Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010 Held in Miri

All the 33 finalists of Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010 were yesterday exposed to the local culture and lifestyle of Mirians, Sarawak Malaysia.

The exposure was made through their visit to Tamu Lama or Tamu Kedayan and Central Market in the city centre and San Ching Tian — the largest Taoist temple in South East Asia.

Their visits were part of their programme prior to the grand final of the pageant to be held at Miri Indoor Stadium on May 20. The pageant, hosted by Miri, is part of activities and programmes organised in conjunction with its fifth anniversary as a city.

Their presence at Central Market captivated both the public and stall operators where they took the opportunity to take photographs with the beauties. At the market, the tourism beauties were given insight into local eating habits and local cuisines. After the visit to both markets they proceeded to the largest Taoist temple in South East Asia located in Krokop here.

They were briefed by the temple officers on the history of the temple which is one of the tourist attractions in Miri. The majestic and elegant building is full of oriental characteristics in its architectural design. Meanwhile, management of Imperial Hotel hosted them to a luncheon at the hotel before the preview show at the concourse of Imperial Mall and

Court before making a brief appearance at Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Job Expo at Miri Indoor Stadium. Later in the evening, they joined Miri City Day Parade and Miri International Jazz Festival.

Tickets priced at RM10 for the grand final of the pageant are now on sale at the One-Stop-Centre on the ground floor of the city council’s multi-storey car park building.

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American Tourists Robbed Cashier Supermarket

Two foreigners, said to be Americans, allegedly stole money from a 22-year-old cashier at a supermarket in Tabuan Jaya,Kuching Sarawak.

In the 7.15pm Saturday incident, the victim (cashier) claimed that a white male and female approached her at the counter, telling her that they wanted to exchange their currency for bigger ringgit notes.They said they were curious about the look of the highest denomination of the ringgit.

The cashier said she politely declined to accede to their request, telling them that it was against the rules and regulations of her job to exchange money with customers.The ‘tourists’ however insisted on just having a ‘peek’ at the money.Tired of their insistence and thinking that if she just accommodated them a bit they would go away, the cashier said she opened the cash box and showed it to the couple.The female foreigner grabbed a RM50 note and acted like she was really looking at it.

They then asked to have a look at other notes but the cashier, this time, refused to let them.The ‘tourists’ then pretended to talk to each other, diverting the cashier’s attention.When she ‘came to’, she realised that the tourists have gone and so too were more than RM1,000 from the cash box.The horrified cashier lodged a report at Simpang Tiga police station at 10.30am.
The police are investigating.

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Catch the Jazz Festival at 1Borneo on Saturday

The 2nd KK Jazz Festival will be held at the newly-opened 1Borneo Hypermall on Saturday.From 6pm to midnight that evening, audiences can look forward to a thrilling night with fantastic performances by a range of talented musicians, such as SIA Jazz Syndicate, Gravity, Ian Baxter and Friends, Jazzmatazz, Greg Lyons, the ASEANA Percussion Unit, Xion Gi, and Paul Ponnudurai.

The SIA Jazz Syndicate is made up of students from Sabah Institute of Art, who was the 2nd runner up in the Jimmy Boyle’s Young Jazz Band competition held in Penang back in 2007.

Ian Baxter and Friends are a veteran 5-piece band who delivers melodic sounds. A new generation of young musicians, Gravity, is an 8-piece band from Kota Kinabalu.

Jazzmatazz is the new band formed by Asif, the former Son-2-nos band leader who played at last year’s festival.

The ASEANA Percussion Unit will wow fans with their fusion of sounds created by various instruments from different cultures.

British born Greg Lyons will be serenading the crowd with his saxophone; Xion Gi will play his Brazilian-influenced music whereas Paul Ponnudurai is the one-man band.

The KK Jazz Festival is sponsored by 1Borneo and is organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu and the Society for Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS), and supported by Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK).

Organising Chairman, Frankie Fu of the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu explained that proceeds from the Jazz Fest will be used to finance the club’s various community projects, such as the Avoidable Blindness programme, a free medical camp in outlying villages, a 12km water gravity project at Kg Teringai Laut, Matunggong, and a $30,000 building extension for the Sabah Centre of the National Stroke Association of Malaysia at Mile 2, Jalan Tuaran.

