FH2O: Kuching Kayaking

Kayaking with the “Governor”

2007-12-29T06:31:00.000+08:00

The one and only Charles A. Bateman sitting pretty and standing with daughter Felicia.

It’s not every day that you have the pleasure of His Excellency’s company let alone his and his brother-in-law families as well. Charles Arthur Bateman is a fine and distinguishing looking gentleman with a sharp wit and sense of humor and does not mind me ribbing him about being the ‘governor’ on account of him getting away with not attending ~~long tedious and boring~~ meetings because of his ‘stature’ which mere mortals like yours truly have to endure. *sigh*

Bryan, Rachael, Maurice, FH2o, Charles A Bateman, Mona, Azmi, Angelina, Basil Wee & Felicia @ Sg Abang, Thursday 27th December 2007

Anyway after ~~secretly~~ reading my blog for a while, Charles being an outdoors loving person (although I must qualify that his fondness for the outdoors is strictly confined to his love for his old ~~junk~~ land rover and all things land rovers) finally decided to check out our kayaking trip – with his wife, 2 lovely daughters, his sister and her husband and their 2 sons.

And so on a fine Thursday morning we set out for Kg Bengoh with this fine company of 8 on their first kayaking trip ever. To cut a long story short – they all loved it! Especially His Excellency whose idea of kayaking is to lie on a supine position while his wife does all the hard work … *sigh*

They all did well despite being beginners although at one bend in the river they all went for a swim to avoid kissing a grove of bamboos when directed there by the strong river currents. And the governor has to do one better at the take-out at Kg Semadang while he pondered my command to get off the kayak but instead capsized it with Azmi and Juri desperately chasing after the runaway kayak!

I should have known better that Governors do not take instructions or commands kindly. Forgive me Your Excellency!

Kayaking Charles Arthur Bateman's style ...

Falling In Love With the River @ Borneo Highlands

2007-12-28T22:01:00.000+08:00

Joel, Takeshi, Akari and Azmi @ Sg Abang, Bengoh 28 December 2007

Joel Bong's japanese friends Takeshi Moriyama and Akari Tsuruta were in town and he wanted to give them a very special Kuching treat - rain forest kayaking @ Borneo Highlands; which he thoughtfully booked via emails weeks ahead of their arrival. Nice friend this Joel bloke.

Unfortunately I have errands to run today and I couldn't join them, so Azmi took them out instead and he also took these wonderful 'action' photos.

Did they enjoy the trip today? I think it was more than that - they "fell" in love with it!

B.S. – Boulevard Shopping

2007-12-28T14:38:00.000+08:00

Construction vehicles, materials, debris and workers greet you on your way to the basement parking ... Nice hor?

Unlike most of the “sakai” people in Kuching, I was vaguely interested in the opening of the latest shopping center not the least of which is the fact that I despite people who flaunt the laws (and the 'laws' abusing their authorities). The building is not even completed and yet the ‘authorities’ allow it to open for business just so that the ~~greedy~~ owners can open before Christmas. What a lot of B.S. but anyway that’s another story and who cares about public safety right?

With plenty of construction works going on both inside AND outside - is the building fit to allow public occupation? What B.S.!

My disinterest in shopping and distaste for conspicuous consumption was not match for my intrinsic curiosity as to why so many people here are rushing there causing massive traffic jams in the vicinity. So this morning while I was in the area and with light traffic, I dropped by for a quick visit to see what the attraction there is in this “just another meaningless shopping center” or what’s so special about it to warrant ~~stewpig B.S.~~ Kuching bloggers raving about it (they are just ~~stewpig?~~ “sakai”?)

Watch out as there are push carts everywhere!

Anyway the only thing that I could spot that is perhaps interesting and probably not seen in other shopping centers were these – which I dutifully snapped; at the meat section of the ‘hyper’ market. I think it’s enough to put me off burgers or steak for the rest of the week. Enjoy!

