stbnews – Page 24 – Sarawak Tourism Hornbill Trail Newsletter

Miri City’s First Cultural Museum

Renovations on the Miri Resident’s and District office building have begun to transform it into a museum.

The project is currently being headed by the Sarawak Museum Department’s curator, Dayang Norzanah Awang Haddy, who has explained that the first and second phases of the project, which are the renovations on the front and back part of the building respectively, are running smoothly.

This museum will be the second in the city, the first being the Miri Petroleum Museum located on top of Canada Hill, which focuses solely on the development of Miri surrounding the petroleum industry.

This will be the first Museum in the city that shows the historical culture, art and heritage of the different races in Miri.

Image shows the Miri Resident’s and District office. Photo credit: Miri City Council.

Calling for participation for the 16th Borneo Nash Hash 2017

The Biennial Borneo Nash Hash is back in Kuching on April 29 and 30 for any ‘drinkers with a running problem’.

The hash run begins with a drink (though runners can choose water and soda over the traditional beer) and takes off through the hash trail, which could be anything from rainforests and streams to climbing fences and storm drains. ‘Off the beaten path’ doesn’t begin to describe the unique routes during a Borneo Nash Hash.

Hashing began in promoting physical fitness among members, with a controlled element of risk and fun, a sort of bridge between a weekend workout and a Friday happy hour.

Borneo Nash Hash 2017 is the 16^th instalment and coincides with the 15^th anniversary of the Kota Padawan Hash House Harriers and Harriettes, who will be organizing the run this year.

For more information visit http://www.hhhworldevents.org/events/borneo-nash-hash-2017/

Image show Hashrunners in the jungle. Photo credit: Kota Padawan Hash House

Mukah to host Pesta Kaul end April

The “Pesta Kaul”, or the Kaul Festival, will take place at Mukah’s river bank on April 29-30, marking the beginning of the native Melanau’s calendar and the end of the Monsoon season.

Kaul is performed by the previously animistic Melanau community to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forest and farm to ensure safe fishing and farming ensuring good fortune.

The festival begins with the ‘Serahang’ (decorated basket woven from sago leaf which is raised on a bamboo pole) procession, led by community elders, followed by a festival of traditional food, games and entertainment.

One of the more famous traditional games is the “Tibow” or giant swing which calls for everyone to try out, while the traditional food is enjoyed communally, served on a logs for the ‘Keman Baw Bateng’ also known as ‘Makan Beradat’ in Malay.

For more information, visit https://sarawaktourism.com/event/mukah-kaul-festival/

Image shows traditional Melanau ceremony during Pesta Kaul. Photo credit: Noel Lau

Four International Conferences planned in April throughout Sarawak

Four international conferences will be held throughout the state in April catering to a diverse array of professional fields.

Hosted for the academia and specialized industries, these conferences have received encouraging response.

The International Conference on Teaching and Learning Languages (ICTLL 2017) for academia and educators will take place on April 3-4 in Kuching, and the International Conference on Sustainable Soil Management (ICSSM 2017) in the agriculture and development industry will be hosted on April 4-7 in Bintulu.

In Sibu, the Orthopaedic Conference: AO Trauma Combined Basic Principles of Fracture Management for Surgeons and Operating Room Personnel is schedule on April 8-10 while the International Conference on Materials Technology and Energy (ICMTE 2017) takes place in Miri on April 20-21.

While these conferences further develop the understanding and strength of local professionals in their respective fields, it also contribute greatly to the local business events industry, creating awareness of Sarawak’s presence as a destination for international conferences.

Image shows conference at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching or BCCK. Photo Credit: Malaysia Asia

Green energy for Tanjung Datu National Park and nearby turtles’ island

Tanjung Datu National Park, Pulau Talang-Talang Besar and Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil will enjoy “green energy” to be generated by Sarawak Electricity Berhad’s (SEB) centralised solar system

A MoU signed to finalise SEB’s commitment in providing the Sarawak Forestry Corporation green energy to the turtle landing sites at the National Park to aid their conservation.

