Contents Page Contents 2 Welcome to Malaysia 3 Organizing Committee Contact Details 10 Itinerary 25th Aug to 1 Sep. 11 Malaysia Team Members & Contact Details 17 Sri Lanka Team Members & Contact Details 18 Vietnam Team Members & Contact Details 19 Philippines Team Members & Contact Details 20 Singapore Team Members & Contact Details 21 South Korea Team Members 22 Indonesia Team Members 23 Map of Hotel Midah Kuala Lumpur 24 Around Hotel Midah 25 Travel Route KL-Kuala Kangsar-Pangkor-KL 28 The Legend of Kellie’s Castle 29 Around Kuala Kangsar 31 Ubudiah Mosque, Bukit Chandan,Kuala Kangsar 34 Common Malaysian Phrases 36 Information & Tips for Visitors 37 Emergency Tel Numbers 40 Hotels Address & Tel Numbers 41 Country Embassies 42 Blank pages for personal notes 47
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Welcome to Malaysia Noordin Sulaiman
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Crossing Bridges 9
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elcome to Malaysia, a multi-cultural land of really friendly people , great food, a wide variety of subjects to shoot, sights to see, things to do, and for old friends who meet only once a year at CB events, plenty of camaraderie ahead, recalling previous CBs. The last time we were hosts at CB4 in 2007, we took you to Pulau Maiga, a giant sandbox in the sun. The crystal clear waters and sandy beaches of Maiga, coupled with very photogenic sea gypsies and awesome sunsets, have won many awards for salon photographers lucky enough to have shot in Maiga. Those who were there at CB4, I believe, had a great time shooting beautiful pictures. I remember well the generosity of CB4 participants who made an impromptu donation of over US$1000 by passing the hat around, to build a community centre for the folks of Maiga. And as a result of meeting villagers in Cambodia at CB5, and seeing their plight, one PhotoMalaysia member was so touched that he started a project to equip a rural school in Siem Reap with 110 school desks, and 1100 sets of school uniforms costing a total of more than US$10K. Yusuf, Maxby and a few PMers, have also donated 2 wells for that village behind Angkor Wat, which we visited during CB5 in 2008. These good deeds by CB participants in the countries that they have visited for CB,
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clearly demonstrates that our Crossing Bridges program is not only about shooting pictures and sampling the local cuisine, it is also about caring, and giving. Like the Olympics, the hosts of successive CB events have tried hard to outdo the previous year’s act. And it’s getting more and more difficult to do so. I have been a part of CB events almost every year since Malaysia joined in, and I can say that each event is really unique. At Padang for CB6 in 2009 for instance, we thought the road was bad because the bus we were in was shaking so violently. We realized there had been a terrible earthquake only when we saw that our hotel had crumbled. It was only by the grace of God that none of the CB6 participants were in that hotel when the earthquake struck. However, hundreds of Padang people were not so lucky. Many of you, who have attended several CB events, will remember well the highlights of each year’s photographic extravaganza. At CB3 in the North of Vietnam, we took a delightful train ride from Hanoi to Sapa in the mountains.
Angkor Wat at CB8 in Siem Reap 2008
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We also hiked in the rain and in the dark, up a mountain for dinner at a Hmong village. And we took a boat ride in the very picturesque Halong Bay. At CB8, also hosted by Vietnam, we visited Dalat Highlands in the South, the Dunes, Long Hai Fishing village and the Temple of the long bearded followers of Ong Tran. However, the grandest of all CB events ever, was CB7 in the Philippines. That cultural extravaganza was literally breath-taking. Apart from the hundreds of fabulously costumed dancers welcoming us at every stop, and provincial Governors feting us with sumptous tea parties, I remember well the body painters of Cebu, the Gunsmiths of Danau, the Fireworks display, and of course the theme song, One Cebu, which sometimes still plays on in my head. I believe nothing can ever equal the fabulous extravaganza that Ms Eduviges Huang and the Philippines team, rolled out for us. The Crossing Bridges series was first hatched in 2004 by Singapore and Indonesia. It was meant to be an annual event for building bridges of friendship and understanding between member countries, by bringing the region’s
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photographers together once every year, for a week of fun in a shooting frenzy. Vietnam and Malaysia joined in 2005, and Vietnam hosted CB3 in 2006, while Malaysia hosted CB4 at Sempoerna and Pulau Maiga in Sabah. For the record, here is the list of past Crossing Bridges events, the host countries and CB locations.
CB1 2004 Singapore in Macau CB2 2005 Indonesia in Indonesia CB3 2006 Vietnam in Sapa CB4 2007 Malaysia in Maiga CB5 2008 Singapore in Angkor CB6 2009 Indonesia in Padang CB7 2010 Philippines in Cebu CB8 2011 Vietnam in HCM & Dalat CB9 2012 Malaysia in Pangkor.
