Jungle tune

The day finally came for me to make my way to Sarawak Cultural Village for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2006. The journey on Saturday evening took 45 minutes from Kuching City and since we set out quite late, 3.45pm, I was aching to reach there. The workshops started around 2pm, see, so I was regretting all the fun I had missed. Good thing the journey wasn't that bad. Although the road there could use major repairs, a lot! Awfully bumpy and wavy if you ask me.

When I finally saw Santubong Mountain, I knew we were near. But it is a huge mountain, so this view was merely a pretty sight, we were not really there yet.

After we parked our car, there was still some walking to do. It was about 400 meters downhill though (correct me if I'm wrong).
At 4.45pm I was at one of the workshop, Bollywood Bangra dance workshop. The Dhol Association of Malaysia worked the crowd good. Like nice firm dough.

Everybody learned to shake their booties bollywood style. It soon ended at 5.15pm and people went their own way to freshen up for the concert, which was due to start at 7.15pm. Everything inside the festival area was pricey so we drove out to a nearby seafood restaurant to get our fix but I guess we didn't know the right spot. Needless to say, the food sucked as well.

We came back in at 7pm and people were swarming the place. No wonder it was disapointingly deserted during the day. The weather was freaking hot so most or the visitors decided to just attend the concert instead. High expectation for a good night out.

Everybody booked their place on the forest floor, waiting for the concert to start. Here's the list of performers that Saturday night.

Do the Austrian yodel (Hotel Palindrone).

Hotel Palindrone performing. They got things warmed up a little.

Calle Sur. The South Americans who picked up the beat and made things hot.

Look at the crowd! It was a party alright! Hands in the air...

Peatbog Faeries of Scotland made for a great finale. They rocked the party hard!
Great Scot! The crowd loved them to bits!
Accompanied by Kilema from Madagascar.

Blow it good...

What can I say? It was the best street party/concert I ever had! I danced as mad as the rest of the crowd. It was good, intense and loud.

The only sad thing is that I learned that my equipment is not fit for nights like these. My pictures were blur and the image reach was poor in stage lightitng condition (what were you thinking...?)

Maybe I was too damn excited that I couldn't stabilize my shots. Where is the stabilizer when I need it. I guess it's time for an upgrade. I only have the fact that I enjoyed myself thoroughly that night to compensate for the poor quality pictures I managed to take. Apart from that, the festival was great.

Go ahead, ask me how it was and I'll tell you it was good through and through. I'm booking my ticket for next year very soon. The date is up, Rainforest World Music Festival 2007 is on 13-15 July 2007. Do you feel lucky?

i River

This morning as I was walking along Kuching's riverbank I thought "I should get to the other side..."

Why did Agus cross the river?
Because he wants to ride on the boat, 'perahu tambang' they call it, literally 'fare boat'. He doesn't get to rock the boat that often.


The fare? 30 cents. But give more, especially if you like the short ride and think they should be earning more. Besides, it's not like you ride it every day.

This is how the locals and tourists alike get about.

From far I could see boys jumping into the river. The water looks like diluted iced milk tea. It should be fine. They're probably getting a quick dip before their afternoon session starts. Boys just wanna chill. I get it. T'is the season you know.

The view of Kuching city is nice from this side. But the kids are making so much noise I couldn't resist grabbing some shots.

It's a bird, it's a plane, no they're little humans. I wonder which one is Clark Kent. Oh well, off they go to save some fish from drowning.

Errr, what do you call that flip? A flop? Boys be, nuff said.

The grown ups do their thing.

The forgotten jetty.

Row, row row your boat, gently down the stream....

Pretty soon it was time to head back to the other side. I have lunch appointment at Kick Ass curry with unker, see. Oh the wave. Swell!

Rainforest

I am now in Kuching for the rainforest world music festival (Saturday) and rainforest kayaking tour (Sunday), a double shot of rainforest.

Took an early flight this morning. Roamed around Kuching town but didn't play the tourist game, so these are just a few shots for today.

The Merdeka Palaca Hotel, (nope, not staying here).

Kuching District Council Office.

Windows.

A handsome tree.

Merdeka Palace Hotel Lobby; of space and columns.

Very excited abut this trip. Going to savor every moment drip by drip. Thinking of all the things I'd do about this rainforest theme. Before, after and everything in between.

Monday

How are you feeling today...?

Is this a lava lamp?

Durian

I know this comes a bit late to count for a Friday's post but my folder stinks of durian.