Lest you forget - we come from a long line of headhunters ...

Happy Boxing Day

2007-12-26T21:28:00.000+08:00

Christmas evening @ Sungai Kuap, Kuching

It was a lethargic (and rainy) Boxing Day back at work today but I'll be taking leave from tomorrow onwards with 6 blissful days off in a row. Nice. I'd been busy over the past week and as is always the case with me - too many things and not enough time (and kind of lazy) to blog about it! I'm also feeling kinda lethargic from too much eating (and drinking!).

Christmas morning green @ my house

Anyway here's 2 photos I took on Christmas morning and one in the evening when I went cycling in a probably fruitless attempt to reduce that bulging waistline. *sigh* Irregardless - happy holidays cheers from Kuching!

Merry Christmas Greetings From Kuching & Vancouver

2007-12-25T08:11:00.000+08:00

I received this rather cute 'Kuching' Christmas greeting in my email from Mok in Kuching and a most beautiful Christmas Eve photo of Vancouver from Lou Parsons who resides in that beautiful city.

Here's wishing that your Christmas is as cute, beautiful and blessed; whether you're on the waters or on terra firma.

G.W. Bush Happy Xmas (War is Over)

2007-12-25T07:50:00.000+08:00

Christmas Lights

2007-12-24T20:35:00.001+08:00

A gentle and light hearted reminder to not go berserk with your Christmas lightings! Whatever.

Wishing You All Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T07:14:00.001+08:00

... and many thanks for visiting FH2o: Kuching Kayaking in 2007.

Blogging; Interrupted

2007-12-23T08:39:00.001+08:00

My blogging routine has been interrupted by disruption to internet access at home on account of my other half doing some 'creative' shifting around of the rooms - one of which houses the internet wireless router, which is now outside the range of my notebook. *sigh*

Trusting that your weekend fun is not interrupted in whatever manner whatsoever. Whatever.

Photo: Zero Lot Bungalow Show House (in a class of its own) launched this morning at Riveria, Kuching ensures that your views of Sg Merdang and privacy is not interrupted in any manner whatsoever. Why buy a normal semi-detached house?

Rainbow On The Way Home

2007-12-20T07:25:00.000+08:00

I'm glad that I saw and manage to 'capture' a rainbow on the rainy drive home from work the other day on Tuesday evening.

Photo: Rainbow over the sky somewhere along Jalan Song, Kuching. 18 December 2007

Hotel Reservations

2007-12-20T07:03:00.000+08:00

It’s the end of the year and most people are away on holidays – and they would do well to check and book their Hotel Reservations before they depart as you can book hotels, motels, bed & breakfast, flights, cars, vacation rentals and vacation packages all from one place; all at competitive rates and with great discounts for the US as well as Europe. They actually guarantee lower rates and up to a $100/- rebate. No kidding. So it’s certainly worth your while to check them up before you depart. Happy reservations and happy holidays!

Rainy Drive Home on a Camera Phone

2007-12-19T07:41:00.000+08:00

I finally got round to getting a USB 2.0 “All In One” memory card reader and retrieved the photos from the 1G Memory Stick Pro Duo in my Sony Ericsson K750i handphone which have a 2.0 Megapixel autofocus camera. Nothing to shout about as the latest camera phones are 5.0 Megapixels, but it's convenient to have when you don’t have your regular camera with you. Like when I took these photos back in October on a rainy drive back from work. And for certain 'mood shots' like these, it's not that necessary to have a super high megapixel camera to capture the atmosphere or feeling.

No. I do not recommend that you talk and drive at the same time much less take photos especially on a rainy evening. Shhhh!

Friday Evening Skies for a Monday Morning

2007-12-17T06:53:00.000+08:00

A peaceful and beautiful end to the work week for the beginning of another week ...

Beautiful Kuching evening skies, 14 December 2007.

I was on the cross trainer by the window at the gym taking the occasional glances at the evening skies and as the sun sets over the next half an hour, I paused to take periodic quick snaps and I was rewarded with these fleetingly delicate magical images that would otherwise have vanished had I not being mindful of the present – then.

The changing colours as one moment moves to the other.

As another year draws to an end, I trust that you are present here on this Monday and every moment of wherever and whenever you are. Be here and be well. Live this moment - it's all we have and it's beautiful.

To see the magic around us, we need to be fully present in the here and now - at the gym or anywhere else.

Riveria Square : A New Waterfront Shopping Experience In Kuching

2007-12-16T18:26:00.000+08:00

Overall aerial perspective of the exciting Riveria Square waterfront development in Kuching.

The upcoming Riveria Square is a landmark commercial development breaking away from the mould of the typical ‘shophouse’ commercial development in Kuching offering something new and unique.

With a kilometer long water’s edge walk along Sungai Kuap for recreation, shopping and entertainment provided for by arcade shops; it brings to Kuching the kind of waterfront shopping experience one can only previously get overseas such as Sydney’s Darling Harbour and San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. At a short 5 minutes from Tabuan Jaya, it’s destined to be the next “most happening” place in Kuching.

The first phase with with 29 units of 3 to 4 storey shophouses very competitively priced from RM718,888/- was launched on the weekend with each and every block enjoying either main road or waterfront promenade frontage. Now Everyone Has A Frontage!

This is truly a landmark development worthy of your investment and something Kuching can really be proud of.

Contact Naim Sales Office +6082-422 001, 422 236, 019-856 6738 to book your unit!

Artist impression of the night time view of the shophouses @ Riveria Square, Kuching

2 Trees @ Riveria, Kuching

2007-12-15T14:23:00.001+08:00

2 Trees @ Riveria, Kuching December 2007

I slept in this morning which is something I haven't done in a long time and I awoke at 8.15am to a rainy morning and decided to lie in bed for a while longer and enjoy the quiet moments.

As is usually the case, I'm not really sure what I want to post on today but I was thinking that the photos of the trees I took at Riveria yesterday on an overcast afternoon looked better than I had hoped for and it sort of fit the kind of lazy, easy mood I'm in right now ...

A stark image against a moody blue sky evokes a melancholic feeling. Whatever.

She Floats

2007-12-14T13:36:00.000+08:00

She floats and she's beautiful - wood strip kayak designed and built by clever Kuching kayaker Dennis Leong

Dennis’s father picked up one of our flyers and passed it to him and he called me up one evening inquiring if he could join in one of our kayaking trips using his own kayak. “Sure!” As I’m glad to meet another kayaker in Kuching. So I asked him what make of kayak he has and he replied that he’s building his own! Needless to say I asked him if I could have a look and I sped to his house to meet him and have a look at his home built kayak. My jaws dropped as it was a most beautiful wood strip hand built kayak that I’d ever seen. Actually it was the first wood strip hand built sea kayak that I'd ever seen! It was all completed just awaiting the final few finishing coats. If Huey sees this - I bet tears will be rolling down his face! It was simply beautiful.

Maiden paddle - Dennis in his own designed and built sea kayak on Sarawak River, Kuching

When Dennis took her (christen 'Rilo Fun') out for a maiden paddle a few weeks back; I was away and this morning I received an email from him with these 2 photos and these 2 simple and beautiful words – “she floats.”

World's Largest Dogs

2007-12-13T20:25:00.000+08:00

Knowing that I like dogs (I have 5), an office colleague emailed me these pictures of these giant canines! And they would certainly give any intruders a freaking heart attack! I mean just look at them.

I couldn't help but wonder what the food bill would be like keeping one of these! And I don't think they would fit on my kayaks as well; and in fact would most probably sink 'em!

