Malaysia and Queensland of Australia have much in common. Malaysia has a tropical climate. Queensland has a tropical and sub-tropical climate. The population is also culturally diverse. In Malaysia, you have Malay (or what is now officially referred to as Bahasa Malaysia) as the official language. Chinese (Mandarin and the various Chinese dialect) plus the Indian languages (I think mainly Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi) is also widely used. The people of Sabah and Sarawak in the Borneo Island speak distinct dialects of Malay and many other ethnic languages. English used to be widely used, and still is, but a large section of the younger generation have lost that advantage in this world of globalization and Internet.
Australia has no official language, English is the de facto official language. People in Queensland, just as in other parts of Australia, speak English widely both at work as well as at home, with some speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Greek, Spanish, German, Tagalog (Filipino), Polish and Russian at home. There are also the native languages like Gangulida, Garwa, Bundji, Wanyi, Punthamara, Kalali, etc. Queensland is a multi-racial, multicultural and multi-lingual society just like Malaysia.
There are close trade connections between Queensland and Malaysia. Nu-Lec, a member of the Sneider Electric group established in Brisbane in 1981, sold $2.6 million of network development protection system to Tenaga Nasional Bhd, (TNB) Malaysia. Queensland's main merchandise export to Malaysia is high quality sugar. Others are live animals, dairy, halal (the Muslim equivalent of kosher for Jews) meat products, seafood, fruit and vegetables, cotton and other agricultural products.
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, and the third largest city in Australia. The advantage of Malaysians visiting Brisbane is that they don't have to worry about winter clothing. There are interesting things and places to do and see in Brisbane. Among them are Mt Coot-tha Lookout. From the top of Mt Coot-tha Lookout, you can get a view of the whole of Brisbane city, the winding Brisbane river and the skyline of the Central Business District. If you are lucky and happened to be there on a clear day, you can see as far as the distant ranges, the Moreton Bay and places far away in every direction. The South Bank's beach has open grassy spots for picnic. There are shops plenty of eating places, cinemas, live entertainment and many festivals and fireworks throughout the year. And don't forget to see the many Australian wildlife, kangaroo and especially that lovable Australian mascot, the Koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. And when a beautiful river flows through a beautiful city, no visit is complete with a cruise down the river. This you can do with the CityCats. You can cruise up and down the river and stop wherever you fancy, pass under the Story Bridge, a historic cantilever bridge which connects Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point. Plan your visit to coincide with the many major festivals, which are the Paniyiri (Greek festival in May), Energex Brisbane Festival in July, Brisbane International Film Festival in August, and Riverfestival in September, Brisbane Writers Festival in September/October and Out of the Box, a children’s festival next in 2008. If you like plants and trees, don't miss a visit the City Botanic Gardens where you get to see the exotic and gorgeous plants that flourish in Brisbane sub-tropical climate. The City Botanic Gardens are in a strategic spot beside the river and an short walk from the busy Central Business District. Experience walking through the mangroves on the boardwalk. There is also the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens 7 kilometers from the Central Business District. Don't forget the Roma Street Parkland featuring theme gardens such as the topiary maze, rainforest walk, lake, celebration lawn and amphitheatre. The Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens has a magnificent tropical display dome, a lagoon, Japanese gardens, themed gardens on 52 hectares and you can also visit the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
And if you plan to visit Brisbane, don't forget to book your accommodation in Brisbane ahead of your arrival. Making a last minute visit? Try the Last Minute Deals (inside 21 days). If you have plenty of time to plan your visit, try their All Year Deals and choose from over 20,000 heavily discounted properties with specials.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Parliamentary Roundtable - reaffirm Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State
The content of this post have been transferred to
Pray for Malaysia: Parliamentary Roundtable to reaffirm Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State
Pray for Malaysia: Parliamentary Roundtable to reaffirm Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State
Friday, July 27, 2007
Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown: Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities
The content of this post have been transferred to
Pray for Malaysia: Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown: Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities
Pray for Malaysia: Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown: Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities
Monday, July 23, 2007
Responsibility of citizens: Please report problems to authorities. It may not affect us directly, but will affect us indirectly both locally+globally
Citizens of Malaysia and of Spaceship Earth which still have no life boat. Please report any problems when you see them to the proper authorities.
I went out this morning at 7.30am when it was already bright. I noticed that the street lamps were still on. As a responsible citizen of Malaysia and of Spaceship Earth (still with no lifeboat), I felt it is my job to inform the authorities. While this pure waste of electricity do not affect our pocket directly, it does affect us indirectly because the funds involved is public fund which is also our fund. Not only that, with global warming getting confirmed to be already happening (which is the opinions of the majority of scientists, but is also becoming apparent because the climate is clearly changing), it is important to conserve electricity in whatever ways we can. If we don't act, it may not cause us severe harm in our lifetime, but there is every possibility it will affect severely our future generations.
