Friday, November 16, 2012

THE TREASURE TROVES OF TRAVELLING

NOW WHAT WOULD YOU PICK OUT FROM TRAVELING  - be it inside the country or outside? It depends of course on the seekers, how much your eyes and brains take to the situation. How ready you are to observe and accommodate the new and the old around you.

Planning for a get-away have taken your time . What with adjusting the flight or whatever traveling schedules, the accommodation  and itinerary. Once you have reached your destination you must make the best of it and make the best to see what the town offers.

I would firstly seek information  regarding the places I would be visiting. The Internet presents you all the best; likely the best accommodation places, the weather, exchange rate of currency and even 'friends' who would welcome you to their towns. A good reading readies you for all you would want to expect.

Our recent escaped to Den Pasar, Ubud in Bali and Banjarmasin in Kalimantan helped in many ways ... defining the needs to learn and be educated from observations. Bali represents many things to the tourists. Your arrival at the Den Pasar airport itself is greeted by its gateway immediately you walked along the sky bridge to the terminal. Giving you what awaits.


Even before exiting the airport terminal, we were presented with this gateway peculiar  to most Bali homes as we moved along the sky bridge.




Checked in a the hotel, gave us this view of its ground and the swimming pool stretching towards the beach front. The large tree, spotlighted gave an ambiance to the courtyard.



  Our introduction to bamboo comes with this pole. A fluttering decorative cloth waved us to sites we would approach. 


         
In the evening, I caught the moon as it glided across the frangipani tree.


 The beach front is open to the public. No sign of the hotel establishments monopolizing the sea frontage. Observe how the man raked the sand to represent a smooth surface. Thus a clean sandy beach.



 We were walking along the beach front and entered a beautiful compound and fortunately met with the owner who welcomed us to see his home. Exchange of ideas etc ended with future visit and staying at this beautiful home in Benoa. The house was designed by a wellknown Indonesian architect.

                                                            The home at Benoa

 It was opportunity like this, meeting good people and exchange ideas etc which coloured the visit to new places. No it never comes with any itinerary set by any traveling agency.



The next morning as part of the Arcasia program we had the golden opportunity to visit a 'GREEN SCHOOL'  Your internet will give a good reading of the 'Green School 'in Bali Indonesia. Search for it and its worthwhile to know. Just let me show some of the scenes or objects that caught our eyes.
MIND YOU IT"S ALL BAMBOO.




                                                   
A bamboo bridge across a scenic river






                        
 A large class room and also a hall. Observe the fan and the flooring.



 Yes no electricity at this part of the countryside but never mind solar power comes helping and bamboo poles stand as strong sentinels.


                                         
 I stood aghast at what I saw around me


                          
The nearby kampong boys had the golden opportunity to share the wealth of opportunities presented at this 'Green School'
                    



These were what we manage to see. I guess there must many more that we miss seeing restrained by time. Yet here is one. A n ATM booth powered by solar power and it was functioning as a customer was inside it.


                      
 The inside seen from the unique fencing fronting the entrance.

                           
A short story about the 'Green School'

Bamboo and wood presented their richness during our short stay in Bali Indonesia. Yes we envy and how we wish Malaysia had preserved its forest and have not allowed the jungles to be plundered.

Would we ever own a solid wooden tree trunk like this now? Or sit on a bamboo chair ? Not to mention have craftsmen for restoring their usage.




No iron or concrete but bamboo decorative poles alongside the road that caught our attentions.


These were some of the treasures that were presented to us. I guess there are many more waiting to be discovered if we skip the often trodden tourist routes and moved at our own space seeking out the best of the country..

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

KOTA BANJARMASIN KALIMANTAN

Banjarmasin, namanya terkenal. Khusus ada para ulama yang berhijrah dari sana dan bertapak di Semenanjung Malaysia dan meninggalkan pengaruh mereka di Semenanjung, Singapura, Brunei dll . Perkampong orang-orang Banjar juga terdapat di Negeri Perak. Apa pun tidak ramai orang khusus para pelancong menuju kearah sana. Jesteru meninggalkan kota-kota di Kalimantan Indonesia tidak terkenal atau dikunjungi seperti kota-kota di Pulau Jawa, Sumatra, Bali dll.

Kami kesempatan ke Banjarmasin baru-baru ini. Apa yang disaksikan dalam tempoh tiga hari sahaja disana menyakinkan dalam tempoh terdekat ramai para pelawat dan khususnya pelancong akan menuju ke arahnya.


