Sarawak Archives | Page 34 Of 39

30 things to do for free this What About Kuching 2018

Published on September 7, 2018

What About Kuching (WAK) is back! From Sept 29 till Oct 28, Kuching will be lit up with tonnes of activities all over the city.

This month-long festival is a local community effort aiming to celebrate the arts, culture and lifestyle that Kuching has to offer.

Mark your calendar and decide what to do during this year’s What About Kuching:

1.Watch local artists in action at Bishopsgate and The Clock Tower

What About Kuching Music Portail provides platform for local artists to showcase their talents. Watch out for these dates Oct 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 when the fun is happening at Bishopsgate Street Stage. Then on Oct 26 and 27, the party is moving to Clock Tower@The Old Courthouse.

There will be performances from Zee Avi, Tuku Kame, At Adau, Meruked and many more.

30 things to do for free this What About Kuching 2018 — At Adau’s Ezra Tekola on the sape’. Catch At Adau on Oct 12 at Bishopsgate Street Stage.

2.Visit the World Press Photo Exhibition

The iconic Padang Merdeka will come alive during the whole duration of What About Kuching. There, the World Press Photo Exhibition will make its Kucing debut showcasing a series of award-winning photos.

3.Follow a food trail along Padungan Street

What Kuching without its food? Follow the trail of Food Safari, collect stamps along the way and redeem a What About Kuching Merchandise.

4.Enjoy the music by Sarawak river at Waterfront Night Live

Do you know that there is a free weekly entertainment programme at GoDown Amphitheatre@Kuching Waterfront? The entertainment continues throughout What About Kuching month every Friday and Saturday.

5.Support young entrepreneurs at Junior Art Market

This art market is unlike others as it is exclusively dedicated to young entrepreneurs. However, there are art workshops, food and performances for all ages.

6. Observe the beauty of body art of Sarawak

What does the late Anthony Bourdain and Crazy Rich Asian’s Henry Golding have in common? Both of them have tribal Iban tattoos on their bodies.

From Sept 29 till Oct 9 there will be a tattoo exhibition happening at The Old Courthouse.

7. Learn more about Sarawak tattoos

Speaking of tattoos, know more about this artistry on Sept 30. There will be a presentation about tattoo artifacts. While on Oct 7, there will be a panel discussion on Sarawak tattoo industry.

8. Take part in a photojournalism workshop

Calling out all professional and amateur photographers! There will be a free a workshop conducted by photojournalists from the World Press. Sign up quickly because seats are limited.

9.Meet a fine artist

Ramsay Ong is a household name when comes the local fine art scene. Meet him daily from 10am to 2pm from Mondays to Fridays at the Pullman Hotel.

10.Take pleasure in listening to monologues

Listen to local talents reciting their monologues on Oct 5. There will guests performers flying in from Singapore and West Malaysia.

11.Enroll your kids in a Latin dance workshop

Start ‘em young! Sign your kids up for Latin Dance Workshop and they might have a knack for it!

12. Watch a yoga performance

Observe professional yogis in action at Sarawak famous Darul Hana Bridge Oct 6. On Oct 18, the yoga performance is happening at the Old Courthouse. After both of the performances, the public will have the chance to try some yoga moves. Do not miss out on this!

13. Gain an understanding on how to be a published writer

Do you have a manuscript tucked away somewhere in the corner of your room? Or have you always wanted to be a published writer? For two hours on Oct 7, bestseller Gina Yap will share about her journey.

14.Take in the knowledge of a poet

Marc Nair, a poet from Singapore will gives listeners a peak into his world of publishing poetry, taking photographs and more on Oct 7.

15. Familiarise yourself with Borneo beads

The beads of Sarawak can be considered as one of the state’s most precious heirlooms. Know more about beads of Sarawak by Heidi Munan on Oct 9.

16.Admire the beauty of Sarawak craft

From Oct 8 till 28, explore the beauty of Sarawak arts and Crafts at Pullman Hotel.

17. Grasp more about mental health problems in Kuching

Honestly here in Sarawak we do not talk enough about mental health. Join in the movement of raising awareness in conjunction of World Mental Health Day from Oct 10 till 14. There will be exhibitions, screening and forums.

