the moment my eyes stares out of the window. 

The thickness of rainforest and the terrain serves my eyes with amazing view, according to our source, traveling to Bario through the land would definitely take more than 14 hours throughout the logging route.

Situated on the northest of Sarawak next to Indonesia Kalimantan, Bario at 3280 feet above thesea level also known as Bario Kelabit is a little green village populated by Kelabit etnic. 

We landed at a small old Airport safely, and as soon as we got off the plane balmy weather greeted our faces. Scot the owner of our homestay is patiently waiting for us. After a brief stop for coffee at the stall next to the airfield, we jumped into his four-wheel drive and headed to Ngimah Ayu homestay. 

There are plenty of Guest Houses or HomeStay with a wide range of prices. But with only 5 rooms, Ngimah Ayu provides a very comfortable and privacy surrounding either for a family or for a small group.In addition, there are 2 house keepers including owners who are ready to help us.

The shuttle charges from the airport to any guest houses normally around RM20 to RM30. There are also available attractive packages for a few nights with meals and the tour with the guide with minimum 6 people.

Approaching our homestay, we were awed by the beauty of the surrounding, like a living painting with fresh air filled our lungs.

After throwing our bags in the rooms, we marched straight to the kitchen as our tummy started to rumbling. We saw the helper’s busy preparing food, a warm smile curved on her face.

We lined up the plates full of venison and other local dishes on the table and enjoyed our lunch.

Donny who works for Indonesia radio station is full of humors and he kept making us laughing at his joke on the venison. Our laughter filled the air while we continued to enjoying our lunch.

After lunch, drizzling begins to fall but it didn't stop us from taking our little walk to explore the village. Scot took us to visit the Bario longhouse, walk up to Penan settlement, mingling around the village and greeted by the villagers. With only less than 5000 people, most of them involves in farming and hunting.  

Heading back to our homestay, we stop by at the nearby shop and bought the chicken for our dinner. Oil, our friend from Thai volunteered to cook the famous Thai soup. 

After dinner, hiding in our thick clothes from the cold night we gathered at the veranda facing the beautiful paddy field and shares funny stories as well as our best moments during traveling accompanied with laughter all night long.

The best part there was no distraction, no tv, not much telephone line and the home is all ours.

The next day after breakfast, Scot took us to our guide and like a kids in a candy store we reluctantly to sit in front but instead jumped behind the four-wheels. I spotted Scot smiling looking at us scrambled.

Arriving at the entrance which leading to the rock salt source, we walk leisurely for 45 minutes and reached at the hut where they process the salt. The guide explained to us the useful of the salt, after we bought a few packets, we then continue our walk inhaling the coolly air, passing by the wild mangoesteen, bumped into partridge until we reach at the large grassy field before crossing the bridge towards our next long house. The walk has unleashed the kids that trapped inside our adult body until we didn't realize that its almost 2pm.

We reach at the longhouse after more than an hour . We mingling around the house for a moment and then sat in a circle before we were serves with local the dishes for lunch.

Heading back to our homestay, we drop by to see the only two big boulders tucked behind of the village area. According to our guide the boulder carved a story about a headhunter.

Walking back to our way to, we saw an old lady working assiduously on her paddy field. Smiling at us probably We took pictures and wave at her.

Back at homestay, we were struggling with the cold shower. We can hear each other scream every time we enter the shower. I wander and laugh how they can stand the shower without heater, until it was my turn to scream.

Still shivering from the icy shower, we proceed to another longhouse for our dinner. Arrived at the longhouse we lined up and greeted by the Kelabit ladies completes in their traditional outfits and warm smile. They handed us the pineapple juice as a welcome gesture and later serves us with variety local dishes.

There were also other guests around, after a little while, they handed us the dress and invited us to join the dance. Our last night was filled with laughter and joy accompanied with traditional music and the dance captivated us.

We went back to our homestay before the midnight and reluctantly to call off the night. We sat at the veranda and joined by the Sarawak Tourism Officer and scot, sharing our thoughts and imaginations before we finally excused our self to bed.

The reality kick in the next day when we wake up  and had to get ready to go back to Miri, we exchanged contacts and promised to keep in touch and plans to travel together. 

SEVEN WOMEN CANCER SURVIVORS TOOK TO THE STAGE

              Seven women cancer survivors took to the stage along with other female models to showcase the Muslim fashion trends at the Islamic Fashion Festival held here yesterday. 

The women walked the ramp at the fashion show, titled ‘Giving hope, Touching hearts’, as an experiential therapy aims uplift the spirit and morale of cancer survivors.

The three-hour event held at Marriot hotel ballroom and was attended by the Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim.

It was organised by Pink Unity, a non-governmental organisation in support of women cancer survivors, in collaboration with the Islamic Fashion Festival.