Tidak pula akan didedahkan apa yang ada disana kecuali mengesahkan satu peristiwa yang sempat dilihat tanpa perancangan atau apa-apa susunan program. Memang termaklum yang ramai orang Kota Banjarmasin keluar ke bandar pada awal pagi Ahad dan ramai akan ke pasar terapong. Begitulah kenyataan dalam maklumat awal daripada  'internet' bila kita mencari sesuatu mengenai Banjarmasin.

Tapi pada pagi Ahad 4 Nobember 2012, sambil berjalan dipesisir Sungai Matapura terserempak dengan satu kumpulan atau peminat BASIKAL TUA. Jika sebelum ini kami tertarik dengan sukan berbasikal dan menggunakan basikal moden dan lipat, kesempatan berjumpa dan bekenalan dengan ahli-ahli basikal tua  merupakan satu hadiah kerana berada di Banjarmasin.

Lihatlah sahaja gambar-gambar yang disertakan. Kami rasa para peminat basikal tua yang sempat kami berkenalan akan terus berhimpun ditempat yang sama setiap minggu. Nyata sekali mereka akan berkongsi cerita dan nostalgia. Biarlah catitan ini menjadi satu perangsang dan satu ikatan muhibbah antara kami dengan mereka disana dan khusus dengan mereka yang sempat saya berkenalan.

Terima kasih





 

Satu barisan basikal tua untuk ditonton bersama pemiliknya













 Basikal tua berbagai jenama. Releigh, Hercules kita kenal tapi di Indonesia dan khusus di Kalimantan ada lagi jenama lain buatan Germany dan Holland.





                                                            "Gazalle"

 

'Saddle bag' bukan hanya kepada motosikal atau kuda





           Kesempatan bersama rakan-rakan di Kota Banjarmasin. Satu jadual yang tidak disusun tetapi
terserempak bila berjalan-jalan pd waktu pagi.




                                              Ya topi lama dimiliki rakan-rakan kita



                                                  Sdr Helmi dengan Dr Atmono

                               ...................................................................................................

                                                   Kumpulan Putrajaya Urban Riders

Diiringi salam khusus kepada Prof Dr  Dwi Atmono dan rakan-rakan yang bergaya dengan nostalgia lama dan semoga bermanfaat dengannya.
               ..........................................................................................

Setelah membawa pembaca mengenali kota Banjarmasin secara terhad, terfikir pula mengapa tidak terus memperkenalkannya. 



After a brief description of the town and specific to the group that we met, it dawned upon me why not extend with a brief intro of the town.

Now what do you want to see or know about the town? Foremost what does a Banjarmasin house looks like. We came across several and these are two of them.



        A Banjarmasin traditional house is distinguished by its roof shape



        An open restaurant area with low tables and guests sit on the floor

Saturday, November 10, 2012

RESTORAN CITARASA TT GAJAH

Cita-cita isteri Hjh Wan Fatimah mencebur diri dalam perniagaan baru telah berhasil dengan terdirinya sebuah Restoran di Titi Gajah Alor Setar Kedah. Di beri nama Restoran Citarasa TT Gajah kita berharap ia akan menjadi satunya tarikan baru di bandar ini khusus di sekitar Jalan Anak Bukit - Kepala Batas. Dibuka mulai Khamis 8 Nob 2012 ia memberi peluang kepada anak-anak muda untuk mencebur diri dalam dunia sajian dan masakan. Lebih daripada itu ia menjadi satu cabaran untuk kami disamping mengusahakan firma arkitek yang ada.

Dengan miliki pengalaman dan perhatian bagi tempoh yang lama, baik didalam atau luar negeri kita berharap usaha ini akan menggalakkan anak muda kami memberi tempuan kepada satu bisnes yang boleh menjaminkan masa depannya. InsyaAllah. Firma Anak Arshad Architect dengan sendirinya berjaya mereka-bentuk bangunan serta persiapan-persiapan lain yang merangkumi sebuah restoran sepert dihajati.

Mencukupi dengan gambar-gambar dibawah ini yang boleh memberi satu gambaran perihal usaha kami menemui ambang Hijrah 1434.



    


               
Menerima tetamu pada malam pertama restoran dibuka

       Antara ahli jemaah masjid Tuan Hussein yang turut bersama berkunjung ke restoran


Sdr Jiman dibahagian 'Ikan Bakar'

     
Bahagian dapur dengan keluasannya