Meanwhile, SPArks president and co-organising chairman, Datuk Adeline Leong said the KK Theatre Group will hold the Street Theatre show at 1Borneo from 1pm to 4pm on June 29.

Tickets to the festival are priced at $50 and $100 and can be obtained from all Coffee Bean outlets. For enquiries, call Sri Pelancongan at 088-232121. Tickets will also be on sale on Saturday at 1Borneo.

(Source: New Sabah Times, 18 Jun 2008)

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Bigfoot In Daro Borneo

Villagers have no explanation for giant footprints but businessman says proof is in the pudding

Villagers here are reeling from the shock of discovering two extra large footprints near the fence of a nearby orchard.

They probably resembled those mentioned many times in foreign reports in claims of sightings of the mysterious ‘Bigfoot’.

The shocker has been spreading like wildfire in Daro district for the past few days and among those drawn to the phenomenon was local businessman Tan Soon Kuang.

(According to Wikipedia, Bigfoot is one of the more famous creatures in cryptozoology, and, like many cryptids around the world, there is a fierce debate as to whether the Bigfoot species exists or not. Cryptozoologist John Willison Green has postulated that Bigfoot is a worldwide phenomenon.)

Yesterday, Tan, 42, e-mailed the images of the mysterious creature’s footprints. He said he personally went to the village (which he refused to name out of respect for the wishes of the locals) to check on the truth of the story.

“The truth is in the photographs that I have taken with my camera,” he told The Borneo Post in a telephone interview yesterday.

According to him, each footprint measures 47 inches from heel to toe and 17 inches sideways “clearly too gigantic for any normal human being”.

Asked when and how he went to the village and took the photos, Tan answered: “I went there last Wednesday, June 11 after I heard about the news.

I drove about five minutes from Daro town to the village. Then, I walked on foot along a footpath for quite a few minutes to the place where I met many villagers who were gathered there.

“Then some villagers pointed to the big footprints.

I was shocked to see them and excited as I took those photographs.”

On his conversation with the villagers, he said: “When I asked the villagers the first time they discovered the two big footprints, they told me it was June 9.

“They also told me they now recall that before they came across the footprints, the villagers had, a few months ago felt uncomfortable and sick as if there was something ‘unclean’ in the air.

“They said they decided to look for a ‘bomoh’ (medicine man) who told them to go to an area, dig a small hole, then build a fence around it.

The bomoh further told them to make offerings outside the area fenced.

“And then last Monday morning the villagers saw the two big footprints outside the fenced up area.”

Tan further said: “When I asked the villagers if they were afraid or not they told me some were afraid; other just curious. But all of them apparently believe that the place was ‘unclean’.

“The villagers are now clearing up the footpath leading to the large footprints in anticipation of more people coming to have a look at the footprints.

“The villagers also told me that it was not the first time that they saw such mysterious big footprints in their village. In fact, the first time they saw such big footprints was about 50 years ago.”


Asked if there is any possibility that the footprints were man-made, Tan said it would be a tough act for a person to create such a mark on the hard ground.

Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie when contacted yesterday said he heard about such discovery somewhere in a village in Daro area.

Asked if thinks it is real, he replied: “Sorry, I can’t say. It could be just rumours. I have not been to the place. I am now in Matu.”

The story has spread to Sibu where Abdul Aziz Pung, who is very familiar with Daro, said he had heard about the footprints from friends and relatives.

“Yes, they said it is true. Initially I laughed it off, but then some of my friends who came down to Sibu town convinced me that they are real. I may be going there soon to see them for myself.”

Meanwhile, a Daro villager who spoke on anonymity, said the villagers stumbled upon the footprints not far from the village that was once attacked by monkeys. This episode was reported by The Borneo Post some months ago.

According to him, many villagers believe that the monkeys had run out of their jungle habitat to escape from ‘Bigfoot’.

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Jungle Life Is 'Under-Threat'

The culture of the jungle-living Penan people of Sarawak in Malaysia is under threat from logging.

