bumisepi.com

life is short. do first thing first.

Category: Travel Page 35 of 43

Something new in Kijal Kemaman

By

On February 3, 2011

In Travel

image

Returning home to Paka Terengganu during CNY on 3rd February 2011, driving thru Kijal, an area and also a town with the same name in Kemaman district, I noticed a new Giant outlet by the roadside of Kemaman – Dungun trunk road. This outlet could hv been one of the newest Giant outlet in the country as infra are still under construction. Nevertheless it has been open to  public about a month ago. Btw there is yet another Giant-like store under TMC logo at Kerteh Mesra Mall some 20 kms up ahead enrouté Dungun.

>>> Posted from mobile device via WordPress for Android

3 jam di Marudi, SARAWAK (3 hours in Marudi, SARAWAK)

By

On January 31, 2011

In Travel

Tiga jam tepat selepas memudiki Batang Baram yang berliku-liku umpama ular dipukul, kami sampai di pekan Marudi. Jam di Xperia X10 ku menunjukkan pukul 11 pagi. Pekan kecil yang tak berapa kecil di pinggir sungai. Taman awam dengan piazza (dataran) di tengah-tengah pusat bandar, dipagari bangunan rumah kedai 2 tingkat, antaranya bank-bank RHB, BSN, AMbank, Public Bank, dan pejabat agensi kerajaan seperti kastam, bomba, dan jeti. Pekan kecil yang tersorok ini mempunyai banyak bank komersial. Ini menunjukkan pekan ini makmur dengan aktiviti perniagaan hasil dari industri sungai dan pembalakan dan kelapa sawit. Jeti di tepi sungai itu sibuk dengan aktiviti aktiviti pagi. Bot laju yang baru berlabuh. Bot laju yang bersedia untuk belayar menuju dsetinasi yang ditentukan. Ada ke hulu sehingga Long Lama, pintu masuk ke Taman Negara Mulu melalui jalan sungai. Ada ke hilir sehingga ke Kuala Baram (Miri) . Peraih menanti barang muatan yang baru sampai dari Kuala Baram (Miri). Penumpang-penumpang menunggu bot ekspres masing-masing ke destinasi masing-masing. 

Sungai tersebut ialah Batang Baram yang lebarnya tidak berubah dari hilir (Kuala Baram)  hinggalah ke pekan Marudi dan seterusnya ke hulu Baram. (Sungai disebut batang di Sarawak, kadang-kadang disebut long).  Kami bernasib baik dapat melihat beberapa ekor buaya bersantai di tebing sungai semasa dalam perjalanan tadi.

Kami makan tengahari di sebuah restoran Islam di mana pelayan-pelayannya gadis bumiputera (Melayu, Bidayuh atau Melanau?) berkulit cerah, bersopan santun lagi bertudung rapat. Menunya hampir sama dengan di Miri atau KL. Selain nasi/mee goreng, laksa Sarawak dan mee kolok menjadi pelengkap hidangan dalam senarai menu. Harganya mahal sedikit mungkin selepas dicampur kos pengangkutan bahan mentah dari Miri.

Terdapat sebuah masjid besar yang baru di pekan Marudi yang terletak di sebelah masjid lama yang kini diguna sebagai kelas fardu ain. Di sebelah masjid terdapat sederet bangunan kerajaan di tepi sungai. Suasana yang sunyi dan tenteram penuh dengan ketenangan dihembusi bayu sungai Baram memberi ilham kepada penggiat seni dan pekerja korporat yang ingin lari dari rat-race dan hiruk pikuk bandaraya mega.

Di sekitar jam 2 petang, transport sampai untuk mengambil kami ke Bandaraya Miri melalui jalan balak dan kelapa sawit. (Transport ialah panggilan orang tempatan kepada kenderaan 4WD, sepertimana ekspres merujuk kepada bot laju atau bot ekspres). Kesemua 8 seats dalam Toyota Landcruiser dipenuhi. Pemandunya anak muda yang agak rocker, yang tahu setiap lubang di dan bonggol di jalan balak. Kami sampai Piasau, Miri  hampir jam 4. Dan aku terpaksa ke Kuala Baram sendiri untuk mengambil kereta yang ditinggalkan di jeti Kuala Baram pagi tadi.

