KINO Kuching In & Out Magazine Issue #6

N0 6 / FEB - MAR 2014

I’m

FREE

6 issues a year

a lifEstyle print and digital magazine WWW.KUCHINGINANDOUT.COM

Up! p.34 d n a p U s on the YoYo kid Breaking News

World Guinness Record Attempt in Kuching!

Education

ABACUS: The ancient art of mental maths

Fruit Tales

To die for or to die from CALENDAR l MAPS l AREA BY AREA l NIGHT SPOTS l

the for CORD e in RE gaz SS PT ma NE EM ic al GUIN L ATT46 Offi ORLD FICIA p.

W OF

ROUTES ASIA 2014 TO SHOWCASE KUCHING TO THE WORLD 9 - 11 MARCH

About Routes Asia

Routes Asia forms the essential event for all aviation based companies who wish to conduct business to, from and within the region. Bringing together a range of airlines, airports and tourism authorities, including some of the largest carriers from the whole Asian region, the 12th Routes Asia event in Kuching, Sarawak in 2014 will offer organisation the opportunity to meet with some of the most influential aviation professionals from across the world.

Role of Airports in Increasing Tourism

Tan Sri Bashir Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

In The Terminal starring Tom Hanks, the comfort and beauty of JFK International Airport is not enough to satisfy the Krakozhian traveler Viktor Navorski who needs to get into New York city to fulfill his mission. Airports are ultimately only the gateway and not the destination.

Airports however do play an important role in bringing in the crowd and is no longer confined to providing superior infrastructure, competitive rates and extensive connections. Airports have to market the destination as well with the primary target being the airline and the secondary target the traveler.

In a playing field where destinations have to compete for any airlines’ business, the way an airport markets the destination can be a strong decider for the airline. This is clearly evident in the case of Kuala Lumpur which has had to grapple with two very strong competitors – Bangkok and Singapore, both of which are tourist getaways and business hubs.

Kuala Lumpur specifically KL International Airport has managed to hold its own largely due to joint efforts of the airports together with the tourism authority and the airlines. Total passenger volume leapt from 27.5 million in 2008 to 47.5 million in 2013. In terms of international passenger traffic KL International Airport ranked number 12 in the world with 23.8 million passengers from September 2012 to September 2013 ahead of Narita, Madrid-Barajas and John F Kennedy.

The lesson learnt from KL International Airport can be applied to satellite airports such as Kuching, the third largest airport in Malaysia in terms of passenger number with 4.85 million passengers in 2013 and poised for even greater numbers in the near future.

There is potential from both domestic and international routes. The Kuala Lumpur – Kuching sector is the second busiest route between airports in Malaysia with approximately 52,000 seats per week after Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu. The number of international flights into Kuching has increased with the addition of Xpress Air flying in from Pontianak in Indonesia in 2013 in addition to Malaysia Airlines and flights from Singapore by Silk Air, Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

Kuching is never an easy sell with the international airlines and is probably a lack of knowledge about how strategically located. For one it is in the center of the Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) growth triangle. It is also within a five hour flight of all the major cities in Southern China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and South East Asia, a market size of more than a billion people.

Kuching airport is probably the airport with the most advanced facilities in Borneo.

Not just the airport but the ciy’s infrastructure is up to date with convention centers, hotels and road networks linking most parts of the city.

The recently concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 which was held in Kuching points to Kuching acting as a springboard to nature and adventure in other parts of Sarawak. What we are saying is that you don’t have to hop on to another plane from Kuching. The option is available only if you choose to do so. There is enough to do in Kuching to keep even the most intrepid traveller occupied.

In the past the promotion campaigns may have been missing some focus. It is only after testing and experimenting and working together with our partners that we feel that we have hit on the correct formula which is a strong emphasis on adventure with elements of nature and culture. We are working closely with the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and other bodies to spread the word and it just needs time and patience on our part working with these various agencies before Kuching gets the attention it rightfully deserves.

NON STOP KUCHING TO THE WORLD BEIJING

SEOUL TOKYO

SHANGHAI

4,3 56k m

3,489 km

4,312km

GUANGZHOU

4, 86 5k m

HONG KONG

MANILA

HO CHI MINH

2,344km

2,420km

BANGKOK

1,8 65

km

k 35 1,7

1km 1,10

m

KUALA LUMPUR 976km

721km

SINGAPORE

KUCHING

5, 81 4k

m

m 4k 64 5,

SYDNEY

For more information on Routes Asia 2014: http://www.routesonline.com/events/167/routes-asia-2014/

MELBOURNE

l 13 I b KUCHING l 15 By the Way l 6 WHAT’S UP

16

N0 6 / FEB - MAR 2014

In this issue...

I’m

a lifEstylE print and digital magazinE

Events in and out of Kuching

s on YoYo kid

EXCAT: from Australia

24 34

Up!

p.XX

World Guinness Record Attempt in Kuching!

Education

ABACUS: The ancient art of mental maths

A grounded childhood

KINO FRUIT TALES The King of Stink

fruit Tales

TO DIE fOR OR TO DIE fROM CALENDAR l MAPS l AREA BY AREA l NIGHT SPOTS l

20

the Up and

Breaking News

e r th e fo CORD azin ss RE PT mag NE TEM cial GuIN aT Offi ORLD FICIaL p.46 W OF

KINOHERITAGE THROUGH OBJECTS Once upon a time in China

KINOEDUCATION

The Abacus: The art of mental math

KINOYOYOKIDS

The Downs and Ups of a Yoyo kid

29 DOG'S LIFE l 40 AREA BY AREA l 42 NIGHT SPOTS l 44 «NEXT STOP» l 46 BREAKING NEWS l

The Hunter's Hunter Stutong Non-smoking bars BUS ROUTES MAP, first steps...

World Guinness Record Attempt

In the next issue:

The Attack of the

MUNCHIES

From Nyonya kueh, cupcakes, crunchy savoury snacks to sweet delicious treats, name it, we have it for all occasions.

KINO COVER PHOTO: JONG SAW KANG

KINO Digital magazine is INside and OUTside of the printed magazine. KINO Digital magazine is your platform to tell a story, share your thoughts, memories, talk about a recipe, see and post videos, sms your comments directly to the online magazine and join us for competitions, events and more.

Or simply ‘flip’ through the ‘pages’ with our KINO app. editorial MARIAN CHIN Editor-in-Chief RIA PUIG Project Editor AGNES BALAN Copy Editor ART / WEB / photography JEAN VOON Graphics JONG SAW KANG Photography CONTRIBUTORS Annie Mehra Cannon, LU CHERN, STELLA CHIN, Lionel Crooson, RUYI JING, SIM KHOON YONG, VICTORIA TING, ANTHONY FREDERICK WARD, MEL WU ADVERTISING MARIAN CHIN 019 857 957 6 marian.chin@kuchinginandout.com RIA PUIG 016 893 893 4 info@kuchinginandout.com PUBLISHER WHATMATTERS SDN BHD (518203 D) Published bi-monthly by WHATMATTERS SDN BHD (518203 D)

Next issue of KINO: April-May All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner in whole or part may be allowed prior to written permission. The publisher is not liable for statements made and opinions expressed in the publication.

KINO has 10’000 circulation for every issue and is inserted in two major newspapers for distribution.

KINO has over 100 drop-off points in Kuching City.

Printed by Infografik Press SDN. BHD. Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Dare to Care...

I often wonder if we take for granted world renowned charity bodies that systematically take care of the many needs of society.

Recently, I have come across individuals who make humble but impactful contributions. Many directly touch lives while others contribute indirectly to causes we have no public knowledge of.

Staying anonymous is often the condition of these individuals.

When KINO magazine was approached to be the official magazine of the "World Guinness Record Official Attempt" to be held in Kuching on the 11th of October, it was naturally an honour for the magazine. But the purpose of this event to "Retro Walk – for the Charity of your Choice" made it a privilege to be included in this record breaking event for the benefit of those in need. (pg.46) Hold your breath while non-durian lover, Annie Mehra Cannon, holds her nose to whimsically report on the "King of Stink". (pg.16) "The Downs and Ups of a YoYo kid" is an example of courage as a young man surmounts hurdles from all directions. (pg. 34) "Heritage Through Object" exposes the intricate 150 year old silk woven banner from the Nelson Tan collection. (pg.20) We wish you all a good gallop into the Year of the Horse!

MARIAN CHIN Editor-in-Chief

Apprenticeship with the King of Durian, Sim Khoon Young at Wayang Street literally means applying all of our five senses to pick out that perfect durian. Asked if one could really learn to "smell" out the best durian, Ah Yong (as he is called by his friends) smiles and says,"Yes, of course, but I will teach my children first".

"Most important", he adds, "is to know the durian tree".

Details: page 31 A EVENT

CONTACT: eventskino@gmail.com

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 5

FEBMAR2014WHAT’S UP-IN-OUT & ARO 1 -15 FEB

Chap Goh Meh Festival Many events will be organised by the Simanggang Soon Heng Society from 31 January to 15 February, such as exhibition, food fair, karaoke competition, cultural and art performances, and others.

WHERE: Sri Aman Town WHO: Simanggang Soon Heng Society CONTACT: For more info, please email soonhengsimanggang@gmail.com

6

English Lecture-cum-Workshop This half-day event, which runs from 2:30pm to 5:30pm, will be conducted by renowned academic Professor Tony T.N. Hung, who is

Honorary Professor of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and an Adjunct Professor in the Linguistics Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Hung will explain the importance of the use of up-to-date computerized corpora for the proper description and teaching of grammar, given today’s emphasis on real, authentic English in context rather than the arbitrary prescriptions of traditional grammars.

The one-hour lecture will be followed by a one-and-a-half hour workshop which will demonstrate the use of two online corpora, in British and American English, to search for and analyse data on any given lexical or grammatical structure in English.

There will be hands-on practice sessions and participants are advised to bring along laptops,

iPads or any hand-held device.

WHERE: KUCHING - Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus HOW MUCH: Registration fee for the lecture-cum-workshop is RM20. The closing date is 5 February.