18.Ignite your passion in Latin dance

Dance to Latin music with Sarawak sunset glowing on you on Oct 12 and 19 at Kuching Waterfront. Only for two days, there will be a showcase and free dance lesson from Baile Latino Kuching from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

19.Spend an evening of music, art and coffee

Shades of Art is back in town on Oct 13! The 13th edition of this evening of music and arts is dedicated to the Ranee of Sarawak.

20. Watch local short independent films

For one night only on Oct 13 at The Garden@The Old Courthouse, there will be film screenings and sharing session.

21. Play some ping pong games

Sweat it out for some ping pong games at Plaza Merdeka on Oct 14-27.

22.Show your support to the artists from the Kuching Autistic Association

Walk through forty pieces of artworks from the talents of Kuching Autistic Association. The exhibition is happening on Oct 19 to 21 at Hilton Hotel.

23.Explore a cardboard city

Here is another activity to bring your kids! Explore the Cardboard city made from recycled cardboard on Oct 20 till 21.

24.Jam with the youths

Feel the young vibes of local youths at Kuching Youth Jam. This monthly gathering features exhibition and workshop for hip hop enthusiasts.

25.Party with the local hip hop scene

Another What About Kuching event for hip hop enthusiasts, Tha (this is not a spelling error) Block Party organised by Tha Project will highlight hip hop talents, break dancing and more.

26.Take a pint (or more) during an Oktoberfest

Forget about celebrating Oktoberfest in Germany and head down tHe Spring shopping mall. Enjoy your drinks and the live music for ten nights from Sept 29 till Oct 7.

27.Channel your inner Tony Hawk

What About Kuching is all out giving platforms to different kinds of communities in the city. One of these community is the skaters of Kuching. There will be workshops, competitions and booths during Skate About Kuching on Oct 21.

28.Celebrate Deepavali for three days

Although Deepavali is not a public holiday in Sarawak, it should not stop all Sarawakians to celebrate. Come together on Oct 26-28 at CityOne Megamall to celebrate with arts, fashion shows, Bollywood competition as well as cooking classes and contests.

29.Visit a flea market

Show your support to local artisans and entrepreneurs while watching live music at Green Heights Mall Halloween Flea.

30.Find a treasure at a trunk sale

The biggest pre-loved market in Kuching is back on Oct 27 till 28. Give new life to old items at Kuching Trunk Sale (Oct 27-28) at Emart Batu Kawa.

There are more activities happening this year What About Kuching, download their calendar here!

10 pit stops you can make when driving from Kuching to Bintulu

Published on September 3, 2018

Travel

Driving from Kuching to Bintulu takes about nine to 10 hours depending on your speed and the road conditions.

Although the scenery from Kuching to Bintulu may not be as breathtaking compared to the road from Kota Kinabalu to Ranau or Tambunan, there are still a few attractions along the way.

The journey can be exhausting, so you need to stop few times along the way to refuel, refresh yourself and refill your stomach.

Here 10 pit stops you can make when driving from Kuching to Bintulu:

1.Serian

After driving about 60km from Kuching, the first pit stop you can make is at Serian town. There is a petrol station, public toilet and lots of eateries.

You should also have a walk through the local wet market to buy some jungle produce, vegetables and even handicraft.

10 pit stops you can make when driving from Kuching to Bintulu — One of the famous hotspots in Serian, Ranchan waterfall.

2.Balai Ringin

If you are planning to skip Serian, you can drive another 30km to reach Balai Ringin.

Here, the public toilet is relatively clean and there is a small market selling vegetables and fruits in the morning. In the evening, there are stalls selling traditional cakes.

3.Lachau

Lachau is one of the famous pit stops along the Kuching-Sri Aman route. It is famous as a selling hub for preserved fish.

Lachau is usually packed during breakfast and lunch times so parking might be a little bit difficult. This slowly growing town is about 50 minutes away from Balai Ringin.

4.Sri Aman Junction

Before you make a right turn into Kuching-Bintulu route, another well-known pit stop is at the Sri Aman junction. There is a food court serving Malay and Chinese cuisine, a grocery store and a public toilet.

Here you can also find traditional cakes and fruits.

5.Mid-Layar Resting Center

After leaving Sri Aman, drive another one hour to reach Mid-Layar Resting Centre.

If you have the time, you can a make a stop at Engkilili town which is about 6km from the main road or you can save that town for another trip.