Traditionally, a newbie country gets to host the CB event after their year of entry. As we have two additions to the CB family this year, we can expect either Sri Lanka or South Korea to be the hosts for the 10th year of the annual Crossing Bridges event. Gosh, we have come a long way since 2004. Here’s a group photo at CB8 last year.
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There are now 6 countries in this mini United Nations of Photographers. And next year we will be celebrating a decade of crossing bridges and building cross country friendships. For many of us, these friendships will probably last for as long as we are alive. I do believe that if ever there are any thorny issues between our respective governments, and in the past there have been several, the photography community members of the Crossing Bridges club, will surely be the voices of reason to bring our own governments back in line. This year in Malaysia, we have worked very hard to prepare a program that we hope you will enjoy. The first day will be spent shooting some of our architectural extravaganzas in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. You will also visit our 3 months long Guerrilla Photography exhibition, where one section will feature photos shot by participants from previous CB events.
Istana Kenangan - Now the Royal Musuem in Kuala Kangsar
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On the second day we’ll drive you to the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar to stay at the Perak Riverside Resort, and to visit the Sultan’s Palace and the Royal Mosque. Along the way we will shoot three pairs of just married real wedding couples at Kellie’s castle. Malaysia has a rich cultural tradition, and the three real, just married couples, will showcase the traditional wedding finery of the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, our 3 main communities. The Kinta Valley was a rich tin mining area. After Kellie’s castle we’ll visit the last surviving tin drege in Malaysia. From Kuala Kangsar we’ll drive to Lumut and take a ferry to a resort on exotic Pangkor Island, where we’ll stay for 2 days to shoot human interest subjects, landscapes, boatscapes and seascapes. In between seafood barbecue-scapes, we’ll go swimming, snorkling and boating. On the way to Pangkor we’ll take a detour to go shoot the famous charcoal makers of Kuala Sepetang. Its a huge complex and in the mornings when workers are busy, and the light is right, you can get some really beautiful images. Just be sure to bring along a fast lens.
©Noordin
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And when you’ve worked up an appetite, we’ll treat you to a specialty of Kuala Sepetang , the famous giant prawn noodles there, the “Mee Udang Mak Jah”.
After Pangkor we’ll drive back to Kuala Lumpur to shoot the National Day Fireworks, and the National Day parade on 31 August, which is Malaysia’s Independence Day.
Fireworks over Putrajaya
We’ve worked hard to put together a balanced and quite relaxed program. We hope you will enjoy Malaysia. Crossing 9 Bridges
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Organizing Committee
Organizing Chairman Noordin Sulaiman noordins@gmail.com +60 12 332 3523 Law Shue Yee law_sy2002@yahoo.com +60 12 228 7657 Henry Au ahw.henry@gmail.com +6012 661 2600 Noni noni@ulysse-nardin.com +60 19 332 3523 Azmi azmibogart@gmail.com +60 12 201 4273 Roziah qoolmama@gmail.com +60 12 330 0616 Ariffin contact@ariffinaris.com +60 19 332 6270 Tengku Erina contact@ariffinaris.com +60 19 387 5424 Sherene Lim limsws@yahoo.com +60 12 212 5406 Maxby Chan maxbee@gmail.com +60 12 218 1396 Yusuf Hashim yusufhashim@gmail.com +60 12 271 2955 Grateful thanks to all PM members who helped. Too many of you to list here, but without your help, CB9 wouldn’t happen. Thank you all.