WHO: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus CONTACT: For more information and registration details, please email Dayang Norasikin Binti Abang Talhata at ntalhata@ swinburne.edu.my, or Irene Chang at ihcchang@swinburne.edu.my

8

Friends of Sarawak Museum "Afternoon At the Museum" Series Talk – Building Authority: Charles Brooke, Legitamacy and the Built

Opening hours: 11.30 - 10 pm Monday - Saturday Tel: 082 247672 016 889 9137

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 6

OUND KUCHINGFEBMAR2014 Environment in Sarawak, 1865-1907 2-4pm, Speaker: Dr. John H. Walker, University New South Wales, Canberra WHERE: KUCHING - Sarawak Museum, Dewan Tun Razak Bldg, Niah Room HOW MUCH: Free WHO: Friends of Sarawak Museum (FOSM) CONTACT: Louise Macul 012-855 0588

10-11

Chinese New Year Open House Open House at Chinese Farm House, Sarawak Cultural Village. Food & drinks served to the guests.

Discounted entrance fee.

WHERE: KUCHING – Sarawak Cultural Village WHO: Sarawak Cultural Village CONTACT: enquiry@scv.com.my or 082-846 108 / 082-846 078

10-13

10th Swinburne Sarawak Inter-school Debating Championship (SSIDC) Swinburne Debaters' Club is proud to present to you the 10th Swinburne Sarawak Inter-school Debating Championship 2014. It's that time of the year again where all high schools come together and battle it out to see who brings home the trophy! We will be sending out invitation letters to schools as soon as possible and if you would like your school to receive a copy, please drop a message to hjleong@swinburne.edu.my. Also, as we look to provide quality adjudication to the largest high-school debate tournament in Borneo, we will be offering adjudication subsidies to all who are interested to apply.

This will include a one off honorarium, fully paid accommodation and awesome food during your stay (lunch, tea & dinner provided). If you are interested, kindly send in your CV to hjleong@ swinburne.edu.my.

WHERE: KUCHING - Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus HOW MUCH: FREE WHO: Swinburne Debaters’ Club KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 7

Celebrate 2014 at Citadines Uplands Kuching

CONTACT: hjleong@swinburne.edu.my

14

Chap Goh Meh Festival Chap Goh Meh Festival held on the 15th day after the Chinese New Year calendar. This event is organised by the Siniawan Development and Security Committee to commemorate the last day of Chinese New Year Festival. A colourful parade and displays of Chinese cultures and heritage will be held throughout the day and night.

WHERE: BAU – Siniawan Town WHO: Siniawan Development and Security Committee CONTACT: Penghulu Lai Shey Hiong at 019-818 8613 or 082-699 131

15

Miri Country Music Festival 2014 Miri Country Music Festival features both local and foreign country music bands. The day’s event include a food bazaar, games stalls, pony rides, drum and line dance workshops. Get your ticket online at www.ticketxpress.com or at ticket outlets nearest to you. In Kuching you can get it at Utopia, UCSI Communications Office (082-368 109), in Miri at Parkcity Everly Hotel and Planet Borneo Travel and Tour Services and in KK at El Centro. Each ticket is entitled to one free drink or ice cream for children.

WHERE: MIRI - Parkcity Everly Hotel HOW MUCH: Regular: Adult RM80, Child RM40, Early Bird: Adult RM60, Child RM30 WHO: UCSI Communications Sdn. Bhd. CONTACT: Ms. Letitia Samuel 082-368 109 / 0111-267 7388 / www.miricountrymusic.com

CITADINES UPLANDS KUCHING is your ideal home in the city, centrally located in the prime location of Jalan Simpang Tiga which is set to be the hub for education and local goverment offices in Kuching.

The serviced residence offers 215 stylish apartments featuring a seperate living room and a fully-equipped kitchen which provide comfort, convenience and security desired while living and working in Kuching.

With modern amenities such as a sleek home entertainment system and internet access, your home can comfortably host a party or double up as home office.

Because life is about living!

15

Colour Rush (KUCHING) The Colour Rush is a 5KM run for a cause, for children with cancer, in conjunction with the International Childhood Cancer Day 2014. The colour comes in the form of edible powder, representing our hope, faith, and strength for

TEL: 6082- 281 888 E: enquiry.kuching@the-ascott.com

www.citadines.com

FEBMAR2013WHAT’S UP-IN-OUT & ARO these children. Our run will consist of runners from all walks of life, regardless of their background. Help us make this run a fun-filled, memorable, and meaningful experience.

WHERE: KUCHING - Le Park (Taman Pertemuan), Civic Centre HOW MUCH: RM35. Register online or submit your form at Sarawak Sport Council @ Gym Counter, Gym Counter Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday (8am - 12 noon, 2pm - 8pm) WHO: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society CONTACT: Jacqueline at 012-8072228 or jacqueline.chin@sccs.org.my

16

Momentum Series 2 - 18km Run The Momentum Run is a non-competitive race,

the main objective being to prepare the runners to run a full marathon at this year’s Kuching Marathon. Scheduled in four series, the distance of each of the respective series will be increased before the true test of the runners to run a full marathon of 42.195 Km distance.

WHERE: KUCHING - MBKS HOW MUCH: RM35 WHO: Revolution Run Co. CONTACT: 016-589 2233 / therevolutionrun@gmail.com

18

Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC) Public Lecture: From “Our Common Future” to the “Tragedy of the Commons”: the Asian economic miracle revisited.

non-smoking rooms and suites

rooftop lounge

free breakfast

free wi-fi

hotel parking

Speaker: Dr. Choy Yee Keong, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Economics/Kyoto University Asian Studies Unit (KUASU), Kyoto University, Kyoto, JAPAN Contents of the lecture: - To highlight the economic growth trend in the Asian region (China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines) in recent decades - To highlight the environmental protection initiatives in the region and to examine whether they are effective in protecting the natural environment in the region - To empirically review the environmental status quo in the region - To discuss ways to strengthen environmental control based on empirical studies with the indigenous people in the tropical rainforests in Sarawak.

dining

shuttle service

concierge services

At The LimeTree, we offer modern hospitality with outstanding comfort at great value as we pride ourselves on knowing the travel needs of sophisticated travellers today.

Ideally located in Kuching city centre within the prime business and shopping district, The LimeTree Hotel is a ten-minute stroll from the Kuching Waterfront and Main Bazaar.

As a non-smoking hotel with 50 refreshing lime-theme rooms and suites, our rooms are also provided with complimentary breakfast & free wi-fi, equipped with LCD televisions, power showers, universal sockets, in-room tea/coffee making facilities and plush bedding.

Guests can savour international, Sarawakian and vegetarian delights at our Cafe Sublime or unwind at the LimeLight Rooftop Lounge while enjoying the breathtaking view of the city skyline and river. Visit our LimeTree Gift Store for lime merchandise, including lime marmalade, natural lime soaps and sweets, all made using freshly harvested limes from our plantation!

Room rates start from RM158 nett a night.

www.limetreehotel.com.my View our website for special offers and promotions

discover the zest. The LimeTree Hotel Kuching | Lot 317 Jalan Abell 93100 T: +6082-414600 E: info@limetreehotel.com.my W: www.limetreehotel.com.my Read about us on:

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 8

OUND KUCHINGFEBMAR2013 All are invited.

WHERE: KUCHING – CAIS Auditorium, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) WHO: IBEC, UNIMAS CONTACT: Chaplin Iba 082-581 000 / 082-581 388

23

Colour Rush (MIRI) The Colour Rush is a 5KM run for a cause, for children with cancer, in conjunction with the International Childhood Cancer Day 2014. The colour comes in the form of edible powder, representing our hope, faith, and strength for these children. Our run will consist of runners from all walks of life, regardless of their background. Help us make this run a fun-filled, memorable, and meaningful experience.

WHERE: MIRI - Civic Centre HOW MUCH: RM35. Register online or submit your form at Somerset Hotel Miri, No.12 Kwang Tung Road, Counter Operating Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 8.30am to 12pm.

WHO: Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society CONTACT: Jacqueline at 012-8072228 or jacqueline. chin@sccs.org.my

23

Road Share Run Road Share Run is a non-competitive 5km running event to be held in Kuching on 23rd February 2014.

This inaugural event is to be organized by Hornbill Pacesetters Running Club (HPRC), supported by the Kuching Marathon Association. Light refreshments will be provided after the run. There will also be a lucky draw after the run, all participants are entitled to the lucky draw.

The objectives of this event are: i) to raise the awareness among road runners and vehicle drivers alike on sharing the roads and observing basic, important rules on safety and to be mindful of and considerate towards each other. ii) to promote and popularise the activity of running.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 9

iii) to pledge money donations towards Sarawak Hospice Society for the cause of continuing its mission of providing a Home Care Programme, comfort and support to terminally ill cancer patients in Sarawak.

WHERE: KUCHING – Waterfront Esplanade HOW MUCH: Registration fee RM30 (includes a specially designed Quick Dry Running T-shirt). For registration forms, you can download them from: http://hornbillpacesetters.blogspot.com/ or proceed to any Coneli outlet to register and make payment WHO: Hornbill Pacesetters Running Club CONTACT: 012-8096809 / 016-8675901 / 0128083977

27

Encounter Art Exhibition by David Chew Launch of art exhibition showcasing the works of abstract impressionist artist David Chew and his students.

WHERE: Löv Gallery (next to Batik Boutique) HOW MUCH: Free WHO: Löv Gallery CONTACT: 012-238 2967 or lovgallery@gmail.com

8 MAR

Friends of Sarawak Museum "Afternoon At the Museum" Series Talk – The History of the Sibu Cantonese Settlement 2-4pm, Speaker: Mr. Choo Mun Hua, former president Sarawak Chinese Cultural Association, Executive Committee member Friends of Sarawak Museum WHERE: KUCHING - Sarawak Museum, Dewan Tun Razak Bldg, Niah Room HOW MUCH: Free WHO: Friends of Sarawak Museum (FOSM) CONTACT: Louise Macul 012-855 0588

9-11

Routes Asia 2014 – The 12th Routes Development Forum 2014 This will be the fifth time that a Routes event has

FEBMAR2014WHAT’S UP-IN-OUT & taken place in Malaysia. Routes Asia, the largest route development forum for the entire Asia region will take place from 9-11 March 2014 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, and is hosted by the State Government of Sarawak and co-hosted by Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad.

Routes Asia is the key event for airports, airlines, tourism authorities, policy leaders, keynote speakers and exhibitors to meet, do business and plan for the future. Air transport to Sarawak is served by four major airports; Kuching International Airport, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri Airports and as the region has frequent air links from major aviation hubs, Kuching is one of the most accessible cities in Malaysia. Flights to Kuching are available from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which is served by more than 50 carriers.