At Mid-Layar Resting Center is the most decorated public toilet in Sarawak. So even if you do not need a toilet break, it is still worth making a pit stop here.

The toilet is decorated with fake flowers, posters and funny Malay quotes and reminders. There are photo booths right outside the toilet to make your visit an Insta-worthy moment.

Other public amenities here are the surau, grocery store, food court and a petrol station.

6.Jakar

Jakar can be considered the middle part of your journey from Kuching to Bintulu. Thus, it makes the famous pit stop to refuel. The public toilet at the petrol station is small but considerably clean.

This famous stopping point is also known for its prawn noodle at Peking Restaurant.

It is cooked in Foochow style with dark broth made of soy sauce. Additionally, the whole area makes a perfect place for a caffeine fix. This is because most of the eateries serve coffee using Jakar’s very own java beans.

7.Sibu

From Jakar, there are two ways to reach Sibu town; it’s either using the Lanang or Durin bridge.
Turn to Waze or Google navigation to decide your route.

Making a pit stop at Sibu would take a lot of time from your journey because of the traffic jam heading to the town centre.

However if it is during dabai (Sarawak black olive) season, a pit stop at this Swan town is definitely a must.
Sibu is famous for the best quality with the most reasonable price for dabai in Sarawak.

8.Stapang

From Sibu drive another 46km to reach the small town of Stapang.

There is not much going on at this pit stop although you will find a market, public toilet and a petrol kiosk. The town is like most small towns in rural Sarawak where it becomes quiet after lunch time.

9.Restaurant Impian Selangau

This halal restaurant is famous among bus drivers so it is hard to miss with rows of buses parked outside.
Located at Selangau-Mukah junction, it is another busy pit stop along the Kuching-Bintulu road.The restaurant is open 24 hours and there is a grocery store, a free entry public toilet and a surau.

10.Tatau

About 55km before reaching Bintulu, the final pit stop you can make is at Tatau town.

If you make a visit to its market, you might find some local traders selling tuak (Iban rice wine). Why not buy a bottle to celebrate your long journey once you arrive in Bintulu?

5 accessible mountain peaks to conquer near Kuching

Published on August 31, 2018

Travel

For climbers living or visiting Kuching, there are five accessible mountain peaks to conquer here.

Each mountain has its own charm and difficulties as well as legends and stories.

But all of them offer the best of what Sarawak has; rich biodiversity and luscious greenery.

If you are making a list of mountain peaks to climb, perhaps you can start from this list:

1.Mount Santubong

5 accessible mountain peaks to conquer near Kuching — The view that greets you from the top of Mount Santubong.

Located about 35km from the capital of Sarawak, Mount Santubong has been gazetted as a national park.

It takes up to 4 hours to reach to the top and up to 3 hours to hike down depending on your stamina.

There are some steep climbs which come with rope ladders but the view that greets you is worth the sweat.

Unlike other Sarawak national parks, there is no entry fee to Santubong. So you can climb this mountain for free.

Read what else you can do at Santubong here.

2.Mount Serapi

Mount Serapi is located at Kubah National Park which is about 20km from Kuching city.

The best part of this climb is the path is tarred all the way to the top!

Read five reasons to climb Mount Serapi at least once in your life here.

3.Mount Gading

This mountain is a little bit far from Kuching, about 80km near Lundu town.

Sadly, this mountain does not offer much a view, just a sign implying, “Yay, you have arrived at the peak!”

The climb takes about 8 hours up and down so for a physical activity, why not give it a go.

While you are there, here are things to do at Gunung Gading National Park.

4.Mount Singai

If you are a practicing Catholic and a climber, this mount makes the top of the list you have to ascend near Kuching.

The faithfuls usually say the Stations of the Cross while visiting Mount Singai.

There is no Instagram-worthy view from the mountain peak but there is one viewing point three-quarter along the way.

Here are KajoMag’s six reasons for you to climb up this mountain.

5.Mount Jagoi

Located about 45 minutes from Kuching, Mount Jagoi is conserved by Jagoi Area Development Committee.

For beginners, this is the perfect mountain for you as it only takes one to two hours to reach to the top.

Once you are up there, the view of nearby mountains and Kampung Serasot.

Contact the committee to know more about Mount Jagoi.