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Itinerary
Day 1 - 26 Aug 2012, Sunday Arrival of CB9 participants, pick up LCCT/KLIA to Midah Hotel, Check in, Opening Dinner (Buffet) 19.00- at Hotel Midah, 8 Jalan Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, +60 3-2273 9999 Welcoming speech and short video by host 21.00 Malaysia followed by Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Vietnam 05.30
Day 2 - 27 Aug 2012, Monday Wake up call
06.00 - Breakfast at Hotel 07.00 07.00 - Morning Shoots at Kuala Lumpur Markets, Chow Kit, Pasar 09.00 Pudu, Pasar Keramat 09.00 - Mounting pictures for Guerilla Photo Exhibition 10.00 10.00 - Shooting @ Twin Towers & KLCC 12.30 12.30- Demo @ Schmidt Showroom 13.30- Buffet Lunch by Schmidt at Schmidt Showroom, Avenue K 15.00 Crossing 11 Bridges
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15.00 - Transport to Putrajaya 16.00 16.00 - Putrajaya - Architectural & Model Shoots 19.30 - Bridges of Putrajaya (near Dam) - Iron Mosque - Palace of Justice - Silat (Malay Art of Self Defence) Performance - Models in Traditional Dress, Bicycles, Sunset Shoot @ Yacht Club - Models /Traditional Dance/ CLS Demos
19.30 21.30 DINNER @ PUTRAJAYA 21.30- Night Shoots 22.30 - Putrajaya Bridges - Span/Warisan Bridge 22.30
Back to Hotel Midah Day 3 - 28 Aug 2012, Tuesday DEPART FOR KUALA KANGSAR
04.30- Wake up call 05.00 - Breakfast at Hotel Midah 06.00 06.00 - Bus ride Kuala Lumpur to Kellie’s Castle, 09.00 Batu Gajah
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09.0010.30 Shoot @ Kellie’s Castle - Architectural - Malay, Indian & Chinese Wedding Couples - Award winning Anime Models 11.30 - Shoot @ Tanjung Tualang 12.30 -The Last Tin Dredge 12.30- Seafood Lunch @TanjungTualang 14.00 1400 - Travel from Tg. Tualang to Kuala Kangsar 15.30 15.30 - Shoot @ Kuala Kangsar, the Royal Town of Perak, 19.00 - Istana (Palace) Iskandaria - Istana (Palace) Kenangan - Masjid (Mosque)Ubudiah - Tekad Weaving - with Models and Dances 19.00- Check in Sungai Perak Resort, Kuala Kangsar 19.30
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Welcome Dinner at Sungai Perak Resort
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Day 4 - 29 Aug 2012, Wednesday Kuala Kangsar to Pangkor via Sepetang for Charcoal Makers’ Shoot 04.30- Wake up call 05.00 - 06.00 Breakfast at hotel and check out 06.00- Travel from Kuala Kangsar to Kuala Sepetang 07.00 07.00- Charcoal factory shoot at Kuala Sepetang 09.00 09.00- Brunch at “Mee Udang Mak Jah (Prawn Noodles)” @ Kuala 10.00 Sepetang 10.00 - Travel from Kuala Sepetang to Lumut 13.00 -- Mini Shoot @ Bagan Pachor Trawler Industry 13.00- Ferry journey from Lumut to Pangkor Island 13.40 At Pangkor Jetty, Board Taxi-Vans for Vikri Beach Resort, 14.00 - Check in Vikri Beach Resort & Light Tea 18.00 Free and easy - Relax @ the beach, swimming, snorkling, boating, shooting at one of the best beaches on Pangkor Island 18.00 - Sunset Shoot @ Pangkor 19.30 - Teluk Nipah 19.30- BBQ Dinner until 22.00
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Day 5 - 30 Aug 2012, Thursday 05.30- Wake up 06.00- Breakfast at Vikri Beach Hotel 07.00 07.00- Round Island Shoot - Board vans & stop & shoot 10.00 - Fishing Jetty - Satay Fish Making - Boat Making 10.0012.00 Island hopping (snorkling on Coral Island) 12.00- Lunch at Vikri 13.00 -Check out & Board Vans for Ferry Jetty 13.00- Ferry to Lumut 14.00 14.00- Bus ride from Lumut to Kuala Selangor 18.00 18.00- Dinner at Kuala Selangor 22.00 Bus to Kuala Lumpur 22.00
Check In Hotel Midah
23.0024.00
Shooting Independence Day Fireworks (Optional)
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Day 6 - 31 Aug 2012, Friday 05.30- Wake up call 06.00- Breakfast at Hotel Midah 07.00 07.00- Walk to Dataran Merdeka 11.00 for Merdeka (Independence) Parade Shoot 12.00- Lunch @ Hotel Midah 12.30- Friday Prayers 14.00 Refresh & Friday prayers for Muslims Free & easy for the rest. See provided sketch map for places to visit/shopping on your own 14.3019.00 Photos Presentation Preparation 19.00- Closing / Farewell Dinner 22.00 -Photos presentation & prize giving -Goodie Bags & Souveniers to take home Day 7 - 1 Sep 2012, Saturday 06.00- Breakfast @ Midah 07.00 07.00- Check Out & Good Byes 12.00 & KLIA / LCCT Departures