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Mulu Batcam

Mulu National Park took another step forward in understanding and respecting the millions of bats at Deer Cave in the national park with the launching of the first webcam of real time unintrusive viewing of the mammals in their natural habitat.

The Mulu Batcam facility was launched by Prince Albert II of Monaco during his first visit to Mulu on Sunday.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot were among those present during the launching ceremony.

The group braved the rain, walking through the three-km walkway through the verdant virgin rainforest, to reach Deer Cave, where the iconic image of Lincoln profile has filled promotion brochures and many travel magazines around the world.

The Mulu Batcam project, regarded as another innovative ecotourism development by the state government, was conceived and implemented by Borsamulu Park Management Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation.

The technical design and implementation of the digital remote wildlife monitoring system was provided by CTG Security Matrix, an international award winning company from Australia, and the project is expected to be entered for another prestigious international award competition.

Mulu Batcam uses five remote controlled special television cameras and infra-red lighting placed inside Deer Cave, home to three million bats, to provide a spectacularly clear detail of bats’ behaviour in their natural habitat with the help of modern digital technology.

Prince Albert and guests were treated to the first hand look of the bats in the caves, including detailed close-up shots of the bats and swiftlets in the cave.

There was a heavy downpour after the visit to the Deer Cave by the Prince and his entourage, and the Batcam revealed the bats staying put in the cave, including caring for their young, grooming and hanging around the huge cave as they forego their meal outside.

Mulu was accorded the world natural heritage site by Unesco in November 2000, and visitors have increased to 25,000 from all over the world, and the arrival of Prince Albert added a touch of royalty to the world renowned site.

Prince Albert later told the local media that he was impressed with Mulu after watching a BBC documentary on the bats of Mulu and learning about the rich bio-diversity in the park from it and hearing personal anecdotes from the commentary director about a year and half ago. With conservation close to his heart, he said Mulu was an amazing spot of natural heritage which should be safeguarded and protected for posterity.

The Batcam project will not only help scientists but will also help to create greater public awareness of the bats and other ecological aspects of Mulu to generate conservation spirit among them.

Earlier, the managing director of Borsamulu Datuk Robert Geneid said Mulu had come a long way since its inception as a national park and eventual Unesco recognition as world natural heritage site.

Human capital development in proper training of park guides, singage, guide books and others together with infrastructure development under Borsamulu have now placed Mulu on the path of world renowned ecotourism destination, he said.
With locals as stakeholders, the park currently employs 80 local staff in park management and another 200 as local guides, while the Mulu Resort employs and trains another 80 to international standard in the tourism industry.

Her Excellency Evelyne Genta, His Excellency Achille Kallakis, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industries Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan and Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok were also present to witness the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Prince Albert released 40,000 fish fry into the Melinau River on his way to the Clearwater Cave where the royal visitor launched the mini regatta before proceeding to have breakfast at the foot of the cave.

They later left for Miri where they had lunch before flying off to Singapore.

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Miri International Jazz Festival 2008 (9-10 May)

Several counters will be open in Miri in the next few days and during weekends to cater for the anticipated rush for the Miri International Jazz Festival tickets.

A counter will be open at the Coffee Bean Shell Lutong on April 22 and 24 and at Piasau Boat Club on April 25 while another counter will be open at Boulevard Hypermarket on May 1. The counters will be open from 9.30am onward.

All these counters are open for the convenience of festival goers who wish to buy their ticket at an outlet nearest to them.

Similar counters were opened last weekend at Piasau Boat Club and at the Imperial Mall. Ticket sales at both outlets were very encouraging.

Currently, the tickets are available at Visitors Information Centre in Miri, Café Miri and Pak Cik Wan Café in Lutong. Apart from counter sales, the tickets are also available online at www.TicketCharge.com.my.

The online sales are meant for those outside Miri especially from overseas, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore and Sabah while the counter sales are for locals as well as visitors from Brunei Darussalam.

Tickets are priced at RM60 each for a night pass to the concert which will be held at the Pavilion at Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri. Children between three and 12 years old are charged half rate each.