Alta Moda Sarawak aims to position Sarawak as a fashion destination

Published on August 9, 2018

News & Features

KUCHING, Aug 9: The inaugural Alta Moda Sarawak, a fashion showcase will place the spotlight on the work of at least 20 designers this Oct 25 to 27.

To be held at the old State Legislative Assembly building, the event aims to promote Sarawak as a state of diversity with different ethnics and cultures.

Speaking at a press conference on Aug 8, its chairperson Datin Esther Mujan Balan said Alta Moda Sarawak was a brand platform for Sarawak designers to come together to showcase their talents and creations in the field of arts, culture and crafts.

She said, “We are determined and focused for Alta Moda Sarawak to be a successful yearly event to promote Sarawak as a leading fashion hub in Southeast Asia and attract potential tourism traffic.

“The long term mission is to hold the event on an annual basis as part of Sarawak Tourism calendar with Sarawak Tourism Board as the main supporter and partner.”

The fashion event is expected to provide a rich insight into the world of fashion opportunities in Sarawak at both domestic and international levels.

This is done through diversified programs and activities that have been planned with the participation and support from local fashionistas, fashion interest group, celebrities, VVIPs, associate partners and media.

Esther stated, “We are hopeful through the support towards Alta Moda Sarawak 2018, this will be the next great Sarawak event to be reckoned with whilst promoting large multiethnics and multicultural of our people.”

The three-day event will gather young designers, promising designers who had some experiences as well designers who have established their names locally and internationally.

The press conference also featured a short runaway show to give the attendees snippets of what to expect during the event.

Among the designers that will be participating in the event are Anna Sue, Von Jolly Couture, Wan Bynun, Keith Sim, Paul Carling, Ben Nazry as well as Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and Universiti Sarawak Malaysia (Unimas).

Alta Moda Sarawak aims to position Sarawak as a fashion destination — Paul Carling (right) and his model. The Paul Carling label was founded in 2016 and originally known as Paul Carling Collections. The label focuses on bridal wear and fusions of modern mix wear incorporating mainly Borneo tribal motifs.

Symbolism and traditions behind a Melanau ‘9 Pikul’ Wedding

Published on August 6, 2018

Culture

Indigenous to Sarawak, the Melanau people are among the earliest settlers in the land of hornbills.

The Melanau social ranks can be differentiated as pangeran or 15 pikul (royalty), 9 pikul, 7 pikul betirih and dipen or ulun. Each rank has a unique customs on their own and might be slightly different from the other ranks. One pikul is equivalent to 60 kg or 133 lbs of brass.

During the Cultural Snippets session of the Rainforest World Music Festival 2018, Salliza Sideni the gallery manager of the Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita shared how a Melanau 9 pikul wedding was uniquely held.

The session was organised by local NGO, Friends or Sarawak Museum.

Symbolism and traditions behind a Melanau '9 Pikul' Wedding — Salliza Sideni (centre) explaining the intricate steps in a Melanau 9 Pikul wedding recently during Rainforest World Music Festival 2018.

Before the Melanau 9 pikul wedding

”Before the wedding, there will be the surong brian ceremony. It is literally translated as giving of gifts or bringing wealth to the bride,” she said.

According to Salliza, the future groom first and foremost will present his future bride one gold ring to signify the engagement.

Then there are also be customary gifts or adet including a gold ring, one gantang ( a measurement equalling to 2.6kg) of paddy, nine pieces of clothes, one piece of songket, one long sword, one piece of sugarcane, one unripe banana and one coconut with its husk completely intact.

During the engagement ceremony, the future bride has to take the unripe banana and sugarcane.

The unripe banana and sugarcane symbolise the worst and sweet moments that the bride will experience in marriage.

“In the olden days, brass items like cannons were offered. Today, there are other engagement gifts which are agreed by both parties including handbags, perfumes, shoes and so on.”

There is of course, a dowry of money as agreed by both parties.

She added, “Nowadays, the amount of dowry is based on the bride’s education level. A PhD holder has a dowry amounting up to RM21,000.”

A few days before the wedding, Bendera Tatunggul (colourful flags) will be placed within the vicinity of the wedding venues. This is to inform people about the upcoming wedding.

Salliza pointed out, “A minimum of seven different colours of flags would be needed for a 9 pikul wedding with a coconut husk hanging from each flag,

“A family’s rank or pikul can be told from the number of colours used for the flags.”