I accompanied my friend's dad running errands around town, buying stuff to bring back to Miri. Stuff like two bags of chestnuts from Petaling Street and loads of cream stuffed buns (Hi-5 and Gardenia). On our way back to his hotel in Chow Kit, we passed by a night market selling fresh produce form the countryside. There were a few durian stalls which made him say "If you fancy some durians we could park by that side and have a quick nibble"

Hmmm, durians. I've passed by durian stalls before and almost got hooked by the smell but never actually got myself to buy a pack. However, this time it's different. It somehow sounds like he's entertaining his own fancy as well.

"Local durians here are sweet. Unlike the ones from our neighboring country. I had some yesterday. They're good." He continued. Do I say no to that? Heck I don't need anyone to tell me 'they're good' twice. Especially food.

Durian it was then. I scanned for parking spaces around the corner and soon we were walking to one of the stalls. We bought the 'two for ten' combo. More than enough to fix us good.

They're good, these local durians, I tell you. They're from Perak (used to be my playground), a good place to get durians.

Check out the thorns. Fruit of the devil some may say. I wont argue. They're as good as they're deadly, physically and aromatically.

Somehow the lighting made them look green. I know some of you might be having bad dreams tonight. Evil durians coming atcha'.

Oh, we barely finished our share by the way. We weren't as hungry. Did I mention that they're good?

So, Terrence, we had a fun evening getting all the stuff he planned, me and your dad. Oh, you'll hear a lot about the distance I had us walking to get around town using the monorail and rapid transits. Hehe.. he even mentioned 'that was quite a distance there...' upon looking back at the route we just took.

It was rush hour see. I parked at Mid Valley Mega Mall after work and used public transport to avoid the jam and optimize on timing.

By nine we were at the mall. So he was in good hands. Why shouldn't he be... he's a cop. Hmmm... come to think of it, I was the one in good hands.

Scenes at The Curve

Facing Cineleisure

Facing the main complex

Neon water

Overflowing Vase

Three mastersquirts

Indeed...

Super

I was at a mall several weeks back when I saw a bank's credit card promotional tour of Superman - A gimmick drive. Among the deals were to sign up for a card and get superman merchandise and also for existing card users, spend a hundred bucks and get two invites to the premiere.

I did both.

So I got these.

Two caps for the sign up, two invites for the purchase, and one happy sucker for gimmicks.

Last night I went for the premiere and there were so many others. The bank did good. They used about 10 halls for the screening sessions, mine was number 12. No camera was allowed (strict anti piracy policy) and even handphones had to be surrendered at the counter.

But I could have done better by taking all the scenes outside the cinema and leave my camera and phone in the car just before entering the hall. Good thing this cute promo chick was around to take digital pictures with her camera phone, transfer it to a fujifilm polaroid picture printer via infrared and hey presto, I got this for my alibi. I was with my house mate during the night whatever crime took place.

The premiere was excellent. Complimentary soda and a small popcorn set.


About Superman Returns, it rocks! One thing's for sure, the movie starts with a bang! Oh, did I say bang? I meant BANG! *****. Brilliant entrance I tell you. The rest you gotta figure it out yourself. Go watch it. Don't expect too much twist though, coz hey, it's superman, how extraordinary can the story get? Lex is up to no good again and our man in red undies saves the day.

There, that's your spoiler.

Oh, and I took home a huge elegant poster as well. I'm good. I'm super. I’m swell!

See that smirk on the face? It stays for a few more days.

Gaban

Bert, this one's for you, sort of... (it's for your eyes only, non halal ma...)

Say the name Gaban and most of us in Malaysia will remember the hit children tv series Polis Angkasa Gaban or Space Cop Gaban.

While kids would take the gimmick ‘gaban can suit up in less than 0.05 second’ as ultra cool, this very statement rings as utter joke to adults. It’s not just silly, it's also mind blowing how we boys used to dig that heroic trait. But tell that to a kid and he’ll throw tantrums at you all day. Oh, and don't forget Naga Gaban, his trusty dragon companion. Hey, that even rings nice .

I recently had an unexpected encounter with gaban and needless to say it was hilarious! Imagine the number of jokes we came up with when we came across Gaban in a Japanese restaurant at The Curve.



Oh yeah, and the ice cream is specially brought to you by none other than Macha.

Highest quality eh? We totally hear ya...we'd expect nothing less from Gaban.

That's my ramen. Nice I tell you. Fit for... you guessed it, Gaban!

The Curve, a real cool place with extensive choice of eating places.

Ton Chan is located on the first floor. Cozy aint it?

The other side of the restaurant.

So, space troopers, if you take non-halal food, do drop by this Gaban of a place and bask in the memories of Gaban, our childhood hero. It should be splittin' fun(ny).

Now where did i put my Gaban suit...?

More Gaban Info Here.