Rungus Longhouse Picture of the Week

Rungus Longhouse is my Picture of the Week. This photo of a traditional longhouse was taken near the town of Kudat in northern Sabah Borneo. Called Kampung Bavanggazo Longhouse, this traditional home is situated in the Tinangol district. The Rungus people of northern Sabah used to live in homes like these on stilts for many years and these days, you can still see a few remaining ones left as cultural and heritage showcases. In total, there are about less  than 10 actual homes like these available throughout Sabah.

Rungus Longhouse Ruai

Bavanggazo Longhouse is quite unique because of the multi levels built here on a slope of a hill. Therefore there are bamboo and wooden stairs connecting each level. In total, the longhouse is over 300 meters in length from one end to the other end. Longhouse like these can also be found in Kota Kinabalu at the Mari Mari Cultural Village which is about 20 minutes drive from KK town. But if you really want to experience the original setting, you can always take a tour up north to visit these unique Sabahan Longhouses as the journey there takes about three hours passing traditional villages and picturesque scenery along the way. If you head further up north, you will reach the Tip of Borneo in Sabah.

 

Bavanggazo Longhouse 

For those wanting a full experience, you can also stay here at the longhouse for a small fee. The rooms are pretty much basic with just a fan and mosquito net. You can always contact Sabah Tourism or any of the tour operators in Kota Kinabalu for further details for a Rungus Longhouse experience.

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Tip of Borneo in Sabah

The Tip of Borneo in Sabah is my picture of the week. The place is located in the district of Kudat and is one of the must-visit places when you are traveling around Sabah. It is here where you will see the best of the South China Sea and Sulu Sea which is divided by the tip. A drive from Kota Kinabalu city will take about three and a half hours while it is much better to spend a night at one of the resorts along the way or around Kudat area if you are going by yourself.

The Tip of Borneo is also called Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in the Malay language but it is more commonly known in the English name if you are a traveler wanting to visit this place. Apart from this location, there are various local places to visit like the Gombizau Honey Bee Farm, Kampung Bavanggazo (Rungus Longhouse) and Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory (Factory making traditional brass drums). All these tourist attractions are on the way to the tip therefore it is usually included in tour packages.

Tip of Borneo

While at the Tip of Borneo, your driver would park at the main car park and you are required to take a short walk to the look out point. There are a few huts with some interesting information about the place while you will see the most prominent icon which is the bronze globe. Information on this is shared in English and Malay language. At the tip, there is a barricade to prevent people from going to the edge as it can be dangerous. If you are bringing children, please supervise them here.

Tanjung Simpang Mengayau information

 At the main car park, there is a restaurant serving local Malaysian food and drinks. You can get fizzy drinks or beer in the cans here. There is a guesthouse with rooms facing the sea while there are souvenir shops and toilets here too. Not to worry as the prices are very local and not hiked up just because this place is a tourist attraction. You will see a mixture of locals and foreigners here too while the best time to visit the Tip of Borneo is in  the mornings.

Most people would make a day trip here as you can cover all of the attractions and be back in Kota Kinabalu by evening. If you are a biker or cyclist, this would be a fun place to ride or cycle to. Kudat is one of the smaller towns in Sabah and is mainly dominated by the local Rungus people. If you have time, visit the Kudat market to explore and sample some of the unique local Rungus Food found here. On Sundays there is a Tamu (Market) selling all kinds of local produce. For those planning on spending a night here, there are a couple of Beach Resorts with beach front views which are reasonably priced just before the Tip of Borneo in Sabah.

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Chinese New Year in Malaysia

Chinese New Year in Malaysia is one of the biggest holidays in the country. It is celebrated nationwide by the Chinese community living here and falls in the beginning of the year according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. While it is also celebrated worldwide, many of the Chinese people will take this period of time to travel back to their hometowns to celebrate this auspicious festival with their families. The festival also begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Cap Goh Mei which is on the 15th day. Most importantly on Chinese New Year's Eve, where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, you will notice the city and villages come to a standstill.

 Red crackers going off during the Chinese New Year in Malaysia (Pic from bridgestv.com)

This article highlights the pros and cons of traveling to Malaysia during the Chinese New Year (CNY) Holidays so that you know what to expect. For the first time visitors to Malaysia, the CNY Festival is something to experience as you encounter open houses (where guest are invited to homes for food and drinks), Giving of Red Packets (Ang Pows), Lion and Dragon Dances, Temple activities and fireworks (red fire crackers). 

The fun in participating Chinese New Year Visiting is where you experience down to earth simplicity and amazing hospitality displayed by the Chinese community here in Malaysia. One cannot simply visit a strangers house unless invited or it is a special open house for everyone organised by the government, ministers or prominent businessmen. If you have a Chinese friend here in Malaysia and you are visiting during this period, most likely, you would be invited to his or her home on the second or third day of Chinese New Year. The first day is always for family only.

 Angry Birds Ang Pows in KL (Pic by TheStar)

Red Packets (Ang Pows)
Ang Pows (Hongbao) are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as Chinese New Year or weddings. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits.For the immediate family, the Ang Pows are distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Red Packets or Red Envelopes are also widely used for decorations in homes and businesses where they may hang them or craft them into various Chinese objects like fire crackers.