Pink Unity president Salmah Stewart, who is a cancer survivor hope that the cancer survivors involvement in events like this gives the cancer survivors hope and opportunity to be a part of the community just as other healthy people. 

The NGO is run solely by women cancer survivors as a support group for all types of cancer and has as its concept "By Survivors, for Survivors", they hope to drive home the message that despite facing challenges, cancer survivors can still look and feel good.

The event featured a wide range of fashion from various young designers such as Calvin Thoo, Salikin Sidek and Jarumas from Malaysia besides designers from Singapore and Indonesia.

ASEAN CELEBRITIES JOIN "AMAZING RACE" IN MALAYSIA TOMMOROW

Several famous Asean celebrities have been invited to the enliven the ASEAN Explore Quest Malaysia which started from  November 14 until 21.

Among them is including Miss World Malaysia 2008 and singer Soo Wincci, Miss Myanmar International 2014 Khin Wai Phyo, Thai singer-actress-model Ying Kanyapatch, Indonesian actress Mytha Lestari and Vietnamese singer-actress Nguyin Thi Phoun.

Hosted by Tourism Malaysia, the 'Amazing Race' type of event will joined by more than 100 participants from the 10 ASEAN countries. Besides the celebrities, representatives from media and tour agencies will also take part in this fun event.

They will travel throughout Malaysia which cover Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Penang while taking part all sorts of challenges like games which includes treasure hunt, cultural activities and visit to Malaysia's best tourist destinations such as Teluk Bahang, Penang and Legoland Johor.

 This programme aims to promote Malaysia in the ASEAN countries by leveraging on celebrities popularity and the power of social media as well as raising awareness of Malaysia Year festivals 2015 via their on fan page.

Soo Wincci

Ying Kanyapatch

Launched of Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015

More than 100 travel agents and members of media from the Southern Thailand region attended the launched of Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 (MyFEST) end of last month at Hat Yai, Thailand.

Participants was updated on the 2015 campaign and highlighted with several attractions in Malaysia including Star Wars Mini Park, Legoland Water Park, Sanrio Hello Kitty theme park, Johor Premium Outlets and Langkawi Island.

The Director General of Tourism Malaysia Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab who hosted the appreciation dinner had personally thank the travel agents and media for their support in promoting Malaysia in Southern Thailand and presented them with certificates of appreciation.

Also present at the event were Consul General of Malaysia in Songkhla Mohd Faizal Razali, the Director of International Promotion Division-ASEAN Syed Yahya Syed Othman, the Deputy Commander of Second Naval Area Command Rear Admiral Niwech Butsri, and the Deputy Commander of the 42nd Military Circle Senior Colonel Thanin Suwannakadee.

The MyFEST themed “Endless Celebrations” aims to leverage on the momentum which already established during the on-going Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and feature the multicolor festivals celebrated in Malaysia.

Thailand is the fifth biggest tourist generating market to Malaysia. Last year, a total of 1,156,452 Thai tourists visited Malaysia, constituting 4.5% of the country’s total arrivals.

The most popular tourist destinations and products in Malaysia for Thai tourists includes Kuala Lumpur, Legoland and Hello Kitty in Johor, Sunway Lagoon in Selangor, George Town in Penang, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Genting Highlands in Pahang, and Pulau Perhentian in Terengganu.

With the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 coming to an end soon, Malaysia will continue to welcome visitors with endless celebrations on Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015. Aims to serves visitors with magical holiday experiences and multicultural festivals celebrated throughout the year.

Ramli Ibrahim - Love Re-envinted in New York

Accompanied with his dance troupe, performing 'Krishna, Love Re-Invented' through the vehicle of the 2,000-year-old Indian dance form called Odissi, Malaysian classical dance icon Datuk Ramli Ibrahim was given a rousing reception on Friday night at the prestigious Asia Society.

The Flushing performance was co-hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of New York, which is headed by Malaysian doctor Azimah Ehr, and the New York office of Tourism Malaysia, the Asia Society programme was partly supported by Rajika and Anupam Puri, with the major support coming from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helen and Will Little, and the Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.
Earlier on Tuesday, he was giving his first performance in New York’s Flushing district on Tuesday.

The event attracted not only large crowds of mainstream Americans but also American-Asians who included Indians, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Chinese and Japanese.
Ramli has been honoured with top awards in several countries because of his role in promoting goodwill and better understanding amongst different cultures through his dancing.

The Malaysian dancer, choreographer and teacher previously received a national award from Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in 2011 for his outstanding contribution to promoting peace and understanding through his dancing.

His dance troupe has performed many times in the USA. He first performed in New York in 1981 with the Sydney Dance Company and discovered by the great dancer, the late Indrani Rehman.

He and his troupe would prepare for their forthcoming tour of India in the third week of this month and will be performing in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Baroda.