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Malaysia
Maxby Chan +60 12 218 1396
Team Leader, Crossing Bridges 9
Noordin Sulaiman noordins@gmail.com +60 12 332 3523 Maxby Chan maxbee@gmail.com +60 12 218 1396 Noni Abdullah noni@ulysse-nardin.com +60 19 332 3523 Law Shue Yee law_sy2002@yahoo.com +60 12 228 7657 Sherene Lim limsws@yahoo.com +60 12 212 5406 Ariffin ariffin@gmail.com +60 19 332 6270 Roziah qoolmama@gmail.com +60 12 330 0616 Khair Mahfar khaireen@gmail.com +60 19 900 0077 Muralitharan Subramaniam havoc2c@yahoo.com +60 12 239 1326 Adam Lai Kuien Ting laikt8@yahoo.com +60 12 212 6540 Calvin Chin calvin.chin@cherishvista.com +60 12 238 0049 Muslianshah Masrie muslianshah.masrie@yahoo.com +6013-8706999 Paul Sack paul.sack@gmail.com +60 12 3081081 Yusuf Hashim yusufhashim@gmail.com +60 12 271 2955
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Sri Lanka The Photographic Society of Sri Lanka - Since 1906 Bandu Gunaratne
+94 77 3504113
Team Leader, Crossing Bridges 9
Bandu Gunaratne bandu-photo@sltnet.lk +94 77 3504113 Mahinda Jeevananda Mahinda@sarva.lk +94 77 3606230 Athula Jayasundara virgin.digital@gmail.com +94 77 7282839 Naomal Basnayake naomalb@gmail.com +94 777579970 Janaka Masakkara JanakaMa@masholdings.com +94777579970 Sirimewan Perera ewanperera2005@yahoo.com +94 777006996 Gayan Wickramage g.wickramage@gmail.com +94 77 3344433 Marcel Bandaranaike marcelkb@hotmail.com +94 77 7398150 Narada Amaratunga narada_a@yahoo.com +94712791026 Jagath Silva jagath_sirisara@yahoo.com +94 777734247 Denzil Fernando denzilfwwdf@gmail.com +94777787305 Udeni Alwis udenialwis@live.com +94 77 7751 819
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Vietnam Pham Thanh Long +84 91 355 32 22
Team Leader, Crossing Bridges 9
LongPT longpt@photo.vn (+84)913553222 Pham Trac Vu phamtracvu@gmail.com (+84)913042999 Nguyen Thanh Hai haipiano@photo.vn (+84) 936083999 Nguyen Trong Tin nttin0110@yahoo.com (+84) 82463517 Peter Pham pphamfotos@yahoo.com (+84)7146573102 Nguyen Phuoc Hoa nphoaifi@yahoo.fr (+84) 908281854 Thai Thanh Son ongsontt@gmail.com (+84)919509999 Tran Minh Tuan hatvung@gmail.com (+84)988585555 Le Van Dung dungfi@gmail.com (+84)903902787 Huynh Quang Hung archhqh@yahoo.com.vn (+84)913978316 Le Thi Huong Giang ami_amour75@yahoo.com (+84)912336161 Nguyen Thanh Thuy thuy0182@gmail.com (+84)909897101 Liao Mao Lin quanman@hcm.vnn.vn (+84)903800618 Nguyen Trung Ha ngtrungha@gmail.com (+84)945706670 Phan Nguyen Duc Khanh khanhkti@gmail.com (+84)903117428 Le Hien Anh lehienanh75@gmail.com (+84)913998467
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Philippines Eduviges Huang
+63 917 570 9800
Team Leader, Crossing Bridges 9
Cecilia Angeles csa_palay1@yahoo.com Beatriz Villa Lalana lalanabv@ortigas.com.ph Emmanuel Inumerable mannyinumerable@yahoo.com Orlando Guevarra vetguevarra@yahoo.com Pablo Beltran pablobeltran39@gmail.com Frando Culata fmculata2002@yahoo.com Mary Ann Agustin lifeimagefoto@yahoo.com Sheila Marie Adanza lifeimagefoto@yahoo.com Billy Lopue billy_lopue@yahoo.com Jose C. Tan Jr. ghe_bacolod@yahoo.com Clemn Macasiano Jr. drboymac@gmail.com Arthur Kenneth Sy akenneth888@yahoo.com Clayton Tugonon claytonhipetugonon@gmail.com Philbert Chua pchanchua_00@yahoo.com.ph Maria C. Macabio mmacabio@sbceo.org Eduviges Y. Huang eduviges.huang@gmail.com George Cabig cabig2002@yahoo.com John Chua john.magiceye@yahoo.com Discora de Boer dicor89@gmail.com Amergo Alba amircalba@gmail.com
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Singapore
Eddie Ng eddie@ walkeast.com
+65 96611331
Team Leader, Crossing Bridges 9
Albert Lim bertz.lim@gmail.com 94755135 Rodolfo Enriquez Jr rodolfo.enriqueze@ktcgroup.com.sg98719236 Kevin Lim Peng Huat mambojambo88@gmail.com 98585112 Koh Sun Yew grbenji@gmail.com 97368099 Yee Gin Pak coolthought@hotmail.com 96393604 Lim Yeong Lian danlim_98@yahoo.com 96339648 Lim Tung Sun tristan_ts_lim@yahoo.com.sg 93385088 Wong Horng Lit hlwong5231@hotmail.com 91252358 Goh Si Min froze_counter@yahoo.com.sg 83086726 Goh Yu Kuang yukuang.goh@gmail.com 81861017 Lim Kok Wee limkokwee@gmail.com 90080500 Lim Chan Leong vee5@hotmail.com 96747371 Tan Teck Siang thoongeng@email.com 91266673 Chua Jun Rong musicparachutes@gmail.com 92960813 Neo Chee Wei neo.cheewei@yahoo.com.sg 85008580 Valance Cheong valance75@yahoo.com 96458120 Sim Yi Lin ylsim10@gmail.com 86669436