The National Park and the two nearby islands are officially protected turtle nesting sites, as the reefs and beaches are used by the highly endangered Green Turtles and Olive Ridley turtles to lay their eggs. The islands are equipped with a turtle hatchery and research facility.

This is a great boost for environmental tourism, as it takes the National Park one step closer to being an entirely ‘green’ safe haven for endangered flora and fauna as well as conservation tourists.

Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on March 28.

Image shows Green Turtle at Pulau Talang-Talang Besar. Photo credit: Paun Cher Chin

Earth Hour Walk 2017

This year’s Earth Hour Walk will be held on March 25, Padang Merdeka at 8.30 to 9.30pm.

The Earth Hour walk begins at Padang Merdeka with a countdown at 8.29 before it makes its way across waterfront, and will be accompanied by the Glowing Night Ride for cyclists.

This is the fifth year in a row Sarawak will be holding an Earth Hour walk in solidarity those celebrating Earth Hour, in line with the annual global initiative to address the issue of climate change.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Image shows participants in the Earth Hour Walk and cycling event, 2016. Photo credit: Borneo Post

Kuching Run for Autism 2017

The Kuching Run for Autism 2017 will be taking place on April 2 in conjunction with World Autism Day at the Kuching South City Council office. The 3km and 7km courses begin at 6.30am.

This will be second edition of this run, with over 2,000 participants registered in 2016.

With the theme “It’s not a disability, it’s a different ability”, the Kuching Autism Association (KAA) is organising this event seek to create understanding and acceptance of Autistic children and adults within the local communities.

The KAA provides educational programmes that help students with fine motor skills, basic academia, social skills and self-help to help them gain independence, as well as pre-vocational training in preparing them for working in the future.

For more information visit https://sarawaktourism.com/event/kuching-run-autism/

Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari

The 22^nd Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari will be taking place this April 1 and 2 along the Majau and Rejang River.

This two-day rafting competition has five main categories: Men’s Bamboo Open, Men’s Bamboo Closed (Inter-Department) and Women’s Bamboo Open, as well as the mixed Free Style and Paddle Boat.

The first flag-off point is at Rumah Ansi, Nanga Sepajie at Sungai Majau, and the second flag-off point is at Rumah Along at Nanga Majau, and each flag-off is estimated to take six to seven hours respectively.

This event is to remind people of the importance of water transport in the past of Sarawak as well as the present, particularly in places where road networks have not yet reached.

For more information and application forms, visit:
https://sarawaktourism.com/event/baleh-kapit-raft-safari/

Image shows Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari participants. Photo credit: Sarawak State Government.

Kuching’s Upside Down House

The Upside Down House at Jalan Borneo is a new uncanny attraction in Kuching, which has an entire gallery of a living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, bathroom, children bedroom and a home office on the ceiling, making for strange photo opportunities.

This is phase one of the project, with phase two including optical illusion art, set to be complete in four or five months’ time.

Tickets for foreign adult and child are priced at RM20 and RM15, respectively. Meanwhile the ticket price for a Malaysian (MyKad holder) is RM15 per adult, and RM10 per child, with a promotional price of RM12 per adult and RM8 per child up until the second phase of the project is complete. The promotion runs till the second phase of the project.

For more information and updates, visit www.facebook.com/pg/upsidedownhousekuching.

Image taken at the Kuching Upside Down House. Photo Credit: Wong Tong Wei

Borneo Jazz Bands

Borneo Jazz will be taking place this May 12 t0 13 at ParkCity Everly Hotel, Miri, and is bursting at the seams with local and international bands.

Malaysian bands Michael Simon’s Asian Connection, with legendary Malaysian pianist Michael Veerapen in the band, as well as Fluoroscent Collective with band members from all over the world. From Asia, the line-up includes Idang Rasjidi Syndicate from Indonesia and Osaka Monaurail from Japan.

Cabocuba Jazz from Netherlands, Delgres from Guadoloupe and France, the Cape Jazz Band from South Africa and Laila Biali from Canada, are all signed up for the Festival.

For more information, visit: jazzborneo.com/