After the ceremony, the bride’s family will plant the coconut husk while preparing for the wedding.

Some elders believe that the growth of coconut tree signify the success of their marriage.

On the day of the 9 pikul wedding

A Melanau 9 pikul wedding starts with the head of custom or ketua adat receiving a sword from one of the representatives from the bride family.

The sword will be presented to the groom family as a symbol of protection for the bride in the absence of her husband.

During the ceremony, the groom’s mother will present a piece of songket brunei to the bride.

This is then followed by feeding both the bride and groom with belen. Salliza explained that this “would actually be betel nut wrapped in betel leaf. Belen is believed to have the ability to calm both of them throughout the wedding ceremony.”

In the case of a Melanau-Muslim wedding, there will also be khatam (recitation) of the Quran and bersanji (prayers).

There will also be an influence of Malay culture in a Melanau-Muslim wedding with ceremonies like ‘merenjis air mawar’ by the family elders.

Once the wedding is done, the newlyweds would go back to their homes to do another ceremony.

“Traditionally, the newlyweds would ascend and descend the house stairs three times. This is to symbolise that they are starting their new life together.”

Three days after the wedding ceremony

There is another ceremony held three days after the wedding called adat petudui.

“In the olden days, strict Melanau customs prohibit newlyweds from leaving the house for fear of still having ‘darah manis’ or sweet blood.

“The bathing ceremony is to cleanse and further bless the newlyweds.”

Adat petudui usually takes place before the Subuh (morning) prayer at around 4.30am. They will use water that has been kept in jars for three days.

Salliza continued, “Once done, both newlyweds will perform morning prayers together with the guests and then they usually open their wedding gifts after breakfast.”

Her sharing was based on the weddings organised in her own family who hail from Kampung Penakub Hilir Mukah.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Published on August 1, 2018

Lifestyle

If you have not visited Mount Singai before, now is the best time to do so. Due to our love of being outdoors, KajoMag has listed six reasons why it should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit.

1. Close to town

Located in Bau District, Mount Singai takes only 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Kuching City.

As it does not take a lot of time to reach there, you do not have to worry about getting up early or using a lot of gas.

2. Good spot for beginner’s training

If you are not particularly athletic but still want to be active, then Mount Singai is perfect for you.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Mount Singai hiking area can be split into two sections. The first half is a set of stairs leading to the Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) while the second half is the hiking trail leading to the summit.

Typically, an average hiker can reach the pilgrimage centre within 20 to 30 minutes while the hiking ground can take about an hour to reach.

Visitors might find Mount Singai relaxing and enjoyable as the hiking terrain is not as hard and challenging as most hiking spots around Kuching.

Also, due to the steps and the inclining nature of Mount Singai, it is the best spot to pump up your cardio and enjoy nature.

3. Friendly hikers

On average, Mount Singai can have a few hundred visitors in one weekend.

And due to that, you will always bump into other fellow hikers along the way.

At Mount Singai, the hikers will typically greet you and some will even give words of encouragement to reach the summit.

When meeting these friendly and supportive hikers of Mount Singai, it makes the hiking trip even more memorable.

4. Spiritual experience

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

On your trek up to the retreat centre, you will notice there are monuments stationed along the way up.

They are the 14 stations of the Cross which represent Christ’s last day on earth as a man.

Mount Singai has long been a pilgrimage destination for devoted Catholics, with the earliest converts to Catholicism in the area among the Bisingai people dating as far back as 1885.

5. Help the community build their church

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Upon reaching the entrance point of Mount Singai, you may find a heap of bags containing pebbles and sand.

These are to build a new church hall at the pilgrimage centre.

As there are no access roads for vehicles leading towards the centre, the only way to bring these building materials up is on foot.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

While there are no entrance fees for Mount Singai, visitors can do their part for the kampong community by helping them carry the bags up to the construction site.

Consider it your personal Rocky or Shaolin monk challenge by carrying a bag up. You can also help trick your mind into thinking you have some extra weight to lose.

6. Instagrammable view

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Millennials with an active Instagram account would understand the novelty of having awesome pictures in their IG account.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

When you reach the top of the steps, Mount Singai offers a rest stop with one of the best viewing spots.

Apart from that, the summit also offers an equally breath-taking view for visitors to take picture.