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South Korea
Professional Photographers of Korea You Sin Ung PPK President Kang Young Hwan PPK Vice President Han Sung Cheol PPK ex-President Kim Yong Bong PPK CEO
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Indonesia
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Map of Hotel Midah Kuala Lumpur 8 Jalan Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur Tel 03-2273-9999
GPS 3°8’19.98N, 101°41’49.69E
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Around Hotel Midah Malaysia’s culture is a fusion of the cultures of its three main ethnic groups, the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians. It is our diversity that makes Malaysia so unique and interesting. Kuala Lumpur, our upbeat capital city, has almost everything, with something for everyone. You only need to know where to look if you have any quirky inclinations. Hotel Midah is very close to the city centre and you can actually walk to some of the interesting places near the hotel, but why walk when taxis are so easily available. Just insist on using the meter because we do have our fair share of a few unscrupulous elements. And if you walk, do be careful with your cameras and bags because we also have instances of snatch thieves who are mostly drug addicts and foreigners. If you want to sample good and varied hawker fare, make a bee line for Jalan Alor in the Bukit Bintang area. This place doesn’t sleep and it also has a few other attractions for the night owl. There are many shopping malls in the Bukit Bintang area, from the swankiest to the average. There’s the Pavilion and Lot 10 for upmarket stuff. KLCC at the Twin Tower complex is another upmarket shopping centre. For computers and electronics, head for Low Yat and Imbi Plaza. Sungai Wang Plaza has a lot of photography shops but you’ll need to bargain. Most of us get our photography stuff from either Desmond Liew at YL Camera Service (HP 012-3806733) or Raymond Tan at Keat Camera (0123223328). Call them if you want to make any serious purchases of photography equipment because they usually carry a varied stock. They are reputable photo equipment dealers and will give you a fair price if you mention you are guests of PhotoMalaysia at the Crossing Bridges event. But please compare prices before you buy. Crossing 25 Bridges
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Chinatown, or Petaling Street is quite close and within walking distance to Hotel Midah. It’s probably worth taking a look if you haven’t been there before. And along the road to Petaling Street, there’s the Kuan Yin Chinese temple and the famous Sri Mahamariaman Hindu temple along Jalan Tun HS Lee if you want to pop in for a few minutes. For souvenir shopping, Central Market is also within walking distance. Muzium Negara and the nearby
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Islamic Arts Museum and Textile Museums may be worth a visit if you like museums. For shooting on your own, the Railway Station is quite interesting. And close to it is the Sultan Abdul Samad building, which has the famous clock tower and Merdeka (Independence) Square. Masjid Jamek is just behind this building. The KL Bird Park, and the nearby Butterfly Park are also worth visiting to shoot some nice pictures of exotic creatures. You’ll probably not have time for the zoo which is quite a distance away. For a bit of India in Kuala Lumpur, you can hop over to Brickfields, or the Masjid India areas. To get your bearings, it might be worth going up to the viewing platform at Menara KL, or the Sky Bridge at the Petronas Twin Towers. But you have to buy tickets. You’ll probably not have much free time to explore Kuala Lumpur on your own, but the above are some of the places you can go to if you can find the time.