PORTUGESE SETTLEMENT, MELAKA

I remembered when I was in school and listening intently to the teacher while he explaining the history about Melaka, the invasion of Portugese, and later about the Portugese settlement in Melaka after British came into power.

So I was determined to visit the village during our recent trip to Melaka. After we check out from Riverside hotel, and with the permission of the Tourism officers who take care our trip, our guide took us to the popular Portugese settlement about 5km from the town.

( If you are coming from Dataran Pahlawan on Jalan Merdeka you can use Jalan Parameswara towards Ujong Pasir, then look for the sign on your right pointing to Portugese Settlement)

Our bus took less than 30 minutes to reach the village. It was Sunday noon, but the village look quiet. According to our guide, they probably out in the town, went to the sea or taking a nap..

The settlement is situated on the west of down town Melaka in the area known as Sungai Ujong, it was established by the British Residents in 1933.
More than 11 hectares of land next to the sea was turned into Portugese village and called as St.John village. Later it became  bastion for those with Portugese descendents to preserve their religion, languge, culture and tradition.

Today,  this village with more than 1000 Portugese Kristang descendants live here often called mini Lisbon. It comprises a few streets  decorated and with typical Portugese names such as D'Alberquerque, Sequera, Eredia, D'Aranjo and Texeir.


Once a year in June the Portugese Settlements will be filled with food, music and dance and attracts visitors and tourist due to the celebration of the feast of St John (festival Senjuang) on 24th June and the feast of Saint Pedro on the 29th June.

Food became the top attraction became the top attraction for most visitors. The Sea Terrance Portugese settlement is one of the famous location for seafood in Melaka and often crowded with customers coming from everywhere. Portugese style ikan bakar and sambal ladies fingers is among the popular dishes served.

There is also a museum shows a collection of items of the history of the Portuguese community in Malaysia. Its open to public from Tuesday to Sunday at 10am onwards.

THE Blue Ocean Strategy Tourism Seminar

THE Blue Ocean Strategy Tourism Seminar hosted by the UCSI Blue Ocean Strategy Regional Centre in Kuala Lumpur recently, received positive response from the participants who were mainly tourism industry players.

Amongst the representatives was from Pemandu, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Tourism Malaysia, MyCEB, State tourism agencies and transportation industry, hoteliers as well as industry support groups from theme parks, shopping, food, entertainment and travel and tour operators. It was also attended by hospitality students of UCSI.

The seminar aims at creating a paradigm shift in the mindsets of tourism specialists and practitioners, by sharing their insights, experiences and aspirations in the travel and tourism industry.
It also shared how businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry could explore new markets, rendering competition irrelevant by reducing costs and increasing the value for customers.

It’s a golden opportunity and a platform for the participants to share and learn how to enhance the hospitality industry as well as develop the tourism industry.

The seminar also challenged companies to create uncontested market space that will make the competition irrelevant.

BOTANICAL PARK MELAKA SERVE FORESTSTAY

       Before leaving Melaka during our visit recently, we drop by at several places including Botanical Park Malacca (Melaka).

Our arrival was greeted by the manager and operators of the Foreststay park and we were served with delicious local made icecream contains variety of flavors as a welcome treatment.

 After being brief about the Park, we were than escorted to our lunch venue at the foreststay cafe and served with variety of local recipe.

Different from Homestay, Kampungstay or Townstay, Forestay presents a unique experience for visitors who wish to stay and in a peaceful tropical rainforest.

Botanical Park Malacca which provides forestay concept located just five minutes drive from Ayer keroh tol.

Formerly known as “Hutan Rekreasi Ayer Keroh”  the park spread across more than 92-hectare of forest and surrounded by more than 300 distinct of flora and fauna. It is also a home to various animals including a few species of monkey.

By only walking around the park, visitors will enjoy watching several types of monkeys swinging around the trees as well as enjoying the peaceful atmosphere around the park.

The park provided visitors and tourist with a comfortable and reasonable price of chalet and dorm from RM35 to RM150 pernight for each person who wanted to overnight and experience the foreststay.

As for those who like camping, a wide area of campsite that can accommodate up to 700 people is also available at RM3 pernight for each person.

Various activities including jungle trekking, jogging, camping, motivational activities buggy ride are made available here.

As soon as we finished our lunch, we were taken to visit the surrounding and try a few activities such as paintball shooting and survivor programme.

As for the book lover, you can visit and confine yourself at Kampung Buku (Book Village) which is situated in the middle of this park.

Listed as no two of the Book Village in Malaysia and no five in Asia not only provide reading material but equipped with internet and provide meeting room and including a venue for book launching.

More than 15000 books from local and international publishers can be found here and it operates from Tuesday to Sunday at 9am to 6pm.