We look forward to seeing you at the 12th Routes Asia.

WHERE: KUCHING – Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) WHO: Hosted by the State Government of Sarawak and co-hosted by Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad CONTACT: 082-319 313 / http://www.routesonline. com/events/167/routes-asia-2014/

11-16

23rd Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 1) Boys/Girls - Singles/Doubles, Grade 1 - Surface hard/Outdoor WHERE: KUCHING – Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Centre HOW MUCH: Free WHO: ITF CONTACT: www.itfsarawak.org.my

13

Education UK Exhibition Meet representatives from 80 UK boarding schools, colleges and universities. Find a suitable UK qualification which is affordable, world-class

and matches your career ambition at British Council's Education UK Exhibition. Discover how your GREAT Britain journey begins here.

WHERE: KUCHING – Ballroom, Hilton (1 to 6pm) HOW MUCH: Free. There are lucky draw prizes to be won. Pre-register your attendance and actually attend our exhibition to stand a chance to win a prize: http://my.edukexhibitions.org/ WHO: Education UK and the British Council CONTACT: http://my.edukexhibitions.org/

16

Facon Education Fair – Kuching 2014 Facon Education Fair – Kuching 2014 is one of the largest education fairs in Malaysia. It is on Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges, Commercial Schools, Industrial Training Centers, Human Resources Training Centers, Management Institutes, Hospitality Schools, Language Schools, International Schools.

WHERE: KUCHING – Riverside Majestic Hotel HOW MUCH: Free WHO: Facon Exhibitions Sdn Bhd CONTACT: 03-7981 8766 or www.facebook.com/ faconeducationfair

22-23

Borneo Post International Education Fair 2014 Featuring public and private education providers from three different continents, the annual event showcases Malaysia's leading tertiary educational and academic training institutions.

This exclusive event will be the platform for students and parents from the region to explore quality undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in the country, thus enabling them to be equipped with the best knowledge and skills to pursue their careers.

WHERE: KUCHING – Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) WHO: BorneoPost Online supported by the Sarawak State Government CONTACT: secretariat@bpief.com

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 10

5th International Conference on Business and Economics Research Theoretical and empirical papers in all areas of Accounting, Banking, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing are invited for the above International Conference.

Include: Conference, 2 Lunch & Grand Dinner WHERE: KUCHING – Pullman Hotel HOW MUCH: Standard rates – Early bird fee RM960, Normal fee RM1120, Member fee – RM960, Student rates – Early bird fee RM860, Normal fee RM1020. Register Online at www. internationalconference.com.my WHO: Conference Master Resources

29

The MeetUpKch Youth Festival – Youth On the Loose All ages, fully supervised, drug and alcohol free.

Featuring a concert, DJs, Battle of the Bands, acoustic showcase, international skate competition, classic car showcase, go-kart, blood donation drive, Futsal competition, Muay Thai show, food stalls, flea market, wet games and much more. (All programmes are subject to change without prior notice.)

WHERE: KUCHING – Le’ Park, Civic Centre HOW MUCH: Free entry WHO: Hands Above Crown, supported by ouryouth.my CONTACT: Hanne 013-565 0651 / Cash 0111-933 3764

29-30

Let’s Share the Road Let's Share The Road is a mass cycling event in the heart of Kuching, Sarawak. Event participation is open to the public. One of the objectives of this event is to promote cycling in the city of Kuching, thus helping to reduce air pollution. Registration closing date is 8th February 2014.

29th March, 2014 (Saturday) – Let’s Share the Road KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 11

2014 (4.00pm till 8.00pm) 30th March, 2014 (Sunday) – LSTR2014 Challenges (8am till 12pm) WHERE: KUCHING – Padang Merdeka HOW MUCH: RM30 – RM170 depending on category, register at http://cyclingevents.my/lstr2014/ WHO: DBKU & KOOCH CLUB CONTACT: Encik Basil Wee/Puan Noraini Karim at 082-446 688 (132)

29

International Bamboo Legged Race (Jengking) To showcase local and traditional culture and games.

WHERE: KOTA SAMARAHAN – Mutiara Town, Tebedu, Serian WHO: Tebedu Sub-District Office CONTACT: Mr. Bai at 019-826 5234 or Mr. John Ilus at 082-875 441 / 082-797 204 Earth Hour Campaign (call for dates) In line with the world’s celebration of the Earth Hour, an hour has been allocated to observe the event. During that one hour, all electrical equipment will be switched off in effort to reduce the greenhouse effect on Earth.

WHERE: KUCHING – Padang Merdeka WHO: Kuching North City Hall CONTACT: 082-446 688 Pesta Pansuh Roban (call for dates) Pesta Pansuh Roban 2014 is an annual event to promote the local delicacies as an attraction.

Activities to be held include “memansuh” (cooking in bamboo) competition, stage show, community sports and exhibition.

WHERE: BETONG – Roban Town Square WHO: Sub-District Roban CONTACT: Mr. Laga Kueh at 013-5700511 / 083-427224 / 083-427205 / lagak@sarawak.gov. my / www.saratokdo.sarawak.gov.my

100 year-old heritage FAMILY recipe

24-25

Open Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am - 2pm, 5.30pm - 8.30pm Opposite Golf Driving Range on Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Phone: 082-239 899

& AROUND KUCHINGFEBMAR2014

Mike's Smokehouse boasts of a custom made professional smoker right here in Kuching. It is designed by former Aerospace Engineer Jacobus Witte who is originally from Holland.

"After many sketches and calculations and with only 6 weeks to deadline, this 400 kg steel smoker was supervised every day, step by step to completion."

At Mike's Smokehouse, the smoker is fired up at precisely 3.15 pm with 3 specific aromatic fruit tree woods. At 4pm, at its perfect temperature, the meat is stacked on the multiple racks with intermittent water "misting" for optimal succulence.

Then it's ready when you are!

It's better than eating at Home!

Mike (far right) and his Smokehouse happy team.

OPENING HOURS: 6.30 - 10.00 PM Monday to Saturday Tel: 082-570978 012 368 5978

No. 127-D,Green Heights Commercial Centre, 93250 Kuching Sarawak. www.facebook.com/MikesSmokehouseKuching https://twitter.com/MikesSmokehouse

13 I b KUCHING llll

by Anne, Mike, Sheena and Jenna Ong

ExCat: Chinese New Year Down Under EX-CAT Anne KIEW-Ong together with her family – ex-cat and Singaporean husband Mike, Australian born daughters Sheena (age 23), and Jenna (age 21) give us a peek into how Chinese New Year is celebrated in Perth.

ANNE: Chinese New Year in Perth is very lively in Northbridge, the entertainment district of Perth.

The highlight is lion dancing!

Recently, the Perth City Council has organised lion dancing troupes at various street corners.

It was really fabulous seeing 6 or 7 lions performing to many passersby who stopped to watch them.

The most memorable performance for me was when we went to Jade Dynasty restaurant and 6 lions came out one after the other. They were from the Shaolin Chowka Kung Fu School, Western Australia. The atmosphere was electric with all the clashing of cymbals and drumming!

Surprisingly, there were quite a few non-Chinese performers.

Now that China is Australia’s largest trading partner, there is more awareness and interest in Chinese-related events.

I'll never forget the Chinese New Year when I was in the city centre of Perth in Hay Street Mall. I happened to be wearing my red cheongsam and there was a Chinese New Year parade. The organiser asked me to lead the parade holding a placard!

MIKE: Chinese New Year here in Perth is a far cry from what I remember it to be in my

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 13

Local Australian lion dance troupe entertains crowds at Northbridge, Perth. childhood days in Singapore during the 60's. But it is heartening to see that some aspects of it are now a part of the multi-cultural character of Perth.

The noise and energy generated by the many lion dance troupes that parade through restaurants and city malls keep the central spirit very much alive even overseas where the Chinese population is relatively small.

SHEENA: Chinese New Year means getting swept up in ageold festivities and traditions that are kept alive by Chinese communities and families, both here in Australia and overseas.

Born and bred in Perth, for me those customs are a novelty that have gained warm familiarity and become part of an expression of my cultural identity.

It is a public occasion if you want

it to be; there are street activities organised by the Chung Wah group and others, inviting members of the public to experience dim sum, lion dancing, Chinese films and so on.

But CNY is a time, also, to cherish in private one's family and friends. That aspect is really felt by those with Chinese heritage.

JENNA: My most memorable Chinese New Year was when I joined a lion dance troupe.

Across the 15-day festival we performed in about 40 different locations in and around Perth: restaurants, schools and private houses.

Chinese New Year in Perth just as fun and exciting for me as it is in Singapore or Malaysia. But none of my friends can pronounce KINO Gong Xi Fa Cai!

15 BY THE WAY... llll

by Stella Chin

A Grounded Childhood My parents lived through the Japanese Occupation in the early 1940’s. Father would often reminisce about riding a bicycle armed with a cangkul (hoe) still in shirt sleeves (after office hours) with my eldest sister, who was still a toddler then, perched precariously on the handle bars to plant sweet potatoes. This was necessary to supplement the meagre food rations.

Mum too had her share of ordeals being a young war time bride, adjusting to married life, nourishing and nurturing infants in enemy occupied territory. Still, for the young and able-bodied, there was always sustenance from Mother Earth. As long as she continued to yield her fruit and man laboured hard, there was hope. Life may not have been sweet but at least the potatoes were.

Post war prosperity a few decades later saw dad cultivating the ‘haute couture’ of flowers – orchids. Personal passion and improved circumstances were reflected in the endless rows of ‘phalaenopsis’ and ‘vandas', exotic blooms and names that will forever stay etched in memory. I recall the aroma of charcoal, bricks and malathion (pesticide) wafting through the ripe rambutan trees as I climbed the ant infested branches busily munching.

For me at a tender age of 9 or 10, solace among the jambu, chiku and nangka trees was frequently sought whenever a fight erupted with my playmates (nieces and nephews next door). Once in a while pre-pubescent mood swings would see me in self

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 15

imposed exile among the fragrant pandan leaves at the far end of the garden. Our old home was a veritable Garden of Eden with a myriad of fruit trees, vegetables, ferns, flowers and potted plants. Life among the African daisies, gentian violets and arum lilies provided a natural balm, soothing growing pains.

Dad’s green fingers continued to wield their magic!