Kuala Lumpur Main Railway Station
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Travel Route
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The Legend of Kellie’s Castle Kellie’s Castle is an unfinished mansion built by Scotsman William Kellie Smith in 1915 as a gift to his wife and a home for his new son. Kellie, from Kellas in Scotland, made a fortune from rubber plantations and tin mining. His two companies Kinta Kellas Estate, and the Kinta Kellas Tin Dredging Company, were quite significant players in the Rubber and Tin mining Industries in Perak. Kellie desperately wanted an heir to his fortune, but he and his wife Agnes, only had a daughter. For many years they tried to conceive a male heir, but didn’t succeed, until one day, one of his labourers from Madras told him that if he prayed to the Hindu Goddess Amman, she might grant his wish. So Kellie prayed to Aman and soon his wife Agnes conceived and delivered a baby boy. As a token of appreciation, Kellie built a Hindu Temple for the Goddess Amman, and also decided to build a castle for his wife and
© Neil Williams
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son near the temple. That temple still exists today and it is just up the road to Kellie’s castle. As he was so fond of the Goddess Amman, Kellie also built a statue of himself to be placed beside her. Even to this day this statue of a white man can be seen on the roof of the temple, alongside statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. Below is Kellie’s Temple. If you squint you can see Kellie’s statue on the roof. Keep a lookout for this oddity when we visit Kellie’s Castle. Kellie also built a tunnel from his castle to the temple to facilitate visits to the temple by his family. The materials to build the castle were all imported from Madras. Unfortunately Kellie died from a virulent strain of the Spanish flu which spread from Europe to Asia after World War I ended. The Flu epidemic not only killed Kellie, but also 70 of his workers from Madras. The castle was never finished. Kellie’s business floundered and eventually his businesses, including his unfinished castle were taken over by Harrisons and Crossfields. On quiet evenings, you can sometimes hear the mournful wailing of the poor departed souls still restless at this tragic castle.
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Around Kuala Kangsar
My Hometown, Musings by Yusuf Hashim
Peninsula Malaysia has 11 states, and a Sultan is the Head of State in nine of those. I grew up in Kuala Kangsar, which is where the Sultan of Perak has his palace. Kuala Kangsar is an easy going town with a deep-seated sense of Malay ethnic identity. Over the last two centuries, Kuala Kangsar and Perak have been at the centre of events that defined much of modern Malaysia. It was in1870 at the Royal court of Kuala Kangsar that the British first moved in to control the peninsula, by installing a British Resident to “advise” the Sultan. The Malaysian rubber industry also began here in Kuala Kangsar when the British Resident Sir Hugh Low planted a number of rubber trees in his garden from seeds either smuggled out of Brazil, or taken from Kew Gardens in London. I swear I carved my name in one of those original trees, more than half a century ago. The trees are all gone now but keep a look out for the former British Residency, below, on the right side of the road, as we drive up to Bukit Chandan, to see Istana Iskandariah, the Sultan’s palace. It is now a girl’s school.
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Malaysia has a unique constitutional system. The Supreme King, or the Yang di Pertuan Agong, is elected by the Conference of 9 Sultans, from among themselves, to be King for 5 years. This system began in 1957 when Malaysia became independent from Britain. The first conference of Sultans was actually held in Kuala Kangsar in 1897, testimony to the importance of Kuala Kangsar in those days. However, the rapid growth of Ipoh and Taiping resulting from tin mining and rubber, left Kuala Kangsar as a quiet backwater steeped in Malay tradition. The small town centre is quite scruffy but Bukit Chandan where the Sultan’s palaces are located, is quite impressive. For example, the Royal Ubudiah Mosque with its huge golden onion dome, is probably one of the most beautiful in the country. Istana Iskandariah, the current palace, is about 500 meters away from the mosque, and it overlooks the Perak river, which is the longest river in the Peninsula. The Perak River Resort where you’ll be staying, is further upstream, and also ovelooks the river, so you’ll get about the same view that the Sultan has. The sun sets over a magnificent bridge across the river near the resort, and under the right weather conditions, you might be able to shoot some nice sunset pictures there. Istana Iskandariah is not usually open to visitors, but further east is an older palace , the exquisite Istana Kenangan, or the Palace of Memories, made entirely of wood and woven bamboo, without even a single nail used in its construction. It was built in 1931 and served as a temporary palace while the present Istana was being constructed. This old istana is now the Royal Museum. Closer to town and near Masjid Ubudiah is another old palace, Istana Kota or Istana Hula, which has been beauCrossing 32 Bridges
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tifully restored, and now hosts the Galeri of Sultan Azlan Shah, the present Sultan. Here you can see the Sultan’s 4 Rolls Royces and other memorabilia. The most impressive colonial building in Kuala Kangsar is the sprawling Malay College, which provided an English education for most of the Malay elite destined for the Civil Service of the British administrators. I went to a less prestigious school, the Clifford school, which is right in front of the Malay college. It was made only of wood, and I remember that it leaked when the rain was particulary heavy. But we used to thrash the sissy Malay college boys at rugby, hockey, soccer, athletics and just about any sport you care to name. What I still to this day I cannot understand is why all the girls of Kuala Kangsar seems to prefer the Malay College Sissies to us manly Cliffordians. Such is the irrationality of women. In front of the Malay College, you can see the three storey Pavillion Square Tower, of Malay and colonial design, a delightful folly overlooking the playing fields. It was built in 1931 as a sports pavilion for Royalty and VIPs to view the polo matches there in comfort. In fact Kuala Kangsar has two Polo Fields. Such are the trimmings of the more fortunate. Kuala Kangsar is also known for its craftsmen making beautiful Keris, or the wavy dagger used by Malay warriors in the days when hand to hand combat with the kris, was the gentlemanly way to settle disputes. The fight with the Keris was known as Silat. We’ve arranged for a couple of proponets of this ancient Malay art of self defence to demonstrate to you what the fight would have been like. I hope you will enjoy Kuala Kangsar, my Royal hometown. Crossing 33 Bridges
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Ubudiah Mosque Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar The Ubudiah mosque in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar is regarded as one of the most beautiful mosques in the country. It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a government architect who also designed the Kuala Lumpur railway station and the Ipoh railway station. Construction began in 1910 during the reign of Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah, the 28th Sultan of Perak, but was interrupted a number of times, and even abandoned during World War I. When construction work resumed after the war, it was also delayed when the crown prince’s elephant walked over and cracked the imported Italian marble floor. The mosque was finally completed in 1919.