BAgaimana untuk ke Marudi:
Dari Miri, Sarawak ada tiga cara untuk ke pekan ini. Pertama dengan menggunakan pengangkutan udara (MasWing)  dan kedua melalui Batang (Sungai) Baram dengan menggunakan bot ekspress. Kami menggunakan cara kedua untuk projek ini. Batang Baram, adalah laluan utama ke kawasan Ulu Baram. Setiap hari beberapa bot ekspres mengadakan perjalanan dari jeti Kuala Baram (20 km dari pusat bandar Miri) ke pekan Marudi. Perjalanan mengambil masa 3 jam setengah dengan tambang RM20 sehala. Destinasi terakhir bot ini ialah di kawasan Ulu Baram, iaitu pekan Long Lama. Marudi juga dapat dihubungi dengan cara ke tiga iaitu pengangkutan darat (melalui jalan pembalakkan melalui ladang kelapa sawit) dari Miri. Untuk mendapat pengalaman, kami mengambil masa hampir 2 jam dalam perjalanan balik ke Miri menggunakan Toyota Landcruiser Ninja berwarna merah, siap dengan aircond sekali. Memang satu pengalaman yang menarik. Meredah jalan balak tersebut terpaksa melalui 2 buah sungai dengan menggunakan 2 feri iaitu di Sg. Bakong & satu lagi di Batang Baram. Jalan yang teruk kadang-kadang melalui lereng bukit menyebabkan kami melambung-lambung sehingga kepala mencecah bumbung kenderaan. Tambang sebanyak RM40 dikenakan bagi perjalanan satu hala Marudi – Miri. Perkhidmatan transport ini boleh didapati di setiap penjuru jalan di pekan Marudi dan juga di lobi-lobi hotel. Lihat papan tanda yang dipamerkan termasuk destinasi dan waktu bertolak.

Bilangan Penduduk 80,600 orang, yang antaranya terdiri daripada:-
Melayu (4,800orang)
Iban (29,500 orang)
Cina (5,917 orang)
Kenyah (11, 031 orang)
Kayan (11, 387 orang)
Kelabit (2,095 orang)
Penan (7,724 orang)
Bidayuh (618 orang)
Melanau (418 orang)

Malaysia Airlines dengan pesawat baru B737-800

By

On January 3, 2011

In Travel

I was expecting a new lighter and faster and more fuel efficient flight from KUL to Miri today on MH2592 but alas this much talked about plane did not ply this route as yet. More abt this plane later.

>>> posted from mobile device via wordpress for android. language may be compromised.

Kampung Ayer (“a village on water”) in Brunei

By

On December 27, 2010

In Travel

If there is only one place you have time to visit in Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), it must be Kampung Ayer (loosely translated as a village on water). People live, work and travel on the water, which is actually a river, a huge river leading to South China Sea.  There are houses, schools, grocery stores, offices, police station, mosques, gas station and everything else a society needs to lead a common life. Yes their daily activities and transaction are done on the water. They travel from houses to house and other place in the motorized boats.  Kampung Ayer reminds me of my trips to Venezia, Italy (2006) and also Inle Lake in Myanmar (2009). Unlike Inle Lake, they don’t grow vegetables and fruits on the water — they must have bought it at the supermarkets along the river banks. I was told that the number of families making Kampung Ayer their home are getting smaller and smaller as many move to the river banks.  But it is really a refreshing experience for big city boys and girls to cruise around the Kampung Ayer on water taxi with nominal fees. Bring along the camera to shoot at waving kids. Water taxis available at the jettty at negotiable rate. We paid only B$10 per boat to the young boatman for a 20-minute boat ride. He had no passengers at that time and he just obliged. Beware that safety jackets may not be available on all boats. Have fun at own risk, so I said. Some photos below.