The traditional medical use of Kayu Raja

Published on July 30, 2018

Culture

Kayu raja or raja kayu in Malay, which translates to the ‘king of wood’, is a type of wood widely found in Malaysia. Scientifically, it is known as Agathis borneensis.

It is also commonly known as borneo kuari or damar minyak among the Malay community.

Despite it being classified as ‘endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it is still in demand among the locals in Sarawak.

It is considered one of the most valuable and sought-after timber trees in Southeast Asia. Commercial-wise, Agathis borneensis is wanted for its high quality resin. Plus, its wood can be used to make music instruments, boats as well as furniture.

But coming down to Sarawak, a place where kayu raja can be found apart from Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and the rest of Borneo, this wood is utilised for more daily use.

The traditional medical use of Kayu Raja — Scrape a a bit of the wood to make a tea-like beverage.

For a cure and more

According to wood crafter Christopher John, the king of wood is believed to have medicinal purposes.

He stated, “You can use it for medicine. Scrape a bit of the wood and boil it in hot water for few hours before drinking it like a tea. The locals believe it can cure for diabetes, high blood pressure and even diarrhea.”

On top of that, it is also a traditional cure for headaches, fevers and muscle pains.

Christopher who is a Bidayuh, added that the kayu raja can also be used externally. “Let say you have scratches or cuts and even insect bites, you can apply the boiled water of kayu raja on your wounds.”

Besides its traditional medical practices, some local Sarawakians believe that the wood works as a protective charm during hunting or jungle trekking.

“If you carry a kayu raja on you when you are going into the jungle, no wild animals would dare to attack you. Some people also believe it will protect you from witchcraft.”

Kayu Raja in other cultures

Feng shui practitioners also believe in the power of kayu raja. It is known for its ability to dispel bad energies from life. Keep a kayu raja on you and your bad luck will slowly subside.

Furthermore, some also believe keeping a piece of this wood as an amulet will increase wealth and career opportunities as well as enhance your charms.

A quick Google-search for kayu raja will reveal a list of websites selling it as a charm.

But how would you know if it’s the real deal? Christopher says to just shine a light through it and you will know.

“The light from the light source will glow red if you shine it through a real kayu raja.”

Do not leave Kuching without trying these two ice creams

Published on July 27, 2018

Travel

If you are visiting Kuching for the first time and are a big fan of ice cream, there are two iconic desserts you have to try.

Both ice creams have distinct tastes from each other and have maintained their legendary status in the Kuching dessert scene despite having no air-conditioners, let alone Instagram-worthy settings.

But locals have been flocking to these ice-cream places for years now and by the looks of it, they will continue to do so in coming years.

So no matter how packed your itinerary is, do not leave Cat City of Sarawak without trying these two ice creams.

1.Sunny Hill Ice Cream

Do not leave Kuching without trying these two ice creams — A cup of sundae with sweetened, crushed peanuts.

If ice-creams in Kuching had a king, Sunny Hill ice cream would definitely be sitting on that throne.

This ice-cream maker has been operating since the ’60s, maintaining its canteen-style design over the years.

Located at Jalan Bukit Cahaya, Sunny Hill offers affordable soft ice creams.

Besides their basic ice cream cones, they also offer ice cream sandwiches, banana splits and ice cream floats.

You can also choose to have toppings of syrup and/or crushed peanuts.

Unlike other ice-cream parlours that have an ever-ready selection of flavours, Sunny Hill serves its selection of flavours on a rotational basis.

While vanilla is served everyday, their other flavours are served as follows: strawberry (Monday and Tuesday), pandan and corn (Wednesday to Friday) and chocolate (Saturday and Sunday).

On top of their mouth-watering ice-creams, Sunny Hills also sell baked goods such as cookies, breads and egg tarts.

2. R.G. Ais Krim Bergula Apong

Ice cream gula apong (palm sugar) has been in trend for the past few years. But the first one to come up with the idea is a humble stall located at Kuching Open Air Market.

Reportedly, Richard Tan the owner of R.G. Gula Apong Ais Krim started the ice-cream plus palm sugar craze 20 years ago.

They only have one flavour a day but in three sizes – small, medium and large.

You can choose your own topping – peanut, cornflakes, Oreo or Nestum – for free.

The texture of this ice cream is closer to a shaved ice unlike most of the ice creams with palm sugar out there which usually has soft serve ice creams.

