Kalimantan Trip

I haven't been updating my blog since last February.. wow time travel so fast. Since the last update I have been up to my neck with things to do list and updating my blog has been in the bottom of my bucket list.

So here I am trying to sort out and update you with what I have been up to lately, my last trip was to Kalimantan, Indonesia. More specifically to Ballikpapan (Kutai National Park) and Palangkaraya (Peat Swamp Forest).

I was there to assist a T.V Company from Japan to do a documentary in title Earth Special. We were the for more then 2 weeks shooting the way of Dayak peoples daily life, The Kutai National Park & Palangkaraya - The Peat Swamp Forest. (which forest fire in 1997 cause worst haze in South East Asia).

My role as assistant Director.. Just kidding, as a coordinator require me to be in Jakarta a week earlier. I was there to get a proper documentation from the relevant authoritys such as Visa and filming permit, this require a lot of time visiting and checking to update the latest info of our application.

This time it took me 10 days to get everything done. Then I was to meet them in Balikpapan and assist in coordinating and translating for the T.V crew. We have a hectic 2 weeks shooting and travelling from Balikpapan to Samarinda, Tg. Isuy, Bontang, Sangatta, Kutai National Park and Palangkaraya. In a nut shell - We enjoy it. photo opportunity was rare as I was needed at 2 places in 1 time..

This time I hope to be able to update this blog as often as possible. Heheheheh Promise ah.

Chinese New Year in Sandakan

Chinese New Year are one of the celebrations that were celebrated by the Chinese community in Malaysia. Every year family member that work or study abroad come back to their root or home town to celebrate the new year with their family.

Member of the family will make their way home a day before the new year for one of the most important function or gathering that is to have dinner together the night before the lunar new year.

Normally the first day spent with the family or visiting close family member, 2nd and 3rd day spent visiting other relative and friends. Children or single people are given angpau (Red packet with money inside) by father, mother or married couple. Amount in each packet are varied depending on the giver normally close family member will be given more compare to distant family member or friends.

Celebrations last for 15 days and the last day which is known as Chap Goh Mei, the first full moon of the new year. For Single lady this is the time they will flock to waterfront and to throw manderin orange in hope to find suitable partner but for my friend ah seng

he said he will eat the orange and throw the skin only.

Chinese New Year celebrations are incomplete without the lion dance, angpau and fire cracker. This year are the year of the Golden Pig which comes every 60 years and during this time most Chinese couple will get married and conceive a piglet (pig year baby). For Chinese a baby born during this time will bring luck to the family.

My visit to Sandakan during the recent Chinese New Year bring me to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitations center, Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary, Crocodiles farm, English Tea House and the Chinese Temple of Puh Jih Syh. I have plenty opportunity to take some photo of the place that I visited.

The drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan took about 5 hours over 330 km from west of Sabah to the east over Crocker Range passing below the highest peak of Mt. Kinabalu (4095m) at 1500m above sea level. Sandakan accessible by road from Kota Kinabalu from the west and Lahad Datu / Tawau from the south. Sandakan also accessible by air from Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Zamboanga.