How to get here?

Kampung Ayer is right in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. You will never miss it. It is right across the road from Yayasan piazza and shopping center. Water taxis can be found and hailed from the jetty and fares are negotiable.  As a caution, safety jackets may not be available on private boats. How to get into Brunei? Royal Brunei Airlines flies to major cities in Asia Pacific and Middle East and other places. Catch one of their return flight to Brunei from your nearest airport. So easy ha! From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airlines fly directly daily to BSB. If you are already in Miri, Sarawak, just like yours truly, just catch the express bus Miri-Brunei. You need a valid passport of course, and if you are not Malaysians, you may need a valid visa. Check with your embassy, before getting on the bus or the aircraft. Read my other posting here for crossing land border Malaysia-Brunei from Miri side.

Bandar Seri Begawan, BRUNEI

By

On December 26, 2010

In Travel

November 2010:
 
 Brunei, located in the northern Borneo, is one of the last remaining Sultanate government in South East Asia. It is also one of the three governments in the world ruled by monarchies under a dynasty claiming descent from Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Brunei, despite relatively small size comparing to its neighbouring Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, has more to offer to unhurried visitors, in term of natural landscapes — unspoiled forests, rivers and beaches. The capital city is Bandar Seri Begawan (aka BBS).  Population of Brunei with all 4 districts (Belait, Tutong, Bandar Seri Begawan and Temburong) is about than half a million people only. Despite the size, the country enjoys among the highest GDP and purchasing power per capita in the region, and considered the developed country by IMF standards. Read on below for another story of the road, this time Brunei. Pictures quality may not be that good as  I was using camera phone SE Xperia X10 running on Android 1.6.
 
I was often informed by colleagues that it takes only one day to discover Brunei, but I did not think so, upon my first visit to Brunei. Yes you can travel end to end , i.e. border to border, within 5 hours non-stop, but to appreciate people and places in Brunei, you need more than that. BBS deserves a day or two for discerning travellers. Kampung Ayer is a must to visit. Town centers of Kuala Belait,  Seria or even Tutong are all off main highway, which require a detour and of course time if you want to visit them. Gadong is a suburb of BSB and just about 10 minutes drive to the BSB downtown area.
In summary, the key tourist attractions in BSB include:
1. Kampung Ayer. It reminded me of my trips to Venezia, Italy (2006) and also Inle Lake in Myanmar (2009).   I wrote about Kampung Ayer in Brunei my other posting here.
2. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
3. Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah Mosque in Gadong suburb.
4. Palaces (Istana Nurul Iman and Istana Darul Hana). Can just see from outside.
5. Royal Regalia Building. It is a museum containing treasures of Brunei Sultan. Free entry.
6. Yayasan shooping center, near Kampung Ayer jetty.
7. Modern shopping centers (The Mall & Jaya supermarket) in upscale Gadong area. Many expensive hotels nearby. Also fast food outlets like McDonalds and local competitor Jollibee restaurant, can be found there.
8. Jerudong Park. It is an amusement park. Good for kids and adults only.
9. Tamu Kianggeh. It is an open market selling perishable foodstuff, fish and vegies and others. (Unfortunately we reached there in the afternoon and already closed).
10. A mosque near royal cemetery (sorry, don’t know the name of the mosque, but it is rather big)
11. RBA Golf Club. It is near the airport (if you are golfers, of course)
See some photos on BBS below, as captured by amateur photographer (as for now):
How to get there:
Royal Brunei Airlines flies to major cities in Asia Pacific and Middle East and other places. Catch one of their return flight to Brunei from your nearest airport. So easy ha! From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airlines fly directly daily to BSB. If you are already in Miri, Sarawak, just like yours truly, just catch the express bus Miri-Brunei. You need a valid passport of course, and if you are not Malaysians, you may need a valid visa. Check with your embassy, before getting on the bus or the aircraft. Read my other posting here for crossing land border Malaysia-Brunei from Miri side.

Page 35 of 43

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén