25 April, 2012

Sound Horn

Sound Horn by wanhashim
Sound Horn, a photo by wanhashim on Flickr.

Each country usually has its own set of traffic rules. Some country, the use of horn is quite taboo and can lead to road bully. However, in some other countries, the use of horn is encouraged and it is a common practice among drivers to sound their vehicle's horn. For example, as in the picture, most heavy vehicles have unique sign indicating other drivers to sound their horn. This picture was taken during our recent trip to Chennai, India.

17 April, 2012

Pedestrian Bridge

Pedestrian Bridge by wanhashim
Pedestrian Bridge, a photo by wanhashim on Flickr.

There seemed to be something wrong with this pedestrian bridge. It must had been hit hard by some kind of vehicle that had carried unspecified load which exceeded the legal height limit.

14 April, 2012

Sunset at Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is a beautiful city especially during sunset. The city is blessed with abundant waterfront and beautiful scenery. With the background of Pulau Gaya and a couple of fishing boats, the following is a view of sunset at Kota Kinabalu.


13 April, 2012

Kayak

Kayak by wanhashim
Kayak, a photo by wanhashim on Flickr.

You have to wait until tomorrow morning to rent these kayaks and ride the South China Sea Ocean. View of Damai Beach Resort at night.

11 April, 2012

An Evening at the Damai Beach Resort

The weather is great today and the view of sunset over the Damai Beach Rsort in Santubong is stunning.

Sunset at Damai Beach Resort


Due to the excellent weather, a wedding ceremony was held at the beach as sow in the following picture.

Wedding at Damai Beach Resort

08 April, 2012

Video of Tidal Bore Festival in Sri Aman

tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travels up a river. Benak is a local term in Sarawak Malaysia used to describe Tidal Bore. However, Benak here is not to be confused with the term used in another part of the country in which the term "Benak" is used to describe someone who is retarded. 


If you would like to see how the people in Sri Aman entertain themselves during the Pesta Benak or Tidal Bore Festival, please watch the following video. During Pesta Benak, people from throughout the state come to Sri Aman. Almost ever year now, tidal bore surfers from other countries are invited to ride the tidal bores.


The Pesta Benak is held annually in Sri Aman and this year the festival is held from 6 April until 8 April 2012. This is the time during the year the Sri Aman town in jam packed with cars and people. 


07 April, 2012

Pesta Benak 2012 is so Colorful

Today is the second day of the Tidal Bore Festival. As usual, there are a lot of activities being organized today. Today is also cloudy with intermittent showers. I just would like to share with you how colorful is the festival.


Traders from as far as Kuching come to Sri Aman to promote and sell their specialties.
Pesta benak 2012


This motorcycle is so colorful and the license plate started with MDSA (Majlis Daerah Sri Aman).
Pesta benak 2012


A lot of unusual items being traded during the festival.
Pesta benak 2012


I am not sure whom they represents by wearing those red t-shirt.
Pesta benak 2012


Even though people are very busy playing Internet games nowadays especially Angry Bird, this sort of game is still popular among the visitors.
Pesta benak 2012


As usual, it is very hot in Sri Aman and I kind of like his hat. Hope he can attach a fan to the hat to make it looks cool.
Pesta benak 2012


His helmet is much more expensive than big bikers' helmet.
Pesta benak 2012

Long boat racing is in progress. Luckily, so far there is no collision among the different boats.
Pesta benak 2012

Pesta benak 2012

I like his leather hat.
Pesta benak 2012

Everywhere you can find Angry Bird.
Pesta benak 2012


Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU) also participated in this year events.
Pesta benak 2012

The boats are getting ready for the next race.
Pesta benak 2012

Also, I don't know whom they represent by wearing those green t-shirt.
Pesta benak 2012


I am just wondering what is the cost of this thing.
Pesta benak 2012


All kind of activities are available for the visitors.
Pesta benak 2012

Makeshifts for Pesta Benak

Every year during Pesta Benak, visitors from afar will build their makeshifts as a shelter from rain and shine throughout the festival. They are very skillful in constructing the makeshifts. Within a short period of time, they are able to set up the makeshift and ready to be used as a shelter. They are also very responsible to clean up the area right after the festival is over.


Pesta benak 2012


The makeshifts are very essential for Pesta Benak because the number of hotel rooms available in Sri Aman cannot cater for the influx of visitors during the Pesta Benak. Thus, the makeshifts are synonym with Pesta Benak. As far as I could remember, the tradition of building the makeshifts during Pesta Benak has been established since the Pesta Benak was introduced many-many years ago.
Pesta benak 2012

06 April, 2012

Pesta Benak 2012

This year Tidal Bore Festival (Pesta Benak 2012) started from 6 April until 8 April 2012. There are several activities being held in conjunction with the festival. As usual, several categories of boat racing are being held for the event.