Giving ang pows (Pic by Theepochtimes.com)

Who gives Ang Pows? 
Ang Pows are only given by married couples to small children, teenagers and unmarried adults.(raise your hand!). These days, even Chinese bosses of a company that is doing well would hand out red packets to staff. Even various government agencies would go around to various organizations to hand out ang pows as goodwill in Malaysia.

Tossing Yee Sang (Pic from NST)

Chinese New Year eating in Malaysia
As most of the Chinese run restaurants, cafes and hawkers would be closed in the city of KL, many of the F&B outlets in smaller cities and towns around Malaysia would be opened by the 2nd day of CNY. Places like Ipoh, Melaka and Penang would be thriving with business as many of the restaurants would be opened throughout the festive period. In the city, most Chinese Restaurants in Hotels would be open as these days, many families would rather spend the reunion dinner there instead of cooking at home. For those seeking a traditional Chinese dinner, hotels are one of the places where you can try the famous Malaysian Yee Sang (鱼生).

What is Yee Sang?
Yee Sang is a Malaysian Chinese appetizer served before a lunch or dinner as a symbol of "good luck" for the new year. The dish is made from strips of raw fish served with daikon (white radish), carrots, red pepper, turnips, red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges, daun limau nipis (lime leaves), Chinese parsley, chili, jellyfish, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder and other ingredients, laced with a sauce using plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil. Right before the toss, the oil, crackers and powder is poured over the dish.

Yee Sang (Pic from Wikipedia)

How to Eat Yee Sang?
Before the lunch or dinner, a yee sang plate will be served and everyone stands up and on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying various 'auspicious wishes' out loud. It is believed that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diner's growth in fortunes, thus diners are expected to toss enthusiastically but don't overdo it or you might mess up the dinner table. If you are not used to chopsticks, I would recommend you learn this skill as it is totally not cool to be using a fork for this.

Lion dance outside a shopping mall in KL

The main thing you should be concerned about is that almost all businesses will be closed during the actual celebrations. The entire city will come to a standstill while the only places opened are the fast food joints, Indian-Muslim food shops (mamak shops) and 24-hour convenient stores. Shopping Malls will be opened but the first 2-3 days, many of the shops inside will be closed. If you are planning of doing some serious shopping, Chinese New Year is not the time for it.

Prominent shopping malls and centers will be the center of attraction in the city of KL while normals streets would be pretty much not worth a visit as everything would be closed. For those who really have to shop or be in a mall, here are some Shopping Malls in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur and those who prefer the our skirts of KL, there are also some interesting Shopping Malls in Petaling Jaya.

Traffic jam during Chinese New Year in Malaysia (Pic. Lynac)

On traveling during the Chinese New Year period, you should be well warned that the 2-3 days before the festival, there will be massive traffic jams out of Kuala Lumpur city. On a bad time, it can take about 5-8 hours just to reach the city of Ipoh which is usually only about 2-3 hours drive. All modes of transport will be full of travelers, from the roads, buses, trains and even flights. Either you book your travel arrangements way before hand or you are most likely not going to get tickets.

When going on the highways via bus, taxi or cars, take note of the travel days as usually it gets very hectic before and just before the official holiday ends, the return can pose a massive gridlock back into the city of Kuala Lumpur. If you are traveling during this period, make sure you have something to eat, drink, read or do in the vehicle.

Lion Dance

What to do during Chinese New Year in KL, Malaysia

• You can stroll around town as the city will be rid of the traffic and crowds
• Chinatown (Petaling Street) would be a great place to explore
• Catch a lion or dragon dance at various places around the city and smaller towns
• Visit a Chinese New Year Open House (check with the newspapers on where and when)
• Visit some of the Chinese Temples as they will be quite lively
• Try the Yee Sang at any of the Chinese restaurants that are open

What to avoid during Chinese New Year in KL, Malaysia

• Traveling
• Shopping
• Looking for Chinese hawker food in KL city
• Governmental business
• Visas
• Getting anything fixed

*Main picture credit: joiemo.blogspot.com

Overall, this is the only time of the year that the entire country comes to a standstill. Many years ago (10-20 years), most Chinese run businesses would close for a duration of 10-14 days. These days, they would usually close for 2-3 days and some even up to a week. But with the current economy being demanding, many would be back to work on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year.

For those visiting Malaysia during the Chinese New Year Celebrations, may you have a wonderful experience during your trip here. Double check your reservations at your hotel or guesthouse before you arrive. If you are traveling during this period, make sure you have got your tickets too. On a lighter note, make it a point to get to know some local Malaysian Chinese so that you can do a CNY visit to their homes, provided they are in the city as this would be a wonderful experience. Most local Chinese people are from out of KL city therefore they usually head back to the home towns during Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

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Future Music Festival Asia 2012

The Future Music Festival Asia will be held in Kuala Lumpur's Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on the 17th March 2012 for the first time. Since its debut in Sydney in 2006, this 12 hour music festival is set to rock Malaysia with 40 over acts in conjunction with the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix 2012. Club music fans will be pleased to know that superstars Chemical Brothers, Sneaky Sound System and American rap legend and DJ Grandmaster Flash among the many acts will be performing at this music concert which will attract many people from around the region traveling all the way to Sepang, Malaysia for this mega show.

Chemical Brothers performs in Kuala Lumpur

Who will be performing at the Future Music Festival Asia? With the recent announcement of the full line up of performers, fans will be pleased to know that this is one event not to be missed. Big names from the international clubbing scene including groups from Southeast Asia and also Malaysia's own homegrown names are to be performing at the FMFA 2012. This was confirmed on the 21/22 January so below is the line up according to the region.

Sneaky Sound System

Line up of international acts that will be performing at the Future Music Festival 2012;

1.Chemical Brothers (DJ Set)

2. Grandmaster Flash

3. Tinie Tempah

4. Cosmic Gate

5. The Wombats 

6. Sneaky Sound System

7. Chase & Status

8. Pendulum (DJ Set)

9. Eddie Halliwell

10. John 00 Flemming

11. Zane Lowe

12. Alex Metric

13. Azari & III

14. The Potbelleez

15. Kid Sister

16. Holy Ghost!

17. Super 8 & Tab

18. The Stafford Brothers

19. Andy Murphy

20. Shinichi Osawa
21. Ruby Rose

Grandmaster Flash is to perform at the Future Music Festival Asia 2012

Regional acts performing at FMFA 2012

1. Jalebee Cartel (India)

2. Pet Conspiracy (China

3. Electrico (Singapore)

4. Nikhil+Pearl (India)

5. Agrikulture (Indonesia)

6. Sandwich (Philippines)

7. Inquisitive (Singapore)

8. Good Night Electric (Indonesia)

9. Project E.A.R (Southeast Asia)

10. The Great Spy Experiment (Singapore)

FMF Concert (Picture from clubbing9ine)

Malaysian acts performing at Future Music Fest Asia 2012

1. Kyoto Protocol

2. Goldfish + Blink

3. Twilight Actiongirl 

4. They Will Kill Us All, 

5. Mini Compo

6. Enterprise

7. Oh! Chentaku

8. Bud Culture

9. Terrence C

10. Victor G

11. Fono

12. Bass Agents

13. Phil K Kee & Ian Ross

Kyoto Protocol - Malaysian band performing

With such an amazing line up for the music festival of the year, clubbers and party goers should not miss out on this fantastic show. Rest assured it will be a tiring day and don't forget to bring your own mats, raincoats and whatever. For more information, you can also visit the official Future Music Festival Asia Website.

Festival Details:
Venue: Sepang International Circuit (SIC)
Date: 17th March 2012 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00PM till LATE
Ticket Prices: Early Bird RM98

FMFA Concert (Picture from clubbing9ine)

Future Music Festival Asia Tickets
Where to buy the concert tickets?


1.Online at AirAsiaRedtix

2.Rock Corner outlets:

• The Gardens, Mid Valley (03 - 2283 4893)
• KLCC (03 - 2161 9417)
• Subang Parade (03 - 5636 9520)
• The Curve (03 - 7729 6313)
• One Utama (03 - 7725 5667)

3.Victoria Music outlet:

• Sg Wang(03 - 2148 7208)
• Amcorp (03 - 7956 0592)
• Tropicana (03 - 7722 2955)
• BSC (03 - 2093 1093)

For enquiry only: Please call AirAsiaRedtix Ticketing Hotline at +603 - 8775 4666.
Hotline is operational from 9am-6pm on weekdays.

Please Note:
1.Prices shown excludes RM3 AirAsiaRedTix fee.
2.Booking fee is applicable for this show.
3.RM5 reprint fee for online booking e-tickets.
4.No reprint for replacement for missing tickets.
5.Online ticket selling close on 15th March 2012 subject to availability.

Future Music Festival Video taken previously in Australia

While the tickets are already being sold, those who have not been to Sepang to catch this concert will have to take note that the location is about one hours drive from Kuala Lumpur city. There are a few trains from KL Sentral that go there but the service ends after midnight so you might need to plan your journey there and back. A taxi from anywhere in the city to the location will also cost about RM80-100 (US$26-$33) one way and maximum of four people. The journey back will be 50% extra because of the midnight charge. 

Unless you are going with friends, it should not be a problem. Otherwise it would be wise to book a room at any of the hotels around KLIA or Sepang. The nearest hotel would be Tune Hotels by the LCCT which is about 10-15 minutes drive from the Sepang International Circuit. To those going for this massive concert, have a wonderful time at the Future Music Festival Asia 2012 in Malaysia.

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Best Travel Blog 2012 Vote Malaysia Asia

Best Travel Blog 2012, Vote for Malaysia Asia at the Bloggers and Social Media Awards in Kuala Lumpur, a much talked about social media event that is happening in February. I got around knowing this via my twitter feed on the 15th Jan as a friend had voted and submitted Malaysia Asia for the category of Best Travel Blog. I totally did not expect this but am very grateful that there are some people out there who appreciate my work over the years and I cannot thank you enough.

Malaysia Asia travel blog

By casting your votes, you can help Malaysia Asia to win Best Travel Blog 2012 at the Bloggers and Social Media Awards which is going to be held on the 16th February at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As there are many travel blogs around Malaysia, the competition is pretty interesting as it would be a game of votes. The more friends you have, the higher your votes would be therefore, I am writing this article to get your support in voting for Malaysia Asia to win this award. To vote, you simply need to do a quick register for the site and it's all done.

Over the years, there have been numerous awards in Malaysia like the Nuffnang Blog Awards and a few others. As these awards are based on public votes, many have been on a drive to get as much votes as they can to be nominated and I never did take part in those awards due to the fact that it was purely vote driven and not based on quality or traffic. Example; you could have a very basic blog with 1000 good online friends and that alone could help you drive up your votes to be in the finals. This time around, I thought I would like to try my luck and see where I fair in this as I have been writing for Malaysia Asia over the last 4 years on my own without taking note of these awards. 