I remember, one day my baby girl thrust a wilting alamander flower in my hand. She must have been about 4 at the time. Before I could deliver another lecture on indiscriminate mutilation of flora and fauna (few and far in between as my fingers are not green, not even the slightest shade of) she said quickly, “It’s for you mum… I didn’t pluck it… I picked it up from the ground”.

Then she smiled her little beguiling smile. Moved and amused more by her toothless

grin than anything else, I gave in and gave her a hug. Later I discovered that prior to her ‘spontaneous gesture’ she had deflowered all the bougainvilleas (where have all the flowers gone!?) to cook lunch for her starving teddy bear. Sigh... when will they ever learn?

Dad is 94 this year. No longer able to swing a cangkul but his eyes will light up at the sight of greenery as we drive along the road. They say long term memory gets sharper with age and I am sure he still sees himself digging in the ground under the hot sun, muscular arms wiping sweat off furrowed brow… and the sweet potatoes have never tasted KINO sweeter.

Stella Chin is a lawyer and a happy wife and mother of 3 children who enjoys writing, while dancing keeps her on her toes.

16 KINO FRUIT TALES

by Annie Mehra Cannon

of STINK KING To die for or to die from I love this time of year.

From November through to February, the rainy season, it’s not too hot and gentle fresh breezes waft in from the veranda.

Bright blue kingfishers chirp loudly and enjoy regular dunks in the pool.

The family of macaques who live in our luxurious rainforest we call a garden exchange friendly banter.

The delicious scent of frangipani and Star of India jasmine fills in the air… …but wait…what’s that other aroma?

OMG, that’s not an “aroma”…

Eeeewwww!

I forgot. It’s also Durian season… ...that time of year when obsessed people rush to buy the spiky, stinky orbs from the market and street sellers, and, despite the often high price, literally gorge themselves on the King of Fruit while it is readily available.

(Before I moved to Kuching, I thought the King of Fruit was Liberace… ) I don’t get it.

I wish I did. At this time of year, when Durian is presented as the prize dessert after dinner parties, I feel left out. I am left out. I literally have to leave the room, sometimes even the house.

And yet, friends tell me it’s better than wine, better than chocolate, better than sex.

Give me a break!

My first introduction to Durian was on a river cruise here in Kuching. We were hosting a group of Chinese clients and their families and showing them the magnificent sights along the

riverbank. Little did I realise that when we were all ushered below from the top deck to a waiting spread of makan, it would be made up mostly of Durian with a few gratuitous bits of melon and pineapple thrown in.

Now, I’m not good on boats at the best of times. My husband reckons I get seasick looking at a goldfish bowl. So being on a moving vessel, facing a table, stretching the length of the cabin, laden with platters of stinky, repugnant gobs of custardy yellow flesh had me reeling and very close to hanging my head over the side.

To be polite, I did taste it — I had a tiny little piece, which, if truth be known, I found very hard to swallow.

Our guests on the other hand, were diving in headfirst, often foregoing spoons and just tearing the flesh with their hands and slipping it into their mouths, their fingers stained yellow and sticky with Durian goo. Durian being a very expensive and sought after luxury in China, these guys were not going to miss out.

By the time the cruise had ended, the table was littered with over a hundred Durian husks.

Go figure.

This is my second Durian season in Kuching.

Having witnessed firsthand, what I perceive as, a completely irrational passion for this revered fruit, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that I still seem to have the polar opposite reaction.

Mind you, I am passionate too. I passionately hate the stuff.

I have friends who insist that I should keep trying, that suddenly my desire for Durian will be as overwhelming as theirs

HOW TO CHOOSE A DURIAN KINO photographer Jong Saw Kang had the idea to spend a day with Sim Khoon Yong to document how he handpicks durians from 25 families in the outskirts of Kuching.

The day starts at 4 am for Ah Yong every day during the durian season.

Driving his van to each family who cheerfully awaits him and his wife, it has been years that Ah Yong, Kuching's true connoisseur of excellent durian, has been buying from them. Between Ah Yong and these families, it's a long history of trust, kindness and sharing. "Know the tree and you will know the quality of the fruit. I buy from the individual families without having to open the durians, because I know the origins of the fruit". At noon, Ah Yong is back in Kuching in time for lunch. At 1 pm, we can see him at Wayang Street with his van full of the best handpicked durians for sale.

In this pictorial account of Ah Yong's day, we ask him for pointers on how to pick the best durian. Editor

by Sim Khoon Yong (a.k.a. Ah Yong),

4 a.m.

On the road to hunt for the best durians outside Kuching.

...and the winner is... and, from then on, I too will become a convert and have a powerful insatiable craving for it.

They say it’s like blue cheese — an acquired taste.

Hmmm.

Maybe what I should be doing is taking the gentle approach, instead of going cold turkey with the fruit itself. Perhaps I should start by ordering Durian Cheesecake at Secret Recipe…although, having said that, I’m not crazy about cheesecake either.

Or Durian Puffs, which I spotted in a hotel bakery and which, I have to say, did look attractive.

I could try a lick of some Durian-flavoured iced cream, or gelato? Yes, that’s a definite possibility.

I have actually tried Durian chips from Thailand, which, believe it or not, I really liked, but I’m told they are made from unripe Durian, which is mild and doesn’t have the same stench (oops I mean ‘aroma’) as the ripe varieties.

Once I tasted Bornean Wild Durian, which had white, and not yellow, flesh and I could tolerate that.

Just.

The friends with whom I shared it were effusive in their praise. Wild Durian is a rarity it seems. Frankly they couldn’t get enough of it, whilst I took the tiniest fragment and held my nose while I chewed and swallowed.

British naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, writing about Durian in 1856, provides this much quoted description: “The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the edible part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich, custard, highly flavoured with

almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherrywine, and other incongruous dishes.

Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp, which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. ...as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour, it is unsurpassed.”

Anthony Bourdain, acclaimed chef and food writer and another Durian lover proclaims, ”Its taste can only be described as...indescribable, something you will either love or despise. ...

Your breath will smell as if you'd been French-kissing your dead grandmother."

And he still likes it?? Go figure…

And more opinion from Travel and Food Writer, Richard Sterling, “...its odour is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away.”

(I don’t think Richard Sterling likes it…)

Never have I encountered such an exalted, talked about, written about, reviled, yet adored food group. Yes, I am beginning to think Durian is a food group all on its own.

But I still think it’s vile. (continued)

Kuching's connoisseur of durians. Photography by Jong Saw Kang SHAPE

Long, round or uneven is not important. Spaced out or not, spikes do not indicate the quality of the durian.

Smell

It has to have a "Chang-pang" (fresh) smell. Too perfumed means it's overripe. From the light colour of the stem, you can see that it has just dropped.

COLOUR

Yellow does not mean it's ripe.

Some durians are yellow . It's the smell that can tell you of it's ripeness.

KINO Fruit Tales 18 (continued)

myths

PHOTO: EDWARD C. K. YONG

FACTS 1. The fruit is native to Southeast Asia.

2. There are 30 recognised Durio species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit.

3. There are literally hundreds of Durian cultivars with some preferred varieties fetching very high prices (such as the D24, Sultan and Mao Shan Wang in Singapore).

3. Durian trees are majestic and can grow from 25 to 50 metres (80 - 164 feet) in height.

4. There are one or two flowering and fruiting periods per year.

5.The name ‘Durian’ comes from the

Indonesian and Malaysian word duri (thorn).

6. This species is open-pollinated, hence it shows huge diversity in colour, odour, size of flesh, seed and tree.

7. The centre of ecological diversity for Durians is the island of Borneo, where the fruit of the edible species of Durio including D. zibethinus, D. dulcis, D. graveolens, D. kutejensis, D. oxleyanus and D. testudinarum are sold in local markets.

8. Durians are banned from certain hotels and public transportation because of their overpowering aroma.

The fruit is loaded with bad cholesterol. Only animals and animal products contain bad cholesterol. Durian is a fruit.

Mixing alcohol and Durian is lethal.

There have been reports of people dying after consuming Durian and drinking alcohol like whisky or beer however there is no real scientific evidence. I do know that you may feel uncomfortable bloating after Durian-ing and Drink-ing. Play it safe. Don’t do it.

Durians have eyes and will not fall on your head.

There are people who believe this. If you are in a Durian forest, the good news is Durians usually fall at night and some may drop after a storm.

Durians are aphrodisiacs. Some believe that Durian does wonders for your sex drive.

There’s an Indonesian saying, “durian jatuh, sarong naik” which means the Durian falls, the sarong comes up. Since I have no firsthand experience, I can’t comment.

Get rid of the smell by drinking water from the husk. Many people believe that pouring water into the shell and drinking it after consuming the fruit will get rid of bad breath. Others say that adding salt to the water will also get rid of the heat you feel after eating lots of Durian.

A.M.C.

HOW TO CHOOSE A DURIAN "Mountain or flatland soil makes a Yellow flesh

WEIGHT Lighter weight durians indicate less or smaller sized seeds. A better choice for more flesh..

From the outside, it is not possible to tell the colour of the flesh. Knowing the tree can give you a good indication.

TO SHAKE OR NOT TO SHAKE...

Although I do prefer to shake the durian it does not guarantee the right choice. If you hear the sound of detached fruits it can mean that it is ripe.

But often, there is no sound and this does not mean that it is unripe. Some of the best durians do not make any noise when shaken. It is again the knowledge of which tree the fruit comes from that gives me the guarantee.

It is wholesome and rich in texture with that ever so subtle taste of durian Tampoyak (fermented durian). Creamy without the use of any dairy products, this soup is a meal in itself.

From SHACK restaurant on 33 Carpenter Street, this recipe is well worth being added to the family "must make" collection. Editor

DURIAN TEMPOYAK SOUP

TEMPOYAK: Ingredients FOR 2 kg: 5 whole durian fruit / 1 kg of coarse salt. Mix the durian flesh with salt. Let it ferment for at least 3-6 months. The longer it is, the better the taste.

TEMPOYAK Goreng 2 rice ladle scoops of Tempoyak /2 chopped shallots and cili padi /50gm pounded anchovies.

Stir-fry everything until golden brown. Garnish with some sliced cili padi.

KINO PHOTO: JONG SAW KANG

Ingredients FOR 4 SERVINGS: 2 big rice ladle scoops of Tempoyak 5 cili padi 1 clove of garlic 2 shallots 2 stalks of lemongrass 4 slices of ginger 6 pieces of chicken meat Boil 500ml water. Pound the cili padi, garlic, shallots and lemongrass. Add to the boiling water with the tempoyak, ginger slices and chicken. Cook for 15-20 minutes until creamy.