People from all over Sarawak congregate in Sri Aman to witness the festival.
Pesta benak 2012


Long boat racing taking place.
Pesta benak 2012


Jet ski performance as part of the Pesta Benak activity.
Pesta benak 2012

Tidal Bore arrived at the grand stand around 4:30 pm.
Pesta benak 2012


Pesta benak 2012

Road Survival Skills

You might have attended some kind of road survival skills workshop previously especially if you are one of Toyota customers. I would like to recommend Toyota for organizing such kind of workshops regularly. I had attended the workshop recently since it was organized in Kuching. The name of the worksop is "Road Survival Skills" because the workshop will highlight to the participants the do's and don't when accidents happen. Among the several things that I learnt from the worksop is the importance of your car jack when trying to help people in emergency. I guess you need attend one of the workshops if you wanted to know more. Another lesson that I learnt is the need to carry basic items in your car in case of emergency. 

Firstly, you should be aware about the steps that need to be taken after a minor accident and how to make a police report.



These are the 10 items you should always carry in your car. I already have some of the items but not all yet. For example, I already have the LifeHammer since it is one of the door gifts given after attending the workshop recently. You also need to have disposable poncho since it can be used to cover yourself during heavy rain and also to cover the interior of your car in case of emergency.

This is the characteristics of the multi function Life Hammer that you need to carry in your car. It can be used to cut stuck seat belt and to break window glasses when needed. It also has LED blinking beacon for emergency situation.



Another important item that you may need to carry with you is ReSQMe gadget. It is very handy and you can use it as your keychain. The gadget can be used to cut stuck seat belt and also to break window glass during emergency.


Another item that you need to cary is fire extinguisher. For vehicle, the 1 kg fire extinguisher is ideal since it is not bulky and easy to carry. Nowadays, we heard a lot of news about vehicle caught fire. It only take a few seconds for the occupants of the vehicle to evacuate once the vehicle is caught on fire. Also, the fire extinguisher can be used to prevent further damage to the vehicle once the fire is detected. Hopefully, we will never encounter such an emergency situation by carefully not to play around the vehicle wiring system. But in case that you need to help somebody else in such an emergency situation, you are always prepared.

05 April, 2012

Soil Reinforcement using Bakau

Constructing highway on soft soil is very challenging because of the difficulty to carry out compaction of the soil. In order to construct a long lasting pavement, it is important for the soil layer to be strong to support heavy vehicles passing through the facility. One way of strengthening the soil or subgred is using Bakau, one of mangrove trees species. Mangrove trees grow where no tree has grown before and they can survive inundation by salt water twice a day, and in "soil" which is unstable.

In the following picture, Bakau trees is widely used in construction.

Soft Soil Reinforcement


Instead of driving the Bakau vertically into the soil which is quite often for construction building foundation, Bakau is placed horizontally especially near man-made structure such as concrete drain to prevent differential in settlement once the highway is completed and open to traffic.

Soft Soil Reinforcement

01 April, 2012

Newly Open Kuching Sentral

Kuching Sentral is now in operation to be transportation hub for regional bus companies in Kuching. The Kuching Sentral is located not far from Kuching International Airport and located along the Kuching-Serian trunk road. Ideally, all regional buses will make their stop at the Kuching Sentral to drop off and also to pick up passengers. However, as of now, not many bus companies are willing to use the Kuching Sentral facilities due to the ongoing disagreement in the terms of conditions of using the facilities.

Kuching Sentral


Front view of the Kuching Sentral.
Kuching Sentral

Kuching Sentral is furnished with adequate bus counters for ticketing.
Kuching Sentral

Passengers are provided with real time information regarding departures and arrivals of buses.
Kuching Sentral


Kuching Sentral is also provided with ample facilities for passengers while waiting for their buses.
Kuching Sentral


Departures information for buses (Bus Company, Bus Plate Number, time of departure, etc) are widely available throughout the facilities.
Kuching Sentral


Ticketing counters.
Kuching Sentral

Kuching Sentral


There are quite significant number of retailers operating at Kuching Sentral. Besides serving as the hub for regional bus services, the Kuching Sentral is also a Mega Shopping Complex. There are several well known outlets operating at the Kuching Sentral. Thus, the Kuching Sentral will be a major attraction for the coming months as more people will visit the facility and at the same time carry out their shopping spree at the newly open facility.
Kuching Sentral


Bus bays with ample parking spaces are provided at the Kuching Sentral. However, as can be seen in the following picture, there is only a few buses using the facility as of now. Hopefully, both parties, i.e. bus companies and Kuching Sentral management, will come to an agreeable terms as soon as possible for the benefits of the public.

Kuching Sentral


Backhoe


Backhoe is a piece of excavating equipment which can perform multiple tasks at any given location. If you have a piece of land and you wanted it to be cleared for constructing your new house, you will definitely need the help of this piece of equipment.  This piece of equipment can do many more things that you can imagine.

However, sometimes, this piece of equipment can be annoying to others especially if it is driven on the road during peak hours. All vehicles will have to patiently follow or tailgating behind this slow moving vehicle. Usually, the operators of this equipment will drive it on the road during off peak period in order to avoid traffic congestion or to avoid causing traffic more congested. But that is not always the case, since the operator is also going to his workplace driving the equipment during peak hours in order to carry out his duty at certain location.

Backhoe


So next time you see this piece of equipment on the road, just be patient because the vehicle just cannot travel at a very high speed and you should know what action you have to do, i.e. just follow the vehicle until you have the opportunity to safely overtake the vehicle.

photo