 Malaysia Asia - Best Online Media 2011/2012

To my surprise, I won my first and only award by Sabah Tourism where Malaysia Asia won Best Online Media at the Sabah Tourism Awards which is held every two years. After all, I have been contributing a number of articles on Sabah Borneo and also many other places around Southeast Asia. Apart from that, I have been running online campaigns and contest for various tourism related businesses. One of my current Social Media Online Contest is with AirAsia X to Win 4 x All Expense Paid 6 Day Trip to Japan. This amazing drive was to create awareness and also give the netizens and readers of MA a chance to visit one of the most expensive countries in the world, all expense paid too. The contest ends on the 5th of Feb so if you are up for it, please feel free to join.

David receiving the Best Online Media Award from Sabah tourism Minister

Malaysia Asia has also been running travel related contest since 2010 and this only gets better over time. The last three online travel contest have been successful with over thousands of entries received with a number of happy winners. Prizes included trips to the Philippines, Langkawi, Sabah and Phuket. While traveling is the main core of my site, it is only fair that I try to give back as much as I can to my readers via Social Media on my Facebook Page or Twitter feed while I also make it a point to run some exciting travel contest online for everyone to participate. Therefore I hope that this time around, you - the reader, can help me vote for the travel award so that Malaysia Asia can hopefully win Best Travel Blog for 2012.

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AirAsia X flying to Sydney, Australia

AirAsia X flying to Sydney, Australia on the 1st April 2012. Apparently it was announced in The Star Biz newspaper on the 12th January and it was confirmed by the officials in AAX on the 17th Jan. Tickets for the Kuala Lumpur-Sydney flight on AirAsia X will also start selling from the 17th January (Tuesday) with airfares from Kuala Lumpur starting at RM199. According to the newspaper, AirAsia X will also be looking at daily flights to Sydney putting an end to a three year wait after a bitter duel with Malaysia Airlines over the route and also an earlier start before Singapore Airlines Scoot makes their inaugural flight to the same city.

AirAsia X plane flying over a city

Aviation news also claims that Singapore Airlines new long haul budget carrier called Scoot have named Sydney as its first route but the flights only take off in mid 2012. They made the official announcement on the 1st of December 2011 about Scoot Flying to Sydney. With the news coming out, this gives AirAsia X a head start in running massive promotions on this sector which is one of the highly profitable routes in Asia Pacific.

The news of the KL-Sydney flights also came in conjunction with AirAsia X ending European and Indian flights according to a BBC report on this. But over here in Malaysia, an official press statement from AirAsia X was issued on the same day which read:

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 January 2012 - AirAsia X, the long haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia, today announced a realignment of its network with a focus on its core markets. 

The move will see AirAsia X withdrawing services to India (Mumbai and Delhi) and Europe (Paris, London) from its Kuala Lumpur hub as follows:

·           Mumbai- Four weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 31 January, 2012

·         New Delhi- Daily services will be suspended with the last flight on 22 March, 2012. Flights in March will be reduced to four weekly services.

·           London- Six weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 31 March, 2012

·           Paris- Four weekly services will be suspended with the last flight on 30 March, 2012

AirAsia X will offer guests who hold bookings after these dates an alternative travel option at no additional cost to mitigate the inconvenience caused as a result of these route withdrawals.

All affected guests will receive an e-mail stating options that are available to them, including a full refund, a reroute to another AirAsia X destination (e.g, in Australia and North Asia), or a move to an alternative carrier where available.

These changes will improve operating cost efficiencies and consolidate its network to focus on markets where it can build a leadership position in 2012.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said “AirAsia X remains focused on maintaining its global leadership position in the low cost, long-haul segment. We intend to concentrate capacity in our core markets of Australasia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea where we have built up stable, profitable routes within an infrastructure that supports low cost services. We intend to open up new routes within these markets, as well as add frequencies on existing routes. Announcements of our future expansion plans will be made soon.”

“The continued high jet fuel prices and the weakening demand for air travel from Europe, brought about by the current economic situation together with exorbitant government taxes, have placed cost pressures on operating long-haul low cost flights between Asia and Europe, compromising our ability to offer the low fares AirAsia X is known for.”

He adds, “The implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the escalating Air Passenger Duty taxes in UK, which will rise yet again in April 2012  has forced our decision to withdraw our services to Europe.”

“As for Delhi and Mumbai, the continued visa restrictions for travel between India and Malaysia, and the increase in airport and handling charges have resulted in a structure not conducive to the low cost model.”

Azran concluded that, “The airline is hopeful in reinstating services to India once these structural issues can be resolved.”

Note:

Further details on AirAsia X’s withdrawal of Europe and India destinations:

Europe (London and Paris)

AirAsia X started flights to London in March 2009. At that time, oil prices were less than US$40/barrel, and have since tripled. With the Arab Spring unrest of 2011 spilling over to the unrests in Syria and Iranian oil embargo this year, oil prices are expected to remain high and crippling the economics of long-haul flights, where fuel represents over 50% of operating cost.