And while we're on the topic of dogs and before we get too judgmental; perhaps we should heed Irene's recent comment/reply on my post on her and her and her terrier, Cookie on Saturday, 8th December 2007 - "Inseparable : Cookie & Irene"; as whether they are big or small, to some of us our dogs occupy a large part of our lives:-

"hey... i just had time to log on today, and was mildly amused to see that this picture of me and cookie actually appeared here haha. thanks for the write up on me and my pampered little princess!

to everyone else... yes, cookie hates flying terribly, doesn't help that she's a tad claustrophobic. but it's my three-month summer break now, and as i've just moved out of my place in miri and am technically homeless lol, so there's nowhere to leave her, so she has to come back with me to kuching.

and there's the matter of her being very very attached to me - she doesn't eat, sleep, or even drink much when i'm not around, and becomes depressed and listless if i don't come home for more than a day.

so considering all those, the trauma from a one-hour flight seems like a reasonable unpleasantness as opposed to her wasting away without me.

cookie was a present from my mum as part of my therapy. i suffer from a severe case of bipolar disorder and cookie's probably the best thing that's happened to me... she's my lifeline and one of the more compelling reasons in my life for me to continue fighting my depression.

all this sounds rather cliched and maybe very corny but yeah, she means a lot to me than a carry-round accessory or a cute toy."

'Salted' Curry Ramen @ Kuching Airport

2007-12-13T07:15:00.000+08:00

My MAS flight from Kuching to Miri was delayed for over an hour and since it was nearing noon time; I thought I might as well grab some lunch before my flight and headed for the restaurant located on the ground floor at one one of the building.

I love curries and so I ordered their "Curry Ramen" which is basically curry noodles. It arrived and my first mouthful was to be my last as it was the saltest thing I had ever tasted in my life! I cannot believe anyone can eat anything as salty as this and I went to the counter to speak with the manager or whoever was in charge but no one seems to be in charge nor is concerned about the saltness of the food saying that it's "biasa" - just normal lah! Problem's with the fussy customer lah!

Anyway I have a long day ahead and I'm not gonna get myself flustered over a plate of noodles, left it and I went up to the first floor to grab a muffin and coffee instead. So if you like very salty food (and do not suffer from hypertension) - you know where to go in Kuching to elevate your blood sodium level! Whatever.

On Trees @ Tabuan Jaya Park & Letting Go

2007-12-12T21:07:00.000+08:00

During lunch time yesterday I drove my old Honda CRV to the carpark at Tabuan Jaya wet market to meet the person who was interested in getting it for his wife. He brought his mechanic along to check on the condition of the car (it was tip-top) and while they took it for a test drive, I was left waiting at the carpark and with time on hand I took a short stroll at the adjacent park and took a few snaps of the trees there while reflecting on the quick passage of time ...

The snaps turned out sweet and so was the deal as the guy came to my office this morning to settle the payment - in cash(!) after I'd told him that I can only let him have the car after his cheque has cleared. While he was in a hurry, there was reluctance somewhat on my part as I felt a tinge of sadness to part with the car that has taken me to so many kayaking destinations over the past over 7 years. So much memories but time to let go.

Serangoon Junior College Kayaking Adventure

2007-12-12T06:58:00.000+08:00

View of our kayaking group from the suspension bridge at Kg Danu

We had a busy Tuesday on the 27^th November 2007 when we took 33 students, 4 teachers and 1 vice-principal from Serangoon Junior College, Singapore on an adventure trip kayaking through the rain forests of Borneo Highlands.

Also accompanying them were 2 guides from Borneo Adventure who (thanks to them) put them on to our kayaking trip. We arrived an hour earlier to get everything ready for the trip. And the group arrived at Kg Bengoh straight from the airport!

To take care of this – our largest group so far were 6 of us. 2 on the safety raft and 2 kayaking guides each for the 2 groups that we split them up into.