Garnish with some sliced cili padi and parsley. Serve hot.

difference in the quality of the fruit."

11 a.m.

Van full of handpicked durians, it's time to return to Kuching.

BIGGEST ERROR Wanting the biggest durian.

The size has no bearings on the quality. Often the big durians have coarser flesh and are not creamy.

20 KINOHERITAGE THROUGH OBJECTS

by Anthony Frederick Ward

Once upon a time in

China

A 1260 year old story celebrating filial love and loyalty is retold in the gold and silken embroidered threads of this 150 year old family banner.

The banner is from the Nelson Tan NFS Collection. Photography by the author.

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 20

Cultural exploration carries with it all the same anticipation, excitement and reward of discovery as geographers of old experienced.

The map for this journey is another treasure from the NFS collection of Nelson Tan. A banner (50cm X 175cm) in which intricate silk and gold embroidery and once vibrant colour emblazons a complex story in pictures and symbols. A perfect picture that is worth a thousand words….

No human cultural tradition transcends time and nations more persistently than the telling of stories to ordinary folk, communicating wisdom and knowledge.

From the sheltered wall of the cave before language to the HD flat screen stories are retold perpetuating human values and ideals to all who congregate to hear; to see them.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 21

A medium for the storytelling arises from the culture. Coming from the collective consciousness of folklore the story evolves to its demands and the expectations of its audience.

The great Tang general Guo Ziyi 郭 子儀 697-781 was a good and loyal man serving three emperors, bringing peace to the empire. At the end of his life, at the behest of the Jade Emperor, he was brought to Heaven where he resides as the God of Prosperity and Happiness.

The General had seven sons and eight daughters …

The Emperor DaiZong 唐代宗 727779 seeking to reward his aging General for his service to the Empire gives his beloved, wilful daughter to be the wife of the General’s sixth son, due to tragic circumstances, now the General’s successor.

The Princess ShengPing 升平 is

headstrong and royal. The son Guo Ai 郭 曖, till that time, is carefree without the expectations and demands arising from being his father’s successor.

Their relationship is not without friendship and a growing mutual love and affection. But marriage between a royal family and a common one however ennobled by the deeds of the General, is fraught by challenges.

Arguing with ShengPing the worth of their fathers Guo Ai utters treason in his father’s eyes, who is duty bound to place him at the Emperor’s mercy, with beheading a possible outcome; ignoring ShenPing's pleading for his life. In full knowledge of the incident the emperor’s wisdom (不痴不聾，不作家翁。兒女 子閨房之言，何足聽也！When the son and daughter fight, it is better as old men to pretend to be deaf!) reunites the tumultuous couple. (continued)

22 KINOHERITAGE THROUGH OBJECTS (continued)

On the occasion of the aging General’s 70th birthday the Princess chooses not to attend celebrations.

Angered at ShengPing’s lack of respect for his parents, while drunk, Guo Ai strikes the Princess. The General knows that striking the daughter of the Emperor must be punished, and imprisons his own son. Once again ignoring ShengPing’s pleading for the life of the man she loves, the General brings him before the Emperor for judgment and possible beheading.

Again wisdom and love prevail and the couple are reunited to age, prosper and be happy together; honouring their families united in an Empire prospering in peace. These events in an ancient capital became folklore as 醉打金枝

Striking The Princess (While Drunk) re-emerging in popular media since about 760 AD. It was retold in the early repertoire of the Beijing Opera, and retold more recently several times as film and a television series with glittering stars.

Narrated in precious silk and gold thread on a banner from China 150 years ago .

The banner was hung across a main doorway on those auspicious days celebrated in a family home. Greeting guests and blessing the family gathered, who preserved and displayed it.

The intricately embroidered panel is not Malaysian in origin, although there are many beautifully made ones that are.

The artisan weavers and embroiderers who created it painting with a needle,

Golden threads amongst the silk Whilst silk fabric was known elsewhere in the old world as early as 2000 BC, taking the protein fibre directly from the cocoon of the moth Bombyx mori is a uniquely Chinese technique dating from the Zhou dynasty 1125-255 BC. A lowly art form in its country of origin, Chinese artisans embellished this lustrous fabric with silken embroidery - cixiu or huixiu - to clothe Emperors and the highest dignitaries. Every task in the manufacture of an embroidered silken artefact was the specialisation of separate embroiderers – guxiu shifu. Silk was limited by imperial decree to the ruling classes until the Song dynasty but a protected, valuable trade good with the world outside its borders.

Gold, the rarest, most valued of metals, in the hands of the embroiderers brought its scintillating brilliance and worth, a heaven sent blessing to bestow on the piece’s earthly owners and patrons of its creation.

Women preparing silk, painting by Emperor Huizong of Song, early 12th century.

(Wikimedia Commons)

were Chinese. The family who 150 years ago commissioned it were Chinese. The workshop where it was made was accessible to the original family home in China.

How is it that it was found in Kuching? Showing the wear and tear of a long life, its survival confirms its worth and significance in many hands that made it and that carefully unfolded and displayed it with pride at many significant family celebrations through generations.

The pursuit of a better life for the family was the motivation for the Chinese diaspora in all eras. But to carry this valuable, fragile and significant family treasure on a journey to what was once upon a time a new world, far away, suggests it was a family’s journey to a new and hopefully better future. A journey resulting in a small branch of a giant cultural tree encoded with the order and civility of dynastic China, its stories and celebrations, taking root in alien soil, fusing with it to prosper and be enriched anew.

Folklore is the underlying human story, a spontaneous human invention that from a narrative’s inception survives and flourishes across time through its retelling.

Perhaps out of necessity, it has been relinquished by those who caused it to be created, ceasing to have to go to work every family celebration doing what it was made for. Without conservation, it will return to the magic dust that silk worms, gold smiths and a small army of weavers and embroiderers first brought together in this panel. But the story will KINO last … forever after. www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 22

23 新年好 llll

by Anthony Frederick Ward

A Personal Zodiac

ooooooo oo

As an image maker and writer, advantaged in my reflection by a craft and language that are not at all Chinese, a cultural fusion has taken place.

oo

ooooo oo

While born in another place and culture in the year of the Goat (1943) a new awareness of my own inner diversity and a connection to the characteristics of each of the mythic beasts has emerged, and the universality of its wisdom been revealed.

oooooooooo oo o

As the year of the Serpent has uncoiled so also has my understanding of the layered complexity and worth of the Chinese Zodiac.

At the end of one year I humbly share with all who come here this discovery; as a vehicle for my best wishes for the year that is to come.

During 2014 the complete suite of zodiac images and personal reflections are to be collated and internationally published collectively as a book and exhibition together with two other designers from the Americas and Australia exploring other cultural bestiaries.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 23

Heaven blessed this beastie, truly Royal; To be Man’s guiding strength and loyal.

Nature’s gift to him – an unflinching heart With the eye of a deadly speeding dart.

But conflict’s clamorous call slowly fades Leaving him standing, watching parades.

24 KINOEDUCATION by Lionel Crooson

The Abacus

The Art of Mental Math

Fivefold Bead = 5

Central Bar

Reference Mark

Single Unit Bead = 1

One morning in January, during a stroll along the streets of Kuching, I pushed open the door of a small school stationery shop in Carpenter Street, one of the capital’s most picturesque streets. Among the piles of exercise books, erasers and pencils, there were a number of small wooden abacuses, similar to those which were used in the old days. “Do you still have customers for these old-fashioned abacuses?” I asked the shopkeeper. “Of course, I sell them mainly to schoolchildren”, she replied.

So, contrary to what I thought, the famous Chinese abacus, the suan pan, has not been abandoned totally.

It has a very long history. In ancient times, people first moved around pebbles just lying on the ground to do calculations. Then the Greek and Romans came up with the idea of moving the pebbles along grooves carved on wooden tables. As it was a bit cumbersome to carry around, in the 1st Century AD, these primitive abacuses evolved into small marble or metal plates with a series of parallel grooves, in which partially www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 24

The Chinese abacus, or suan pan, can be used for the four common arithmetic operations as well as to extract square roots at lightning speed. The learning curve can be long, but newcomers will enjoy sliding the beveled beads of this fabulous wooden calculator to undertake simple calculations.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 25

independently both ends of the world.

Whatever the real story, the suan pan has been modified numerous times since the 12th century, its latest modernisation dates from the 1930’s. In the current configuration, it has 13 to 27 rods which have each, in the upper compartment or deck, a single bead carrying the value of 5 in its column and in the lower deck, four beads carrying the value of 1 in their column.

These total 9 and the user has to switch to the next rod

KINO PHOTOS: JONG SAW KANG

embedded small buttons could slide up and down.

These “antiquity pocket calculators” preceded the suan pan, which appeared in China in 12th century AD. Two hundred years later it had spread throughout the entire Ming Empire. Adopted in Korea, it arrived soon in Japan under the name of soroban. As similar types of abacuses could also be found in Turkey and Russia, there is a hypothesis that the concept may have arrived in Asia via the Silk Road, but one may well imagine that the inventions arrived

26 KINOEDUCATION (continued)

when the number 10 is reached. The Chinese abacus therefore uses the decimal numeral system. It allows the computation of all the basic arithmetic operations and even to extract square roots. In expert hands, it proves amazingly efficient for complex calculations.

Nevertheless, it cannot match the rapidity of today’s electronic pocket calculators, which dethroned it towards the end of the 1970’s.

The abacus has not said its last word though.

Thanks to its pedagogic values for learning mental calculation, numerous schools still use it. Some advanced pupils even manage to perform calculations by just imagining the bead movements without physically using an abacus. To keep this cultural asset alive, several international associations have been set up, including the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic, founded in 2002 in Beijing, to unite the efforts of several countries including Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.

Having made up my mind to learn how to calculate with an abacus, I continued my stroll along the streets of Kuching. I dreamt of the time when the majestic abacus, made of ivory and lacquered wood, sat prominently on top of the cash box of every shop in Carpenter Street…

KINO

First Steps...