Moreover, the European situation is also compounded by a very weak economy and depressed consumer demand, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of passengers from Europe on the flights over the past several months. Flights to Europe have also been burdened by exorbitant government taxes such as the UK Air Passenger Duty which will be increased to £92 per departing economy passenger and £184 per departing Premium passenger from 1 April 2012. From 1 January 2012, the European Governments have also imposed an additional carbon tax under their Emissions Trading Scheme, which further adds to an already high cost.

The confluence of macro-factors, including high fuel prices, depressed European economy and exorbitant taxes have made it economically impossible to sustain these flights, despite AirAsia X recording load factors of over 80% for its London and Paris flights in 2011. Attempts to increase fares to reflect the higher operating cost recently have shown the price elasticity of travel, with demand falling down adversely.

India (Mumbai and New Delhi)

AirAsia X launched flights to Mumbai and Delhi in 2010. Structural issues in the Indian aviation market have made it difficult to operate economically viable flights. The airport and handling costs in New Delhi and Mumbai are already more expensive than even airports in Australia, and the authorities have just approved a massive 280% increase in airport fees effective April 2012.

The Indian routes have also been under-pressure when the Malaysian Government removed Visa-on-Arrival facilities in August 2010, soon after the routes were launched. This places Malaysia at a significant disadvantage versus Thailand and Singapore who offer Indian tourists convenient Visa-on-Arrival facilities.

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Passengers onboard an AirAisa X flight

With this, there is going to be an interesting challenge for both airlines (Malaysia Airlines & AAX) as it is supposed to benefit each of the individual airlines for the future. Also with new player - Singapore's Scoot Airline, we can probably expect to see some price wars going on or maybe not. As for now, this is the fourth city that AAX flies to. For those planning a trip to down under, you can now visit one of the largest cities here as the news is official  that AirAsia X  is flying to Sydney, Australia.

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Pitcher Plant Rice Picture

This unique Pitcher Plant Rice is my picture to welcome 2012. What and why you may be asking, just like me, I was totally dumbfounded when I saw some local ethnic Dayak people selling these at one of the small town markets in Sarawak Borneo. Taking a very serious look at this, I was still in awe and had to ask my friend Jojo if this was really sold as food. He looked me in the eye and his reply - yes, the local indigenous people here eat these Pitcher Plant Rice or Nasi Periuk Kera as they are called in Malay. Talk about some of the strange foods found in Malaysia and Borneo, this one takes the cake for me.

Pitcher Plant Rice being sold at a market in Sarawak

These pitcher plants with rice were sold at RM1(US$0.30) a cup and it was filled with brown rice and peanuts. The whole monkey cup is steamed and then served cooked. Only a special type of pitcher plant is used for the cooking of this dish. The pitcher plant or Naphentes also grows wild in the rainforest of Borneo therefore it is easily sourced by the local villagers. Till date, I still do not know the history of this but from what I learned, the Land Dayaks of Sarawak near the district of Bau and Serikin usually consume these as a snack. Over in Peninsular Malaysia, some north eastern states like Pahang and Kelantan also have a similar dish called Nasi Periuk Kera or Lemang Periuk Kera which is a sticky rich type.

I was on my way to the famous Serikin Market which is about an hour from Kuching when I chanced upon this strange dish from a road side market. Knowing how odd it was, I simply had to try it. And the verdict? You had to pull out the little green pandanus leaf in the middle, then peel off the pitcher plant skin and then eat the brown rice. The taste? It was pretty interesting if you ask me as it was quite bland but the peanuts made up for the overall taste. It went down well, nothing outrageous but an experience to remember. So there you have it, a very unique Pitcher Plant Rice as my picture for 2012.

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Eating Local Food in Kuching, Sarawak

Eating local food in Kuching, Sarawak is one of the things every traveler or visitor must try when you are here. The choices are totally different from West Malaysia and Sarawakian Food in very unique in their own ways. You can actually find them at a number of places around Kuching town especially when you walk around the main town. Usually when I visit Kuching town, especially around the Waterfront area, I would explore new restaurants and cafes in search for some exotic Sarawakian food like the Ayam Pansoh in the picture above. This amazing dish is cooked in a bamboo before being served to you. 

Sarawak Laksa

It has been a really long time since I wrote about food and this time around, I choose Sarawak Food as it is very interesting compared to the local Malaysian Food. Among some of the well known local Sarawak dishes, Sarawak Laksa is right on top of the list. Many local travelers visit Kuching to eat this special savory noodle which can be found throughout the state. You will hear from locals or tour guides informing you of where you can find good Sarawak Laksa in Kuching. Let me just say that each person has their own special favourite taste and I personally have tried many of them. Till this day, I still cannot decide on which is the best one as every other one I try is really good.

Sarawak Umai - Raw Fish Salad

On my last visit to Kuching back in October 2011, I had the pleasure of visiting a local run cafe and restaurant in Kuching Waterfront area called Borneo Delight. A Sarawakian couple run this place while the wife does the cooking here so you are assured of some pure home style Sarawak food. I had come here on two different occasions and tried a number of the local dishes which I have to say, was pretty interesting. Most importantly, they served the famous Bario Rice, which is harvested from the highlands of Bario. Combine the rice with the bamboo chicken and it is out of this world!