Some people may find R.G. Ais Krim Bergula Apong too sweet for their taste, but if you need an instant dose of sugar, why not give this ice cream a try.

PHOTOS: Music and more during the Rainforest World Music Festival

Published on July 26, 2018

Entertainment

This year, the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) made its 21st appearance at the Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching Malaysia.

A one-of-a-kind festival, RWMF succeeded in bringing world musicians from different part of the globe to rock at the foot of Mount Santubong.

On top of the world-class music, there are plenty of activities to participate from the afternoon mini sessions to its craft bazaar.

The Rainforest World Music Festival will be coming back in 2019 from July 12 till 14. Meanwhile, here are some photos taken on the second day of RWMF 2018.

PHOTOS: Music and more during the Rainforest World Music Festival — A batik crafter showing his skills at the Rainforest World Craft Bazaar.

Your ultimate guide to Malaysian nasi goreng

Published on July 23, 2018

Lifestyle

Nasi goreng, which literally translates to “fried rice” in Malay, has ignited a few cross-country fights over the past few years.

The most famous incident was when former England footballer Rio Ferdinand twitted “Nasi goreng lunch… Keeping it local in Singapore.”

Indonesians were quick to correct Ferdinand saying nasi goreng is not from Singapore, but Indonesia.

Meanwhile, some Malaysians jumped into the squabble, slamming Indonesians for wanting to claim every dish in the region including rendang.

However, do you know that chao fan or fried rice in Mandarin has been served in China since 4,000 BC?

Perhaps now China can stop claiming the South China Sea and stake their claim on nasi goreng instead?

Regardless of who owns nasi goreng, a visit to any Southeast Asian country especially Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore would not be complete without tasting this dish.

In Malaysia, there are plenty of nasi goreng variations served in different parts of the country.

Some of these variations cannot be found in its neighbouring countries.

So here is your complete guide to Malaysian nasi goreng:

1.Nasi Goreng Ayam/Udang/Kambing/Daging

If you see this on the menu, you just need to choose your type of protein.
This fried rice is cooked with chicken (ayam), udang (prawn), kambing (mutton) and daging (beef).

2.Nasi Goreng Special

Nasi goreng special is usually an in-house specialty. However, most often they just add a sunny side up egg with a piece of fried chicken on top of your nasi goreng.

3.Nasi Goreng Tom Yam

This Malaysian nasi goreng has a Thai inspiration.
It is cooked with tom yam paste, lime, sometimes with a bit of lemongrass and fish sauce.

Watch how to make it here.

4.Nasi Goreng Pattaya

This Malaysian nasi goreng might sound like it comes from Thailand but it is believed to originate from Malaysia.
It is made by wrapping chicken fried rice in a thin fried omelette, almost similar to Japanese omurice. Nasi goreng Pattaya is often served with chili sauce, tomato ketchup and slices of cucumber.

Watch how to make it here.

5.Nasi Goreng Hailam

Hailam refers to a Chinese cooking style which usually uses watery soy sauce.
Hence if it is Nasi Goreng Hailam, it is fried rice served in vegetables, chicken or prawn cooked in Hailam-style.

6.Nasi Goreng Kerabu

Nasi Goreng Kerabu is a fried rice dish serve with ginger flower (bunga kantan), curry leaves and fried anchovies.
It is inspired by Kelantanese famous dish nasi kerabu, a blue-coloured rice served with dried fish or fried chicken, pickles and keropok.

Watch how to make it here.

7.Nasi Goreng Cina

The irony of nasi goreng cina (Chinese) in Malaysia it is usually can be found in Malay restaurants instead of Chinese restaurants.
There are plenty of nasi goreng cina variations out there but they all have one thing in common, sesame oil.

Watch how to make it here.

8.Nasi Goreng Kampung

If you love fried anchovies and kangkung (water spinach) then you will love this dish.
A nasi goreng kampung is not nasi goreng kampung without fried anchovies and kangkung.

Watch how to make it here.

9.Nasi Goreng Yong chow

Your ultimate guide to Malaysian nasi goreng — Yong chow fried rice.

This dish can be found mainly in Chinese restaurants.
It is fried rice cooked with char siu pork or lap cheong (Chinese sausage), scallion and vegetables such as long beans, carrots and green peas.