1. Familiarize yourself with the suan pan In the upper deck, each rod carries a single bead carrying the value of 5. In the lower deck, the same rod has 4 beads carrying the value of 1. When lying against the frame, these beads do not carry a value. They become “active” i.e. start carrying a value, when they have been moved to the central beam. Each rod corresponds to a rank in the decimal system. For example, from left to right, it represents thousands, hundreds, tens, and single units. Calculation is usually started on one of the middle rods, to reserve the rods to its right for the decimal, etc.

2. Set a number:

3874

Start on the rod standing for thousands, on the left: activate three beads from the lower deck by moving them towards the central beam. On the rod depicting hundreds (second from the left) similarly activate the bead carrying the value of 5 (in the upper deck) and three beads from the lower deck. On the rod depicting tens (third from the left), activate the upper bead and two beads from the lower deck. Finally, on the rod depicting the single units (fourth from the left) activate four beads from the lower deck.

3. Performing an addition:

3874 + 235

After having set the number 3874, start the addition from the left, first adding 200 to the rod of the hundreds. As this rod has already mobilized 8 beads (in red in the picture), carry over the complement over 9 to the next rod to the left (the rod of the thousands). You obtain 0 hundreds and 4 thousands. Move then to the tens, adding 30. To enter 7+3, proceed as previously by carrying over the complement over 9 to the next rod on the left (the hundreds). You obtain 0 tens and one hundred.

Finally add the units in the same way. Comparing the first and last settings of the abacus, the addition was in reality performed as follows (see the first and the last picture): 3875 + 1000 -700 - 70 +5. To subtract, multiply, divide and extract square root, one similarly adds or removes beads.

4. Performing a subtraction:

4109 – 2012

First set the number 4109 (see last figure on the left). Always start the operation from the left: Remove (inactivate) 2 from the rod depicting the thousands, leaving 2. Next rod to the right (hundreds): nothing to remove. But to remove 12 from 9, you need to involve the hundreds: first inactivate one “hundred” bead (by pushing it down towards the exterior frame) and activate 9 tens (i.e. you activate all the beads of that rod), then remove 2 from the 9 (see picture below). This amounts to have done -12 = -100 + 90 + 2. The result is 2097.

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 26

3

8 7

+ 200

= 4

0 7

4

+ 30

= 4

1 0

4

+5

= 4

1 0

9

- 2012

= 2 0 9

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 27

7

4

The Suan pan has 13 to 27 parallel rods. Each rod supports one bead carrying the value of 5 in the upper deck, and four beads carrying unit values in the lower deck, the five beads totaling thus the value of 9. The beads only acquire their values when they are pushed up towards the central beam. They are beveled to allow easy and fast handling.

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29 Dog's Life llll

by Ruyi Jing

The Hunter’s Hunter

But these are actually hunting specialists well-known in the wilds of Borneo, but rare outside of Southeast Asia. They are the indigenous hunter’s best assistants when it comes to sensing prey in the wild. And they have an unusual ability for climbing trees. They are also suspected to be similar to the Telomian breed from Peninsular Malaysia which is probably the missing link between the Egyptian Basenji, and the Australian Dingo.

In the pack, these dogs can bring down prey much larger than themselves. Without them, it is much harder for hunters to return with heavy wild boar or deer. One good-sized wild boar could feed a family for days. It is no surprise that these dogs are valued treasures in the interior of Sarawak and are regarded as family members for the role they play in bringing home the bacon.

In the remote village of Ba’ kelalan, Kading Sultan is one of the best hunters and his pack of dogs are the cream of hunters’

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 29

Kadin Sultan and one of his pack of hunting dogs. hunters up there. Hunting dogs, however are not born with the gift. It takes years of dedication and effort by both human and dog to attain and synchronise their hunting rhythm, from sniffing out prey to not getting lost in the jungle and most importantly not being injured by the prey.

Because of this, choosing the right hunting dog is of the utmost importance. The Lun Bawang community in Ba’Kelalan has a unique and bizarre way of doing this. The first thing they would do is to flip the dogs upside down and observe the pattern of nipples. The pattern decides if a

Short haired, sharp eared and four-legged, the hunting dog commonly called "Pariah" is the most underrated of Malaysia’s local canines. dog will grow up to be a great hunting dog.

“Nipple patterns differ between male and female dogs”, explained Kading. He proceeded to sketch out nipple patterns on a piece of paper explaining how good hunting dogs are chosen. Like a game of "connect-the-dots", the nipples form various patterns. (continued)

COPYRIGHT: EDWIN MERU

The indigenous people in the jungles of Borneo hunt for meat.

This is their main source of protein. It is their survival. For this they require the help of the best hunters of all – the hunter’s hunter. Short haired, sharp eared and four-legged, the hunting dog is the most underrated of Malaysia’s local canines. We call them “Pariah” and in town, they make up most of the strays, commonly seen wandering the back lane of shop houses.

30 Dog's Life llll

(continued)

What we city folks take as an unattractive, worthless, local breed compared to the expensive pedigrees that we import is so important to the indigenous hunters that they are worth up to thousands of ringgit sometimes.

But more importantly these dogs can be the difference between hunger and a full belly for a family living in the deep forest of Sarawak.

Kadin Sultan showing his sketch of nipple pattern for male and female hunting dogs.

The old ways of Sarawak are fast disappearing as development makes its relentless march onwards. Traditional hunting with dogs is going the way of the old. Even in the villages today, the supply of meat could be bought from small village

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shops and many talented hunters have gone to work in the city, in search of better opportunities.

Still, hunting dogs have always been an important element in their lives and will always be a part of the village family.

For the rest of us in the city, perhaps it is time to look at unassuming little dogs on the street with new eyes. They are not worthless. They are not unattractive and they are not ‘Pariah’. In another world, they have earned their place in the families that they serve. It is high time we avow them the same value in our lives not as hunters but definitely as protectors and KINO loyal friends.

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34 KINOYOYOKIDS

by Mel Wu

The Downs & Ups of a

YOYO KID www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 34

hen the yoyo craze arrived on the shores of Kuching, buffeted by an anime called ‘Super Yoyo’, Ryan Han knew exactly where he stood in the line of aspiring players.

“I hated it. I really despised it and resented it,” he said, firing off an arsenal of English words that was impressive for a student who was labeled “no hope”by a teacher.

Now 26 years old, Ryan recalled how the idea of it repelled him. While the 2004 yoyo revival found followers among his friends and siblings, Ryan laughed it off as a kid’s toy.

“My brother brought a yoyo back home. I asked him why he was playing a kid's toy. I criticised and laughed at him.

Later my friends invited me to play, saying that this was the trend but I said it was not my thing.”

Eventually, Ryan started watching the Japanese cartoon and was intrigued by what hooked his brother and his friends.

“Why does it make them so happy? I wanted to find out more so I went to the store and bought a yoyo.”

In 2004, Ryan was at a crossroads. A state badminton player since he was 10 years old, he realised in Form Two that he was only as good as the gold medals he brought home. He was a loser the moment the gold slipped from his fingers, tossed aside like a battered shuttlecock.

“I realise that when I was their star, they treated me right, but after I lost the gold, they started to treat me like I’m second class. So what’s the point of all this, when nobody will motivate you to go to the next level?”

His unhappiness over this affair resulted in him quitting the team. He never picked up a racket again.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 35

In Form Three, the yoyo taunted him with possibilities. For that first week, he limited his playing to his room, looking for answers at the end of a string.

That same week, Ryan crossed the thin line between hate and love.

“I realised that it was something I can work with. I’m not a good student. I don’t like books. I like skills, and I found something that challenged me.”

While mastering ‘rock the baby’ and ‘walk the dog’ was the height of talent at the time, Ryan didn’t realise how far the string could stretch.

When he saw a flyer announcing the visit of yoyo masters, Ryan didn’t think it was a very big deal. It didn’t stop him from getting into a taxi and heading out to Sarawak Plaza to see what it was about.

“I was stunned by their performance,” he said. “It was beyond crazy. At that point in time, I could not do those tricks. Those were crazy tricks. I would not be able to do it without training.”

He went home that day with plenty on his mind. Was this what he wanted to do with his life? Was he ready for the next level? Ryan was sure of one thing: he needed something special in his life that nobody else was doing.

“The next day, I went back. After the show, I went to talk to them. I wanted to know more. They explained how to learn more and how to become a yoyo master.

They showed me all the tricks and the styles. Then I practiced.”

A few months later, he joined the Super Yoyo East Malaysian Championship and lost in the final round.

“For the first time in my life, I had something that I was very satisfied with.

All my life, I was a sportsman. Trained and played under Sarawak Badminton Association. Won a lot of gold medals for Sarawak. But it was for them, not for me,” Ryan said.

“For the first time, I can say that this is something that I love and I want.”

His passion got him branded ‘crazy’ by both family and friends. After the trend cooled off, his friends moved on to the next "in" thing. When Ryan stood his ground, they laughed and called him ‘the yoyo fool’. His family objected outright. A yoyo was a toy, nothing more, and Ryan would fare better if only he returned to his badminton.

But nothing could put out his fire now that it was burning. He just had to go burn underground for a couple of years while he mastered his tricks. The yoyo fool practiced every day, all through PMR and SPM, and through the laughter of his then-friends.

“Eventually nobody liked me. Today, they don't really recognise me anymore.

I've been performing everywhere. They look at me and walk away. But that doesn't matter anymore.”

Ryan’s siblings have gotten used to the fact that he is a yoyo player and trainer by profession. His late mother gave him money to buy his yoyos, thinking that it was at least a good past time.

His father still doesn’t acknowledge his choice of career.

“Sometimes he doesn’t want to tell people. If people tell him they saw me on TV, my daddy will just walk away. He doesn’t want to hear the story. He is not proud of me, but I don’t blame him.”

Ryan said that it was not enough even to have a shop selling yoyos and his own brand of yoyo strings; and a series of competitions in places (continued)

KINO PHOTOS: JONG SAW KANG

W

36 KINOYOYOKIDS (continued) like Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Terengganu and Singapore. To his father, it was still a toy.

“Maybe he thinks it's cool for me, but not cool for him. I still respect him as a dad, but I have my own opinions. Just let him be. I know that one day, he will realise that this is a good thing,” Ryan said.

Ryan estimated that about 100 students have passed through his tutelage since he began teaching in 2007.

“They come in and out of this team.

Some learn for two months and quit.

Some learn for six months and then they find some other kind of passion to move on to. Some have parents who said studying is more important. Some are with me till today.”

is able to offer youngsters a different perspective to life and open up their eyes to what else life has to offer other than studying.