A total of nine groups will be entertaining the guests at the festival which is held for the third consecutive year. They are Amar Sundy from Algeria, Borneo Jazz Quartet (Sarawak), Charmaine Clamor (Philippines), Diamond Dave and the Doodaddies (Australia), T'Inventielke (Holland), Mood Indigo (UK), Oma Sound (Japan), Rumba Calzada (Canada) and Habana Sax (Cuba).

Habana Sax, the crowd's favourite at last year's festival, was voted to make a come-back show while T'Inventielke will be providing a difference to this year's festival programme. The 16-member T'Inventielke is a street jazz band and it will be performing around the festival ground in between act for the bands in the Pavilion. Their performances on the festival ground will give true meaning to the tag-line of enjoying jazz music under the star.

Apart from music, the festival will also be liven-up with good food and company. There will also be wide selection of food and drinks served at the stalls set up around the festival ground.

Organised by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), the MIJF is presented by Celcom and supported by Shell, MASWings, Astro, Heineken, Water Genesis. HSBC is the official bank while Parkcity Everly Hotel is the official hotel.

Endorsed by Tourism Malaysia, the festival also has the support of Ministry of Tourism Malaysia and Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, Sarawak.

Free Passes to Miri International Jazz Festival 2008 (9-10 May)

Dig this daddy-o! Masswings are giving away free passes to the Miri International Jazz Festival 2008 in Sarawak for the first 50 lucky customers to book their flight to Miri online!

All you cool cats need to do is book your flight to Miri at a funky RM39 and you could be groovin' to the soothing sounds of jazz with MASwings!

So take five now and get down to maswings.com.my because this Groovy Online Offer is only valid until 2 May 2008.

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Travel fair eyes RM160 mln in ticket sales

KUCHING: Malaysia Airlines is holding a nationwide three-day Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF) 2008 to achieve a RM140-RM160 million in sales.

Malaysia Airlines’ area manager Sarawak Shauqi Ahmad said the travel fair was the biggest of its kind, and the target was made in view of the increased distribution channels and variety of travel products.

“For Sarawak alone, we hope to reach a sales of RM15 million within the three days,” he said at the launching of MATF 2008 at Permata Exhibition Centre here yesterday.

He said the fair provided customers the chance to plan their travels ahead, and they also get to choose their seats out of six million seats offered for various destinations.

“The seats include those for domestic destinations and international destinations. The best part is that international airfares offered during the fair start from as low as RM39,” he said.

He highlighted that certain airfares were eligible for discounts of up to 70 per cent, and customers choosing to travel with any of the 102 types of Malaysia Airlines Golden Holiday packages could enjoy up to 80 per cent discounts.

Shauqi said offers during MATF are the best deals customers could get, as they could experience flying in a 5-Star Airline with the best cabin staff at very low price.

Other offers and services provided at selected MATF locations are such as Malaysia Airline’s Enrich membership registration, Grads Student Loyalty programme enrolment and discounts on Temptation in-flight products.

In addition, the Borneo Pass 5 and Borneo Pass 7 packages are offered at 50 per cent discounts.

Newly registered Enrich members will automatically be credited 1,000 mileage points, and for every enrolment of Grads Student Loyalty programme, a 20 per cent discount given.

During the fair, Firefly is offering 150,000 seats to five domestic networks and two regional destinations.

Those who plan to travel under the Firefly Holiday packages could get their bookings done at the fair through its virtual event www.fireflyz.com.my.

MASwings is offering 20,000 discounted fare seats for its East Malaysia network covering 21 destinations.

The attractive offers can be viewed at Maswings Airlines Malaysia.

The fair is being held at eight locations: Permata Exhibition Centre, Kuching; Wisma Sanyan, Sibu; Mega Hotel, Miri; Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu; Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre; Penang International Sports Arena; Terengganu Trade Centre, Kuala Terengganu and Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru.

A total of 34 companies are participating in the event.

They are from various travel agencies, banks and insurance companies.

The fair, which is open to the public from 9am to 10pm, ends tomorrow.

For more information, visit Malaysia Airlines

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