Bario Rice

Sambal Sotong Sarawak (Squid Sambal)

Sarawakian local food on the menu

Borneo Delight Restaurant in Kuching

Borneo Delight Restaurant and Cafe is very simple and basic but the choices it offers are some really hard to get local dishes. Apart from that, they also serve Chinese and Western dishes. Beer is also on the menu for those who want to cool down on a hot day. But I will strongly recommend you try some of the Sarawak Food here like Pansoh Chicken (Ayam Pansoh), Sarawak Laksa and even the Umai which is a raw fish salad. You can find Borneo Delight at Number 13,Wayang Street, Kuching. This is just next to the famous Wayang Street Chinese Temple.

Kolo Mee infused with Thai Basil

Another place that I was introduced to was a fusion Sarawakian-Thai restaurant called Absolute Tribal. This unique restaurant is located at the Hills Shopping Mall just next to the Pullman Kuching Hotel. The only reason my friend Sandy brought me her was that they did some pretty cool fusion foods marrying Thai and Sarawak dishes. First thing that popped into my mind was to try the famous Kolo Mee.

One of the most local popular dishes is the Kolo Mee or Kolok Mee in Kuching. This dry noodle dish is similar to the Wan Tan Noodle dishes found in West Malaysia but done in their own way in Sarawak. The Malay name for this dish is called Mee Kering (Ker-Ring). Usually this dish can be found at most coffee shops and restaurants while it is served with sliced pieces of roast pork or shredded chicken pieces and a few pieces of boiled vegetables.

Midin Kerabu Sarawak

One of the recommended dishes was Midin, a local delicacy made from the jungle green fern and cooked with shrimp paste chili. To top things off, I ordered two types of this dish to try out the difference. One was a kerabu (type of salad) style while the other was original. Apparently, housewives make some of the best Midin around but at some restaurants, you can still find this on the menu. However, this dish is not easily found at local coffee shops but some may have it.

Midin Sarawak with Prawn

Sarawak Pineapple Chicken

Prawn Umai (Prawn Salad)

A final dish was the Prawn Umai where raw prawns are neatly decorated with fresh vegetables. Umai again is popular among the locals and served as a salad. These days, you will get many types of Umai ranging from fish, cuttle fish, prawns and even octopus. But most of the fancy ones are found in the more modern cafes and restaurants around Sarawak.

Absolute Tribal Restaurant in Kuching

Absolute Tribal Restaurant is pretty much very nicely done up with some interesting decor and interior design. They have a huge seating area and also an outdoor area for smokers and those who like the natural air. The place can also double as a function area while they have a VIP private dining room that can sit easily 10-12 people. Among some of the well known dishes here, I missed trying the Pansoh Chicken as you needed to book ahead for this. Maybe on my next visit, I will attempt this as I am totally addicted to Ayam Pansoh since being introduced years ago in one of the Sarawak Longhouse along the Lemanak River.

Sarawak Food Menu at Absolute Tribal Restaurant

My Food Tours around Kuching was handled by Borneo Tropical Adventures as I had made arrangements with them to take me to a number of places around Kuching. One of the highlights was to see the famous Sarawak Sea Stack at the Bako National Park. Apart from that, I did my daily walks around the Kuching Waterfront in town while I also visited the famous Serikin Market at the border of Sarawak and Kalimantan. Kuching is a large area but to move around there, you need to engage the services of a tour company as getting from one place to another takes about an hour or more. So you need to plan your itinerary or let the travel company know what you want to do and where you want to go in Kuching.

Overall, there are a number of interesting places with local Sarawakian food around Kuching. One needs to either explore or ask around to try out these restaurants of cafes. If you are a foreigner and you are not used to the spicy or chilli taste, make sure when you order, tell them to go very slow on the chili. Also, if you are on your first visit here, I believe that everyone should try eating the local food in Kuching, Sarawak.

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Win 4 x All Expense Paid Trip to Japan with AirAsia X

Win 4 x All Expense Paid Trip to Japan with AirAsia X

Have you ever wanted to visit Japan? Malaysia Asia with the support of AirAsia X is running this amazing Travel Contest for 2012 and is giving away these absolutely fantastic prizes that are worth over RM30,000 (US$10,000) to Four (4) lucky winners to travel to Japan for 6D/5N with all expenses paid! Here is your chance to do so with one of the easiest online contest for 2012! Not only will the winners visit one major Japanese city, they get to visit two cities which are Tokyo and Osaka! Here, they will be visiting some of the famous landmarks in each city and also taking a ride on the famous Japanese Shinkansen Bullet Train between the two cities.

- CONTEST IS OVER - 5th FEB 2012 -

This travel contest has the most simple mechanics as you are not required to buy anything, vote anything or even a slogan. Just follow the four simple steps in the specially created 'Contest Widget' below and you could be on your way to the Land of the Rising Sun! Here is the best part, the contest is open to anyone living in Asia Pacific, this means Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. So get those cameras out as the main ingredient for you to be eligible is by taking the most creative "X" photo and submitting it in the contest widget.

Bahasa Melayu - Laman Web Malaysia Asia dalam Bahasa Melayu

对于中国 - 这在中国的网站

สำหรับประเทศไทย -- การประกวดการท่องเที่ยว 2012

Para sa Tagalog - Paglalakbay Contest 2012 

The 4 Grand Prizes

Each Winner will receive;

• 1 x Ticket to Haneda, Tokyo and 1 x Ticket from Osaka via AirAsia X
• 6D/5N trip to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan
• 1 x Bullet Train (Shinkansen) trip from Tokyo to Osaka
• Hotel Accommodation throughout the trip
• Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan entry passes
• Transfers to popular tourist attractions and sites
• All airport taxes

So how do you take part in this Travel Contest for 2012?