“I’m not saying it’s bad, but children these days spend so much time studying that they don’t know what they want in life. When you ask them, they say they

don’t know. They let their parents choose for them.”

If his students choose to stay with the yoyo, Ryan is more than happy to keep mentoring them. But at the end of the day, he wants them to know that it is up to them to choose their direction in life.

“Studying is important to get a good degree and a good job, but will that satisfy you? I see a lot of people who get a good salary but are not happy.”

At the same time, he admitted that it was a hard

As most of his students are young, it puts him in a position to be a big brother figure. This makes him happy because he

Adrian Goh - 10 yrs

Chai Xiang Yu - 16 yrs

Ryan Han - 26 yrs

The beauty of yoyo is that it is an ever-evolving art form with new tricks, methods, styles and concepts being developed every day. road and many parents want their children to play it safe.

“They should know that life is not safe; it’s dangerous,” Ryan said.

The beauty of yoyo is that it is an ever-evolving art form with new tricks, methods, styles and concepts being developed every day.

“Yoyo is a passion, not just a toy. The Japanese understand this.

It is a way to express yourself.”

As an example, Ryan revealed that he got beaten in competition last July by a 6-year old Japanese boy, nicknamed the Yoyo Baby. But that will not stop him

from striving to the next level.

“It’s a long term thing. That's why yoyo is alive. If there’s no passion, it is totally dead. You can see when people use passion to play, and no passion to play.

There is a difference.”

And passion is a very important thing that has kept Ryan and his dreams afloat this far.

“Passion is not about money. The money will come later. If you have passion, money will come,” he said.

And very quickly, Ryan added with a grin, “If you don’t have passion, money will still come, but you’re not KINO happy.”

Happy Wong - 8 yrs

Sharon Sim - 20 yrs

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39 HEALTH llll

by Ruth Welling

World of Dementia 26 years ago I was a young junior nursing sister working in a big public hospital in Sydney, Australia and I needed to supplement my income for a major holiday. This resulted in me securing a second job in a dementia-specific aged care centre. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was promoted to Director of Nursing of the centre and I was not even 30 years old! The staff and patients felt that they could not address such a young person as “Matron.” So I was affectionately known as “Matron Ruth.”

This new role started my introduction into the world of dementia. I soon began to realise that when a person in the family suffers from dementia; the whole family is affected, not just the person with the disease.

Therefore, support for the family is just as important as to the person with the disease.

While it is true that dementia is more prevalent amongst people 65 years and above, it is not exclusive to the aged nor is it a normal part of ageing. Some young people can be affected by dementia too. In the mid – late 1980s, I have nursed a number of young men in their 30s with AIDS affected dementia and some relatively young people in their 40s with Parkinson’s affected dementia.

It is important to note; dementia in itself is not a disease. It is merely a word to describe a collection of symptoms. Those symptoms are caused by conditions affecting the brain.

Some of the common conditions affecting the brain are; • AIDS related dementia • Parkinson’s Disease • Huntington’s Disease • Alcohol related dementia known as Korsakoff's Syndrome • Alzheimer’s Disease • Lewy Body dementia • Frontal Lobar Degeneration • Vascular dementia • Down’s Syndrome Dementia is a progressive condition; meaning; once a person has it; the symptoms will deteriorate. The speed of deterioration differs from one sufferer to another. I also strongly believe that it is dependent on the management of the condition by the family and healthcare professionals.

Some of the more common symptoms of dementia are; • Progressive and frequent memory loss • Confusion to time, place or to

PART 1 of 2

persons • Personality change e.g. a normally passive person might turn into a physically aggressive person • Apathy and withdrawal • Loss of ability to perform everyday activities of daily living such as dressing, undressing or taking a bath It is also important to note that not everyone with the above symptoms have dementia related conditions. Other non-dementia related conditions such as depression, infections or brain tumours may manifest some of the above symptoms.

That is why proper medical diagnosis is essential to rule out other non-dementia related conditions first. These days there are medications to slow the progress of dementia but medications should not be exclusively used to manage the condition. Research has shown that emotional support and appropriate management therapies are paramount in managing the progression and symptoms of the dimentia. As our country’s population ages, we will be seeing increasing incidences of dementia, it is our role to learn how to treat KINO sufferers respectfully.

Ruth Welling, an ex-Cat has called Australia home for the past 35 years.

She is an aged care expert who has presented at national and international conferences. Until recently she was the Executive Director for a group of aged care facilities and retirement villages in Australia. She can be contacted on rwelling21@gmail.com

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BDC: K8, 8G Boulevard Shopping Mall: 2, K3, K6, K10, K13, 3A, Cat Museum: K5, K5C, K15 J a lan Green Heights Commercial Center: 8G Hilton Hotel: K2, K2, K16 Jalan Hospital Umum: 1F/1FA, 2, 3A, 6, 1C,K6, K8, K10, K5, K5C, K15 BJalan atu Astana: LintaK12 Jalan Green: n g K18 Jalan Hj Taha: K12, Jalan Matang: K7 Jalan Satok: K7, K5, K5C, K15 Stutong: 8G,this K8 Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ) is the first private Jalan hospital side of Premier 101: 8G town and provides for the health and medical needsJalan ofMasjid residents in and the (Bus Station yellow green buses Jln. Kwon Lee Bank: K2,K1, K16 To S greater Stutong area and beyond. Considering the distances and traffic to Jln. Padungan: K2, K1, K11, K16 eria n other medical facilities, it’s a good location for a hospital!

Jln. Pending: K2, K1, K16 Jln. Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce: K12, Konsulat Indonesia: 8G, K8 Kuching Sentral Station: K3, K6, K10, K13 Kuching Specialist Centre: K8 New Stutong Market: K8 Regional Bus Terminal: 1FA, 2, 3A, K3, K6, K10, K13 Sarawak Plaza: K2, K1, K11, K16 2

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That’s what Stutong used to be Jalan Kulas J a l when our grandparents were young and our parents, J alan aSnaPtok Jatoo lanlong Satoago, k soldiers usedJto e n d i n g still. Not alapractise younger n S atok their shooting skills a stone’s throw away from a settlement of squatters 20 minutes south by southeast of Jalan Rubber z a k Kuching city. Over the years, its mushroomed into one of the highest valued real estate in Cat City, and comes complete a topJala endnsupermarket, a nature park, a Sungaiwith Apong Nanas J. Beats Fishing Village fresh produce market, a private hospital, great adruand ddinan international school where the squatter settlement used to be. Step into Stutong as KINO walks you through this nook that has transformed from bush to bustling suburb.

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By Lu Chern & Ruyi Jing

For the Health Conscious Sama Jaya Nature Reserve Get healthy in this lovely little enclave of nature. Jog, cycle, walk and say hello to the resident macaques. But don’t feed them!

They’ll get used to it and get aggressive. This is a great place for bird-watching and an affordable way to get fit!

RGER U B T C E PROJ

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PHOTO: ROBIN WONG

Calvin Kho is the brains behind the healthiest burgers in town. Don’t worry, they are delicious too! Fresh mince, grilled without oil, home-made buns, fresh greens and no additives.

Project Burger is burgers as they are meant to be! Check it out at www. facebook.com/ProjectBurgerKch

42 NIGHT SPOTS llll

"Smoke does not Get In

Drunk Monkey (Carpenter Street) A corner shop and an alleyway once forgotten has now been transformed into the latest “holein-the-wall” bar to grace the streets of Kuching.

Yesteryear mosaic tiles and unfinished walls grace the interior, while a dark wooden finishing and old metal-work pieces add a nostalgic touch.

The alleyway, draped with hanging lights on brick walls is a tasteful attempt at conveying "vintage meets

playful".

Unmistakably

Australian-

inspired, the Drunk Monkey is the brainchild of four partners; one who is an architect based in Melbourne and who also designed its interior.

Sim, their operations partner, tells me that the look is intentional in an effort to recreate their memories of drinking abroad. Inspired by those memories, the four owners decided to adopt a smoke-free bar. Customers are obliging enough, diligently stepping out for a puff every once in a while without much fuss. Outdoor seats dot the alleyway to accommodate those who need to light up while having a pint. For now, drinks consist of two types of- beers on tap, with several bottled options on the menu – and their selection is slated to grow. Open from 2 p.m. till late.

www.kuchinginandout.com KINO 42

Your Eyes" by Victoria Ting Malibu Lifestyle (Jalan Padungan) When

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operations, regulars Yen, Andrew and Paula, stepped up with a plan for its revival. Today Malibu Lifestyle stands reincarnated and renewed – a concept bed and breakfast where practical meets tasteful in dorm-style and private rooms, and a family friendly, non-smoking bar. Comfortable and clean, Malibu Lifestyle makes for a great addition to the repertoire of bars along the streets of Padungan. Its ambient space makes for a cozy, smoke-free haven while outdoor seats are available for the convenience of smokers. The owners take turns to man the bar and entertain the guests, creating a warm and friendly vibe, where everyone feels welcomed. At Malibu Lifestyle, find yourself surrounded by good company, an ample supply of finger food, a great selection of 17 varieties of ice-cold bottled beers, and affordable corkage for wine and liquor. So while there are still seats, and the beers are still cold, and the toilets are still immaculately clean, Malibu Lifestyle remains as one of Kuching’s best kept secrets. Happy Hour is from 5-10pm, Mon-Sat, closed on Sundays. Pets are allowed at the outdoor seating area.

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destination for Kuching locals also houses one of the City's established nightlife spots: PLANET Pub. The PLANET franchise has expanded, from a pub and karaoke business to include a full fledged restaurant – Planet Amore Western and the latest addition to its franchise, a fully non-smoking bar. They mean serious business here, as signs clearly point out that smoking in this area is prohibited. A smoking corner is also provided out front to patrons who wish to take puff breaks in between. Charcoal has been used as decor pieces and also to eliminate any trace of cigarette smoke odours. Located next to the original PLANET and only two months old, this space follows true to its smoking sister outlet, complete with a Karaoke system and decked out with music and movie star posters from the past. The non-smoking bar is strategically connected to the smoking bar enabling patrons to hop from PLANET to PLANET.