I must admit that we were a little nervous about taking out such a big group of 17 year olds but we needn’t have worried as all of them have 1 star Award and a couple of them had 2 star award Singapore canoeing certification. And they were so well behaved and organized thanks to the teachers and Vice Principal Mr Looi Eng Chai with everything proceeding with military precison. We were quite impressed as we have trouble on occasions getting even a small group of 4 or 6 adults to take simple instructions!

We took heaps of photos of them which I have complied into a downloadable slideshow in my earlier post. But since it’s such a large file (around 36MB), I’m posting some of the photos here for those who may not be inclined to wait for the download.

Group photo with a difference - in the river!

Serangoon Junior College Kayaking

2007-12-11T07:29:00.000+08:00

Group photo @ Kg Danu. (Click on photo to download slide show)

Date: Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Group: Serangoon Junior College, Singapore

Participants:
Looi Eng Chai, Kwek Jit Kiong, Josephine Then, Neo Hui En Cheryln, Poh Lee Toon,Winne Sean, Huang Xinyi, Chian Yuan Lin, Suhaila Auas Hassan, Cheryl Goh, Chua Wei Yun, MD Nashiruddin, Yuonne Gui Xiang Yun, Eugenia Tan Pei Shan, Lin Xiaying, Ang Wei Qiang, Low Inn Zheng, Suan Yeap Jun, Lee Mei Ting Vanessa, Dai Meng Wei, Tan Teck, Mohamed Haikal, Yu Ming Feng, Segan, Ton Zhan Yuan, Abdul Rahman, Delviner Kuar, Gwendolyn Tan, Jacyln See, Candy Tan, Goh Lianne, Huang Jiahua Bernice, Ng Yi He, Tan Wei Bin, Wong Shao Hui Shawn, Agnes Thng, Christine Lee, Jonathan Ho Jia Han

Trip: Rainforest Kayaking Adventure from Kg Bengoh to Kg Semadang

Beautiful Sunday @ Batang Kayan, Serian

2007-12-10T13:08:00.000+08:00

Entering a magical place on the waters on a Sunday, 9th December 2007

“Kayaking down a rain forest river is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get!”

And a beautiful shaded tributary off Batang Kayan @ Serian was a most welcomed surprise and respite from the heat on a most beautiful Sunday when we kayak down from Kg Tema to Tebakang fulfilling a trip that KK Seng and I reccee back in July and where I spotted the wooden boats from the pedestrian suspension bridge.

More stories and photos will follow … eventually I hope, on account of this busy thingy called life.

Fun & Adventure In Any Language

2007-12-08T18:13:00.000+08:00

On Thursday, there was a last minute booking from Paul and Charley who are 2 Koreans here on holidays.I know thats not very Korean-sounding but they are really from Seoul and speaka not a word of English with Azmi.However kayaking through the rain forests, getting soaked under a waterfall, climbing up jungle vines from the waters and seeing wildlife spells fun and adventure in any language - Korean included.

Inseparable : Cookie & Irene

2007-12-08T13:57:00.000+08:00

I do miss Buddy, our Golden Retriever when I am away travelling but obviously not as much as Irene misses Cookie, a Terrier as she took her along whenever she travels domestically.

I first noticed Cookie in her little cage on the conveyor belt when I was waiting for my luggage on my flight back from Miri to Kuching last night and Cookie started 'yeppin' excitedly when Irene picked up the cage. I walked over to chat with them and found out from Irene that it only costs about R5/- per kilogram for Cookie to fly with her (in the cargo bay) although Cookie does not like to fly but Irene misses her too much to leave her alone at home.

So who or what is inseparable for you?

Miri Trip

2007-12-06T06:54:00.000+08:00

I’ll be taking a flight to Miri later on and will be back on Friday night.

Why the photo of Buddy here?
Well, I hate posts without pictures and I think Buddy looks better than fishes! Whatever. I just love him no end.

Also looking at Buddy cheers me up especially after Big G had slashed my Page Rank to zero! *sigh*

*Hint* - Click on 'Buddy' for the various posts on him this year.