10.Nasi Goreng Belacan

Nasi goreng belacan is rice fried with shrimp paste (belacan), fish or chicken and long beans.

Watch how to make it here.

11.Nasi Goreng Ikan Masin

If you are into salty food then this is the Malaysian nasi goreng for you.
It is fried rice cooked with salted fish.

12.Nasi Goreng Mamak

Nasi goreng mamak is cooked in Indian-Muslim style. Nasi goreng mamak tends to be oilier than most Malaysian nasi goreng. Besides chilli paste, other main ingredients of this dish are dried tofu, fish cakes and curry powder Maggi’s instant noodle

13.Nasi Goreng Dabai

This is a Sarawak specialty of fried rice. It is rice fried with a seasonal native fruit called buah dabai (Canarium odontophylum).

14.Nasi Goreng USA

Again no, this Malaysian nasi goreng does not get any inspiration from the United States of America.
In fact, the acronym USA means udang (prawn), sotong (squid) and ayam (chicken).
Thus, this fried rice is served with prawn, squid and chicken.

15.Nasi Goreng Paprik

The key ingredient in nasi goreng paprik is the sauteed chili paste. With a bit tom-yum paste, this fried rice is a little bit on the spicy side.
This is another Malaysian nasi goreng inspired by its neighbour Thailand. The word paprik refers to Thai phrase pad prik where pad is stir-fry and prik means chilli.

Suggestions

Sarawak - Page 34

Mark your calendar and decide what to do during this year’s What About Kuching:

1.Watch local artists in action at Bishopsgate and The Clock Tower

2.Visit the World Press Photo Exhibition

3.Follow a food trail along Padungan Street

4.Enjoy the music by Sarawak river at Waterfront Night Live

5.Support young entrepreneurs at Junior Art Market

6. Observe the beauty of body art of Sarawak

7. Learn more about Sarawak tattoos

8. Take part in a photojournalism workshop

9.Meet a fine artist

10.Take pleasure in listening to monologues

11.Enroll your kids in a Latin dance workshop

12. Watch a yoga performance

13. Gain an understanding on how to be a published writer

14.Take in the knowledge of a poet

15. Familiarise yourself with Borneo beads

16.Admire the beauty of Sarawak craft

17. Grasp more about mental health problems in Kuching

18.Ignite your passion in Latin dance

19.Spend an evening of music, art and coffee

20. Watch local short independent films

21. Play some ping pong games

22.Show your support to the artists from the Kuching Autistic Association

23.Explore a cardboard city

24.Jam with the youths

25.Party with the local hip hop scene

26.Take a pint (or more) during an Oktoberfest

27.Channel your inner Tony Hawk

28.Celebrate Deepavali for three days

29.Visit a flea market

30.Find a treasure at a trunk sale

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Here 10 pit stops you can make when driving from Kuching to Bintulu:

1.Serian

2.Balai Ringin

3.Lachau

4.Sri Aman Junction

5.Mid-Layar Resting Center

6.Jakar

7.Sibu

8.Stapang

9.Restaurant Impian Selangau

10.Tatau

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If you are making a list of mountain peaks to climb, perhaps you can start from this list:

1.Mount Santubong

2.Mount Serapi

3.Mount Gading

4.Mount Singai

5.Mount Jagoi

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Before the Melanau 9 pikul wedding

On the day of the 9 pikul wedding

Three days after the wedding ceremony

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If you have not visited Mount Singai before, now is the best time to do so. Due to our love of being outdoors, KajoMag has listed six reasons why it should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit.

1. Close to town

2. Good spot for beginner’s training

3. Friendly hikers

4. Spiritual experience

5. Help the community build their church

6. Instagrammable view

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For a cure and more

Kayu Raja in other cultures

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So no matter how packed your itinerary is, do not leave Cat City of Sarawak without trying these two ice creams.

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The Rainforest World Music Festival will be coming back in 2019 from July 12 till 14. Meanwhile, here are some photos taken on the second day of RWMF 2018.

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So here is your complete guide to Malaysian nasi goreng:

1.Nasi Goreng Ayam/Udang/Kambing/Daging

2.Nasi Goreng Special

3.Nasi Goreng Tom Yam

4.Nasi Goreng Pattaya

5.Nasi Goreng Hailam

6.Nasi Goreng Kerabu