KINO www.kuchinginandout.com 43

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Kenyalang BDC: K8, 8G Park Boulevard Shopping Mall: 2, K3, K6, K10, K13, 3A, 6 Kenyalang Sungai Apong Jalan Nanas Cat Museum: K5, K5C, K15 Park Green Heights Commercial Center: 8G Fishing VillageSungai Apong Jala Hilton Hotel: K2, K2, K16 Fishing Village Hospital Umum: 1F/1FA, 2, 3A, 6, 1C,K6, K8, K10, K13, K18, K17, 8G Wisma Jalan Astana: K5, K5C, K15 The Spring Saberkas Jalan Green: K12 Mall Wisma Jalan Hj Taha: K12, K18 The Spring Saberkas Jalan Pisang JalanJ lMatang: Mall n B a t u K7 J i Jala n Pisang Barat Jalan Satok: K7,LK5, K5C, K15 J J l nK8 Jalan Stutong: 8G, J Simpang i a r Ba tu L Jala n Pisang Ba t Tiga Premier 101: 8G Roundabout Simpangstation are from here) Jalan Masjid (Bus Station yellow green buses departs-final ee and Tiga Borneo Sw K16 Medical Jln. Kwon Lee Bank: K2,K1, Roundabout Centre e g n a K11, K16 Jln. Padungan: K2,TiK1, e g Borneo w OnK2, K1, K16 S J al a n Medical Jln. Pending: h n Centre W a n A J. Sungai M aong Tenga King iang ala Ahmad Zaidi Adruce: Jln.JTun TK12, lwi ng O Centre J a l Konsulat Indonesia: 8G, K8 an W J. Su gah an King a n A l w i ngai M aong Ten JalStation: K3, K6, K10, K13 Kuching Sentral Centre Kuching Specialist Centre: K8 Park JalaStutong Kwong n Laksa Market: K8 New mana Cheng H Poh o 2, 3A, K3, K6, K10, K13, 6 k Regional Bus Terminal: 1FA, ong Par JalaK2, n LaK1, Sarawak Plaza: Timberland ksaK11, h Kw manaK16 o g n Medical P e H h C o New Stutong Semenggok Wildlife: K6, 6, Centre Market St. Joseph/St. Teresa: K18, K8 Timberland Medical Sungai New Stutong City One Tabuan Jaya Centre Apong (fishing village): K2 Market Mall Regional Tabuan Jaya: K8 Residential Kuching The Spring Mall: K8, K11, 8G Specialist City One Tabuan Jaya Terminal Hospital Timberland: 1C, 1F/1FA, 2, K3, K6, K10, K13, K18, K17, Mall3A, 6 Regional Residential Kuching ok Waterfront (Main Bazaar): K2 , K1, K11, K16 Specialist Terminal tap Ja Wisma Saberkas: 3A , 2, 6, 1C K3, K8, K10, K13, K17, 8G Jalan SHospital la Friendship

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BUS ROUTES IN AND ABOUT KUCHING CITY

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BUS ROUTES IN AND ABOUT KUCHING CITY

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EMERGENCY Emergency Line / 082-365030 Civil Defense / 991 Fire / 994 Jalan S atok Ban Hock Jalan Jala mobile to phone /112 From n a l Ja PaAmbulance dungan / 999 Policenand Police emergency service /999 HOSPITALS ur Tim Kuching Specialist Hospital KG / 082-365384 l a Multimedia Specialist & Maternity Centre / 082-428885 nt r St. Joseph e C Normah Medical Specialist Centre / 082-440055 n Cathedral a Sarawak General Hospital / 082-276666 Jal Sarawak Medical Centre / 082-442088 J. Badru d di n a J. T J. T Timberland ri Emergency Medical a m a n B u d ay i u H e e K TanService / 082-232259 g n an S ri O Da PHARMACIES tuk William Jal Guardian / 082-613259 anWatson’s Personal Care Store / 082-239091 Ell POLICE Legend Bus Routes via Bus Numbers is STATIONS k District Police HQ - Kuching, Royal Malaysian Police, an h s Jln Simpang Tiga / 082-241133 3A, K3 ok Hospital Main Bus Terminal Bampfylde ro Central Station. Jln Khoo Hun Yeang / 082-241222 C la K8 Heights n J Satok Station. Jln Nagor / 082-245522 ala J Fire / 994 Kuching 8G Hospital Bus Stop General Gita Station. Jln Matang / 082- 254417 Hospital K11 Santubong Station / 082-846222 K1, K2 Pondok Padungan Statio. Jln Kemajuan / 082-335930 Taxi Stand Summons Beratok Station. Jln Kuching-Serian / 082- 864235 From Jalan Masjid Huts Sekama Station. Jln Sekama / 082-332522 Sg. Maong Station. Jln Tun Hj. Mohd. Adruce / 082-256800 Routes Leading To Popular Destinationsang Kota Padawan (Batu 10) Station. Kota Padawan 16 Km, nt i with associated bus numbers L at u Jln. Kuching-Serian / 082- 612222 B n a Siburan Station. Km 27, Jln. Kuching-Serian / All Buses Lead To and From Jalan Masjid Jal 082-864121 BDC: K8, 8G Tapah Station. 082-867236 Boulevard Shopping Mall: 2, K3, K6, K10, K13, 3A, 6 Wisma Wisma Saberkas Station. Wisma Saberkas / Cat Museum: K5, K5C, K15 Green Heights Commercial Center: 8G 082-253535 Saberkas Hilton Hotel: K2, K2, K16 Police Station Tabuan Jaya / 082-360999 The Spring Jalan Hospital Umum: 1F/1FA, 2, 3A, 6, 1C,K6, K8, K10, K13, K18, K17, 8G Police Patrol (24Hrs) / 082-244444 Jalan Astana: K5, K5C, K15 Mall B at u TOURIST INFORMATION LintaK12 Jalan Green: ng K18 Tourist Police Unit (Kuching Waterfront) / 082-250522 Jalan Hj Taha: K12, ABC Taxi / 082-341818 Jalan Matang: K7 Jalan Satok: K7, K5, K5C, K15 Airport-Kuching International Airport / 082-454242 Jalan Stutong: 8G, K8 Immigration Department / 082-245661 Premier 101: 8G Kuching City Taxi Radio Call Enterprises / 082-348898 Taxi Jalan Masjid (Bus Station yellow and green buses departs-final station are from here) Simpang (Red and Yellow colour) / 082-882466 Jln. Kwon Lee Bank: K2,K1, K16 Tiga Tourist Information Centre / 082-246575 Jln. Padungan: K2, K1, K11, K16 Roundabout Executive Taxi / 082-480000 Jln. Pending: K2, K1, K16 Jln. Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce: K12, CONSULATES AND EMBASSIES ee Konsulat Indonesia: 8G, K8 Australian Honorary Consul / 082-23350 Sw Kuching Sentral Station: K3, K6, K10, K13 Brunei Consulate / 082-312681 Kuching Specialist Centre: K8 Chinese Consulate / 082-233816 an g i New Stutong Market: K8 T Consulate of the United Kingdom / 082-207272 Regional Bus Terminal: n1FA,g2, 3A, K3, K6, K10, K13, 6 O Sarawak Plaza: K2, K1, K11, K16 French Honorary Consul / 082-415588 nWildlife: K6, 6, Semenggok a Indonesia Consulate / 082-460734 l a St.J Joseph/St. Teresa: K18, K8 Immigration Office / 082-245661 Sungai Apong (fishing village): K2 Sarawak Government Office / 082-222222 Tabuan Jaya: K8 HOME SERVICES The Spring Mall: K8, K11, 8G Timberland: 1C, 1F/1FA, 2, K3, K6, K10, K13, K18, K17, 3A, 6 The Commission of The City of Kuching North / Waterfront (Main Bazaar): K2 , K1, K11, K16 082-234654 Wisma Saberkas: 3A , 2, 6, 1C K3, K8, K10, K13, K17, 8G Council of the City of Kuching South / 082-354200 Jalan La Post Office-Pos Malaysia-Kuching / 082-347677 ksaman SESCO-Electricity Service / 1 300 - 88 3111 a Cheng Ho Astro / 1 300 - 82 3838 TM / Fax No : 082-239 257 Timberland Medical Centre

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46 BREAKING NEWS llll

by Marian Chin

World Guinness Record Official Attempt It isn't every day that one gets to meet people with Big Dreams coupled with a Desire and Energy to make them come through. Big Live Dreams, I call this, not day dreams, not forgot-what-it-wasin-the-morning dreams. These are people with a vision, simply put.

Keith Sim and Audie Chua of 1BFF (1 Best Friend Forever) come across as just two unassuming guys chatting over a nice cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon.

"What do you both have in common", I asked casually.

"Nothing", they both answered in unison.

But together they have the desire to "unleash the Youth Potential"

Photo above: Audie (right) together with Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Julai (left) and Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip (centre) at the official launch.

Photo far right: Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (left) getting ready to sign the form during the launch of 'IMAGINE - Retro Walk'.

having developed a social club as an NGO platform for youths to express themselves in exploring their "hidden talents".

Together, Keith and Audie hope to organise youth events such as the "Battle of the Bands" and "Local Designers Fashion Show" to name but just a few.

Together, they worked hard for years towards getting the WORLD GUINNESS RECORD Official Attempt to happen in Kuching.

Audie (as in Audacious), had this idea to get Kuching into the World Guinness Record Book. Using the word "IMAGINE - Retro Walk", he actually contacted Yoko Ono (!)

through her blog site to "respectfully inform her that the word "Imagine" would be used".

Yes. I did say 'Audie for Audacious.'

So what is the World Guinness Record Official Attempt about?

What is Retro Walk?

Today China holds the record for having 1,039 participants for Retro Walking. Walking backwards for one kilometer. Says Audie. "For Kuching 10,390 participants is "achievable" but 5,039 will already be record breaking.

Both Keith and Audie had a vision in common. Now they have a mission in common.

"FOR THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE" is the purpose and the

has been launched! theme ‘OMG! A World Record Event At Your Doorstep’ invites every abled body to participate in this record breaking event on October 11, 2014 at the Jubilee Grounds. The registration fee of RM50.00 per participant will benefit any of the 5 listed charity bodies of your choice.

1) The Sarawak Autistic Association.

2) Hope Place 3) Sarawak Children Cancer Association 4) Habitat for Humanity 5) Peryatim

To Register: facebook.com/ImagineRetroWalk Enquiries: 082-455259

Event Design Concept by:

OMG!

A World Record Event At Your Doorstep 11th October, 2014 Jubilee Grounds ENQUIRIES: 082-455259 www.facebook.com/ImagineRetroWalk