Simple, just watch the 30 second video and follow the steps in the 'special contest widget' below. Remember, for the last step, you need to take a creative picture of anything that resembles the letter "X" and upload it into the widget. See the 'Final Check' below before uploading your pictures.

Travel Contest 2012 Video

Join the Travel Contest Widget Below by following the 4 Steps

- CONTEST IS OVER - 5th FEB 2012 -

Please Take Note:

• I noticed a few people uploading just any pictures. Please take note that the picture should have some thing that resembles the letter "X". See Examples of Uploaded X Pictures.  
• Stock photos from Google or any other photo site are not allowed and will be disqualified. The pictures must be your own.
• Altered pictures (using photoshop or any other editing tool) to enhance the X are not allowed. You can sharpen and contrast the picture but putting in an "X" is dis-allowed. 
• You are allowed a maximum of Five (5) pictures to be uploaded. 
• Any pictures that do not meet the above will be removed.  

Final Check:

• Remember for step #4, you have to "RENAME" your uploaded "X" image to your EMAIL ID - Example: johnsmithATgmailDOTcom.jpg. 
• Do NOT rename johnsmith@gmail.com.jpg as it will NOT register.
• Images without the correct email id will be disqualified as we do not know who the image belongs to. 
• Once you submit your "X" picture, you will see it there in the widget. You are done!
• No nudity, racial, religious, derogatory or discriminating pictures. 
• All successful images will be also posted on to the Malaysia Asia Facebook Page.

*Some tips:  You can go through some of your old photos to see if there are any that resemble an "X"

Contest Information: 

• Date of contest: 7th January - 5th February 2012
• Prizes: 4 x All Expense Paid Trip to Japan via AirAsia X
• Eligibility: Anyone residing in Asia Pacific and must be 18 years and above
• Results Date: 7th or 8th February 2012
• Results Posted: Malaysia Asia Contest Article, Malaysia Asia Facebook Page
• Winners Travel Date to Japan: 16th - 22nd February 2012

Additional Information:

• All flights depart from and return to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• If a winner is selected from example - Australia, you will be flown in from the nearest AirAsia X airport into Kuala Lumpur and then to Japan. This means you simply make your own way to either Melbourne, Perth or Gold Coast to connect your flight to KL.
  
• This applies to anyone living in and around Asia Pacific.
• Contestants MUST have a valid Passport with a minimum of 6 months.
  
• Winners need to apply for their Japanese Visa on confirmation. It generally takes about 3-5 working days to get this done. 

Visiting Tokyo and Osaka, Japan

It has been a dream for many people to visit one of the most fascinating and interesting cities in the world and now you are given a chance to do so with AirAsia X. Tokyo and Osaka are rated as the first and second largest cities of Japan with a fast thriving metropolis lifestyle. The culture alone is simply amazing where modern technology blends with historical sites and traditions.

For those who have not visited Tokyo and Osaka, below are some graphic pictures showing you some of the attractions found in these two major Japanese cities. Tokyo is known for the incredible fast moving Japanese lifestyle while everything related to Japan can be found here. Experience seeing cutting edge electronics and technology, eat traditional Ramen noodles, visit Tokyo Disneyland, check out cos play and anime, sample Sushi and buy stuff from vending machines that sell just about everything.

On the other hand, Osaka is is another place many people like to visit as the city is home to Universal Studios Japan, the Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle, Famous Takoyaki (Grilled Octopus balls) stalls, and a number of well known shopping areas like Shinsaibashi Shopping District in Osaka.

*Prizes are sponsored by AirAsia X

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

1.       The “Travel X” contest (“Contest”) is organised by AirAsia X Sdn Bhd (“AirAsia X”) and Malaysia Asia (“Malaysia Asia”) (jointly referred to as “Organisers”). Contest period will run from 7th January 2012 (GMT +8) and ends 7th February 2012 at 23.59 (GMT +8) (“Contest Period”). Contest is also open to participants in Asia Pacific only.

2.        There will be Four (4) Prize Winners.

3.       The prize (“Prize”) includes:
- Four (4) x Return Tickets on AirAsiaX to Japan.
- Tickets will be - Entry into Haneda, Japan and exit via Osaka, Japan.
- If winners are from out of Malaysia, they will need to find their own way to the nearest AirAsia hub in Asia Pacific where AirAsia or AirAsia X will fly them to Malaysia before connecting to Haneda, Japan.
- All winners and Organisers will go together on one FAM trip to Tokyo (3D) and return via Osaka (3D), Japan via AirAsia X.
- From Tokyo, the winners will be shuttled to Osaka via the Shinkansen Bullet Train.
- Travel dates for the FAM tour will be on the 16 February 2012 (Thur) – 22 February 2012 (Wed).       
- Winners and Organisers will get accommodation, entrance fees to attractions and any transportation fees which are included in the itinerary.

4.      The mechanics;
- Subscribe to the contest article via email
- Share the Contest Article on their Facebook Profile
- Like the Facebook Fan Page
- Upload - Contestants are required to take any picture of anything resembling an “X” in the most creative way possible.
- The ‘X’ picture may be in any form. Example: 2 Chopsticks, Person doing an X... etc.
- The picture(s) will be submitted to an online uploader located in a specially created contest widget on the Malaysia Asia contest article.
- The winners will be selected by submitting the ‘Most Creative X’ picture which will be selected by AirAsia X. 