I first called Tenaga Malaysia (literally Energy Malaysia or the electric utility company of Malaysia) at telephone 15454 (electrical supply breakdown) and told them that the problem is not connected with electrical supply breakdown but is because the street lamps are still on when it is already bright and should be off. I was given the numbers 03-79557733 and 03-79541590 and ask for either Pengurus Kawasan or Pengurus Kanan (Area Officer or Senior Officer. It was scribbled too quickly and I can only guess). I tried the first number, couldn't get through. I tried the second number, got through, but was told the officer is at a meeting. I asked if I can leave a message and was given the go ahead.
When I went out again around 10am, I saw Tenaga's staff working at a lamp post. I ask if it is regarding a timer switch but was told they are working on a switch which will turn on when it is dark. I was walking to he bank and it was drizzling slightly, so I thought it was OK since I brought along an umbrella just in case. But I didn't go far before it started pouring and I turned back.
I went started walking again to the bank at about 1pm which is 20 to 30 minutes walk away, and to the hypermarket which is slightly further from the bank (if you are interested why I prefer to walk rather than take the car or motorbike, see Prevent Diabetes and Way out for city traffic congestion, air pollution and global warming?). On the way, I saw the street lamps at one street were also still on. I couldn't see a street signpost, so when I saw someone in the garden of the house, and ask if she would report the problem, and if she doesn't want to, could she give me the street address so that I can report the problem. She was not bothered to report herself as she says it is government money and is not important to her. Anyway she was kind enough to point me to a well hidden street sign. However, I didn't have a pen or paper but figured I can buy a pen and getting paper should be not problem. I can use the bank-in slip or the receipt from the hypermarket.
I got the pens plus the paper I needed and started walking home. I noticed still more streets where the street lamps were still on. They were Road SS5/17C, Road SS5A/17, Road SS5A/14, Road SS5A/13, Road SS5A/11 and Road SS5B/1. It was already about 2pm. One of them was a commercial street with shops. I spoke to a shop owner. He said he is not bothered because it is government's money and the government got lots of money. I wonder how individual, how many company and government workers have the same attitude and leave the air-conditioners and computers on even when they are not in the room for a long time. I know at least one, the one who shared an office with me when I was working. Multiply that to the rest of the country and to the world and we know the problems we are up against. The tidak-apa (never mind literally which should translate as couldn't care less) attitude of so many people is very disturbing. I just hope some get to read this post and hopefully change their attitude for the sake of fellow citizens, for the country, for the world, for the environment, for their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren......
Anyway the report had been made at the second phone number above, promptly answered and I believe they will do something about it.
And while some may not agree that it is the responsibility to support events like Candlelight Vigil for Revathi (and for Malaysia) (click BACK button to get back to this page), I hope those who are concerned for the country will lend their support to future similar events.
I went out this morning at 7.30am when it was already bright. I noticed that the street lamps were still on. As a responsible citizen of Malaysia and of Spaceship Earth (still with no lifeboat), I felt it is my job to inform the authorities. While this pure waste of electricity do not affect our pocket directly, it does affect us indirectly because the funds involved is public fund which is also our fund. Not only that, with global warming getting confirmed to be already happening (which is the opinions of the majority of scientists, but is also becoming apparent because the climate is clearly changing), it is important to conserve electricity in whatever ways we can. If we don't act, it may not cause us severe harm in our lifetime, but there is every possibility it will affect severely our future generations.
I first called Tenaga Malaysia (literally Energy Malaysia or the electric utility company of Malaysia) at telephone 15454 (electrical supply breakdown) and told them that the problem is not connected with electrical supply breakdown but is because the street lamps are still on when it is already bright and should be off. I was given the numbers 03-79557733 and 03-79541590 and ask for either Pengurus Kawasan or Pengurus Kanan (Area Officer or Senior Officer. It was scribbled too quickly and I can only guess). I tried the first number, couldn't get through. I tried the second number, got through, but was told the officer is at a meeting. I asked if I can leave a message and was given the go ahead.
When I went out again around 10am, I saw Tenaga's staff working at a lamp post. I ask if it is regarding a timer switch but was told they are working on a switch which will turn on when it is dark. I was walking to he bank and it was drizzling slightly, so I thought it was OK since I brought along an umbrella just in case. But I didn't go far before it started pouring and I turned back.
I went started walking again to the bank at about 1pm which is 20 to 30 minutes walk away, and to the hypermarket which is slightly further from the bank (if you are interested why I prefer to walk rather than take the car or motorbike, see Prevent Diabetes and Way out for city traffic congestion, air pollution and global warming?). On the way, I saw the street lamps at one street were also still on. I couldn't see a street signpost, so when I saw someone in the garden of the house, and ask if she would report the problem, and if she doesn't want to, could she give me the street address so that I can report the problem. She was not bothered to report herself as she says it is government money and is not important to her. Anyway she was kind enough to point me to a well hidden street sign. However, I didn't have a pen or paper but figured I can buy a pen and getting paper should be not problem. I can use the bank-in slip or the receipt from the hypermarket.