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Pangkor Vikri Resort Lot 6 & 7, Pantai Pasir Bogak, 32300, Pangkor sland. Tel: +605 685 4258
GPS 4°12’29.07 N, 100°33’31.20 E
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Common Malaysian Phrases How are you? Apa Kabar Good morning – Selamat Pagi Good afternoon – Selamat Petang Good night – Selamat Malam Thank you – Terima kasih Smile - Senyum How much/ How many? – Berapa? Toilet – Tandas, Lelaki Males, Perempuan-Females. Open – Buka Close – Tutup Where? – Di mana? Right - Kanan Left - Kiri Straight - Hadapan Water - Ayer Price - Harga Numbers 1 - Satu, 2 - Dua, 3 - Tiga, 4 - Empat, 5 - Lima, 6 - Enam, 7 Tujuh, 8 - Eight - Lapan, 9 - Sembilan, 10 - Sepuluh 100 - Satu Ratus, 200 - Dua Ratus ..etc, 1000 - satu Ribu Pleasantries: To a Malaysian, the question, Sudah makan ? or “Have you eaten?” is a form of polite conversation but the foreigner may interpret it as invitation for a meal – which isn’t the case. It is a common form of greeting among Malaysians. It is likened to the British who exchange pleasantries by talking about the weather when they meet each other.
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INFO & TIPS for CB9 PARTICIPANTS Dress Code
Modest attire without being too revealing or scanty would be appropriate general attire. When visiting a place of worship, observe the dress code of these places of worship. You may be required to remove your shoes before entering. Certain mosques provide robes (and scarves for females) but most don’t. When mosques are in the itinerary, ladies are advised to wear attire that covers your legs. If robes are not provided you may be denied entry. Please note that access may be limited to certain areas.
Prepaid Telephone
Packages by the two major telcos, MAXIS or CELCOM , are preferable over others due to their wider coverage and importantly, reliability.
Taxis
Taxis come in varying colours. However, all taxis will have a lighted yellow sign on the roof. Please note that there are 2 types of taxis – Blue coloured taxis (“executive” or premier taxis where the charge is higher) and the rest. Ensure that you get into a licensed taxi with meter. Insist that the driver uses the meter; don’t try haggling because you’ll end up paying a heftier price if you try to bargain.
Radio Taxi Services are also available Hotline Radio – 03 2095 3399 Public Cab – 03 6259 2020 Sunlight Radio Taxi – 03 9057 5757 Bersatu Cab – 03 2693 6211
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Trains
Trains are quite good in Kuala Lumpur. They are cheap, efficient and safe. Use trains when there are stations near to your destinations.
Banking & Currency Exchange
Money changers tend to offer better exchange rates than many of the banks around KL. They can be found in or near most shopping malls and they are also open late plus on weekends. Automated teller machines / cash dispensers are available at some petrol stations and shopping complexes, but there are many bank branches everywhere with ATMs that will accept most cards. Internationally recognised credits cards & travellers’ cheques are accepted in hotels, major shops & restaurants.
Drinking Water:
Tap water is fine for bathing and brushing your teeth. However, it is preferable that you buy bottled water for drinking.
Washrooms
Public washrooms in Malaysia are generally safe and convenient to use. At times there is a charge of between RM0.20 – RM0.50. Always carry some loose change. You may need to bring your own tissue.