5.        The Contest is open to ALL (“Participants”) except for the following:
 - Permanent and/or temporary staff or employees of AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X, Malaysia Asia, AirAsia's group of companies (including subsidiaries and related companies), and their immediate family members;
 - Representatives and/or agents (including advertising and promotion) of AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X, Malaysia Asia and AirAsia's group of companies and their immediate family members.
 - Anyone under the age of Eighteen (18) years old.

6.        By virtue of an entry to the contest, Participants signify acceptance and agreement to all Terms & Conditions set out here.

7.        Entries with nudity, racial, religious, derogatory or discriminating pictures will be automatically disqualified.

8.        Participants must be eighteen (18) years of age and above.

9.        All Participants are allowed multiple entries but can only win once throughout the entire Contest Period.

10.     Participants with complete entries and who fulfil all the criteria shall be eligible to win the Prize. Incomplete entries and/or entries with incorrect requisite personal details will automatically be disqualified from the Contest.

11.     The winners will be selected by a panel of judges nominated by the Organisers based on the most creative “X” picture.

12.     The selected winners will be contacted via their Facebook account or email.

13.     Winners’ names will also be announced online on all AirAsia and Malaysia Asia social media channels.

14.   The Organisers (including their respective employees, staff and agents) shall not be liable for any loss (including loss of opportunity and consequential loss arising therewith) and/or any damage suffered by any winner in connection with the Contest.

15.   The Prize is not exchangeable and/or transferable. Failure to accept the Prize within 3 working days by any winner shall constitute a rejection by such winner and the Organizer reserves their rights to substitute such rejection with another winner.

16.     The winners are bound by the Terms & Conditions that come with the Prize.

17.     Winners must comply with all the Terms & Conditions herein before claiming the Prize. The Organisers has the right to reject any claims that do not conform to the Terms & Conditions.

18.    The Organisers reserves the right to publish or display materials or information, including but not limited to the names and photographs of all Participants for marketing, advertising and publicity purposes in any manner it deems appropriate. The Organisers further reserves the right to use any personal data of the Participants in any manner and/or for any purpose it deems fit and the Participants are deemed to consent to such use.

19.    The Organisers reserves the right to cancel, terminate or suspend the Contest with or without any prior notice and reason. For the avoidance of doubt, cancellation, termination or suspension by the Organisers shall not entitle the Participants to any claim or compensation against the Organisers for any and all losses or damages suffered or incurred as a direct or indirect result of the act of cancellation, termination or suspension.

20.    The Terms & Conditions herein set out shall prevail over any inconsistent terms, conditions, provisions or representations contained in any other promotional or advertising materials for the Contest.

21.    The Organisers reserves the right at its absolute discretion to vary, delete or add to any of these Terms & Conditions and/or substitute or replace the prize from time to time without any prior notice.

22.   By participating in the Contest, it is deemed that the Participants agree to be bound by the terms and is subject to the conditions herein set out upon submission of entry. The decisions of the Organisers in relation to every aspect of the Contest including but not limited to the type of prizes and winners shall be deemed final and conclusive under any circumstance.

23.   The decision of judges appointed by the Organisers is final, conclusive and binding and no further appeal, enquiry and/or correspondence will be entertained.

24.     The Prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and not exchangeable for cash or any other benefits in kind.

25.     The Prize includes airport taxes, 15kg of baggage and meals on board.

26.     The Prize excludes any other miscellaneous fees and all other expenses incurred/spent while in Japan and includes alcohol, shopping, etc.

27.     The Prize is subject to AirAsia X terms and conditions of Carriage. 

28.     The terms and conditions of any third party will apply to the prize where applicable.

29.    The Prize does not include anything not listed above including but not limited to: travel insurance, passports, visas, or any other costs of a personal nature not stated. Compliance with any health or other government requirements is the responsibility of the prize-winner.

30.     The Prize must be taken as stated and no compensation will be payable if the winner(s) is unable to use the Prize as stated.

31.     There can be no changes (name of traveller, travel date, etc) made to travel arrangements once bookings are made.

32.     The Organisers accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss (including but not limited to direct, indirect and consequential loss), liability, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by the winner or their guest in connection with this promotion, the promotion of this promotion or the use of any prize, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law (in which case that liability is limited to the minimum allowable by law).

33.     The Organisers retains the right to substitute the Prize with another of similar value in the event the original Prize offered is not available due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

34.     The Organisers reserves the right to amend the Terms & Conditions listed at any time without prior notice.

Finally, this has got the be the biggest Online Travel Contest organized by an independent travel blog site for 2012. Malaysia Asia (MA) is no stranger to running online contest and this is the 4th successful online campaign run within 12 months. MA painstakingly worked with the sponsor to arrange this contest for anyone residing around Asia Pacific to participate. We hope that this contest will bring out the creativity in you when you are out there looking for that 'X' photo. 

As we welcome in the New Year, Leap Year and Year of the Dragon, Malaysia Asia would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2012 and hope the Dragon year brings you good health, wealth, luck and fortune. For those entering this travel contest 2012, I wish you all the best to Win 4 x All Expense Paid Trip to Japan with AirAsia X.

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