As Pedestrians
Use of pedestrian bridges or pedestrian traffic lights to cross the roads are encouraged. Nevertheless, please be on the lookout for rogue drivers who do not stop at zebra crossings. Crossing 38 Bridges
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Although six lane highways and flyovers may slice up Kuala Lumpur, even so the best way to get a feel of KL’s vibrant atmosphere is to walk. The city centre is surprisingly compact. Walking from Midah hotel to China Town (Petaling Street) is not more than 15 minutes. Chinatown to Little India (Medan Bunos) is 10 minutes. As the traffic in KL is tortuous, its often faster to walk.
Safety Guidelines
As part of the itinerary, there will be visits to wet markets and other dense public areas. As with all places, always be watchful and keep an eye over your belongings. Use common sense judgment whenever dealing with strangers. In big cities, pickpockets and snatch-and-run thieves are really common. So to avoid being a victim of an opportunistic thief, be careful and don’t display your valuables or money in public.
Protecting your valuables
A word of caution. International cities that attract many tourists also attract those people who steal from tourists. Consequently, delegates are advised to carry their valuables safely, especially on public transport. There might be pickpockets on the street, the LRT and on buses. Once delegates have checked into their hotels, it is advisable to leave important documents such as passports in the hotel safe and to carry a photocopy. Identity cards, keepsakes and anything else not needed in the city are best left at the hotel while delegates are sightseeing, shopping or dining out. Delegates should keep photocopies of all these documents in a safe place in case they need to have them replaced.
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Emergency Tel Numbers Police & Ambulance – 999 , Fire Brigade – 994 Civil Defense – 991, From mobile phone – 112 Fatimah Hospital Ipoh 05-5455 777 Ipoh Specialist Hospital Ipoh 05-2418 777 Kinta Medical Centre Ipoh 05-2425 333 Pantai Putri Hospital Ipoh 05-5484 333 Perak Community Specialist Hospital,Ipoh 05-2548 918 Chinese Maternity Hospital,Kuala Lumpur 03-2078 2055 Damai Service Hospital (HQ),Kuala Lumpur 03-4043 4900 Damai Service Hospital, Kuala Lumpur 03-4108 9900 Danau Kota Hospital, Kuala Lumpur 03-4023 3629 Gleneagles Medical Centre,Kuala Lumpur 03-4257 1300 Kampung Baru Medical Centre, KL, 03-2693 1007, Lourdes Medical Kuala Lumpur 03-4042 5335 National Heart Institute IJN , KL, 03- 2617 8200 Pantai Cheras Medical Centre, KL, 03 91322022 Pantai Indah Hospital Kuala Lumpur 03-4289 2828 Pantai Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur 03-22960888 Pudu Specialists' Centre Kuala Lumpur 03-21480512 Pusat Pakar Tawakal Kuala Lumpur 03- 40233 599 PUSRAWI Hospital Kuala Lumpur 03-2687 5000 Sambhi Clinic Kuala Lumpur 03- 2692 4594 Sentosa Medical KL Kuala Lumpur 03-4043 7166 Sentul Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur 03-4041 6962 Taman Desa Medical Centre,Kuala Lumpur 03 79826500 Tung Shin Hospital Kuala Lumpur 03-2072 1655 Sri Manjung Specialist Centre, Sitiawan, 05-6918 153 6918 369 Larut Medical, Taiping 05-8087 205 Taiping Medical Centre, Taiping 05-8071 049/971 Crossing 40 Bridges
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Hotels Address & Tel Numbers
HOTEL MIDAH
8 Jalan Kampung Attap 50460 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 03 2273 9999 Fax : 03 2273 9199
SUNGEI PERAK RESORT Jalan Daeng Selili 33000 Kuala Kangsar Tel : 03 777 2020/21/28 Fax : 03 777 2029
VIKRI BEACH RESORT Pasir Bogak 32300 Pangkor Tel : 05 6854258 Vijay : 016 441 7759
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Country Embassies Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
142 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 03-2116 4016 No. 233, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400, Kuala Lumpur, Tel 03-2116 4000 kbrikualalumpur.org
Embassy of The Republic Of Philippines 1 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Tel 03-2148-4233 philembassykl.org.my
Embassy of The Socialist Republic Of Vietnam
4 Persiaran Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Tel 03-2148-4036 vietnam-visa.com
Sri Lanka Embassy
4 Jalan Keranji 2, Desa Pahlawan, 55000 Kuala Lumpur,
Singapore High Commission
Level 15, West Wing, The Icon, No 1, Jalan 1 68 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, T 03-2161-6277 mfa.gov.sg
South Korean Embassy
No. 9 and 11, Jalan Nipah, Off Jalan Ampang, 55000, Kuala Lumpur, 55000, 03-4251-2336 mofat.go.kr
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