I got the pens plus the paper I needed and started walking home. I noticed still more streets where the street lamps were still on. They were Road SS5/17C, Road SS5A/17, Road SS5A/14, Road SS5A/13, Road SS5A/11 and Road SS5B/1. It was already about 2pm. One of them was a commercial street with shops. I spoke to a shop owner. He said he is not bothered because it is government's money and the government got lots of money. I wonder how individual, how many company and government workers have the same attitude and leave the air-conditioners and computers on even when they are not in the room for a long time. I know at least one, the one who shared an office with me when I was working. Multiply that to the rest of the country and to the world and we know the problems we are up against. The tidak-apa (never mind literally which should translate as couldn't care less) attitude of so many people is very disturbing. I just hope some get to read this post and hopefully change their attitude for the sake of fellow citizens, for the country, for the world, for the environment, for their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren......
Anyway the report had been made at the second phone number above, promptly answered and I believe they will do something about it.
And while some may not agree that it is the responsibility to support events like Candlelight Vigil for Revathi (and for Malaysia) (click BACK button to get back to this page), I hope those who are concerned for the country will lend their support to future similar events.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Malaysia, truly Asia
"Malaysia, truly Asia" - that is the tagline chosen by Tourism Malaysia to help promote Malaysia. I have previously posted about Snow in tropical Malaysia? (click BACK button to get back to this page). In there was a link to a blog about a sky resort which was created using RealTravel and I had indicated a desire to start a similar blog hoping to help promote Malaysia, my small contribution to my country. I have done that and you can see it at Malaysia, truly Asia.
I have just started and am slowing learning how to create a travel blog using RealTravel, and will be editing that blog entry when I can take time off my busy schedule. As mentioned in the earlier post, with RealTravel, you can explore places to visit by destination and at Popular Destinations in Southeast Asia, you can find Malaysia listed. Hopefully someone exploring that page will get to find my new travel blog created using RealTravel.
But creating travel blogs and exploring destinations are not the only thing you can do at RealTravel. There is also a trip planner where if you are planning a trip, you can add any number of itineraries to your travel plan, see your itinerary on a dynamic route map, do your research on the places you plan to visit, plus save your travel plan and then email them to your family, relatives, friends or even colleagues.
I have just started and am slowing learning how to create a travel blog using RealTravel, and will be editing that blog entry when I can take time off my busy schedule. As mentioned in the earlier post, with RealTravel, you can explore places to visit by destination and at Popular Destinations in Southeast Asia, you can find Malaysia listed. Hopefully someone exploring that page will get to find my new travel blog created using RealTravel.
But creating travel blogs and exploring destinations are not the only thing you can do at RealTravel. There is also a trip planner where if you are planning a trip, you can add any number of itineraries to your travel plan, see your itinerary on a dynamic route map, do your research on the places you plan to visit, plus save your travel plan and then email them to your family, relatives, friends or even colleagues.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Snow in Malaysia?
Malaysia is a tropical country, so can one get snow in Malaysia? Even the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia do not get snow. Some says on very rare occasions, you do (I would say extremely rare). While I REALLY appreciate the fact that in tropical Malaysia, I do not need to buy and put on winter clothing when I go out plus turn on the heating while at home in winter, (I go around topless minus the fan in my house and never use the air conditioner though air conditioners came with the house I am staying in. My very small contribution towards effects at keeping global warming at bay. See Environmentally living and sleeping) the feeling of wonder, happiness and awe (can't find the words to accurately describe my feelings) when I experienced the first snowfall 30+ years ago in Belgium is still with me.
Snow at Amazon
I was a student in Ghent, Belgium, for two plus years. I have visited Brussels, Amsterdam, Maduradam, Paris, London, Cologne, Frankfurt, Rome, the leaning tower of Pisa, visited Switzerland in summer, and I can't say I really enjoy it, except perhaps Rome, where I enjoyed being able to eat pizza straight from the oven in the street. All those were nothing compared with the visit to Switzerland in winter. Most of that time was spent in the mountain resort of Grindlewald! I had photos and slides, but unfortunately there are no digital photos, and I don't know what happened to the prints, otherwise, I can get them scanned and post them here. It was fantastic! The snow was piled up above the top of cars and were buried in them. I saw a car totally buried in snow except for a window. The owner must have scrapped away the snow to make sure everything inside was still OK. My young daughter had the experience of riding on a toboggan. I made a snowman. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Grindlewald. I wish there is snow in Malaysia but without the cold weather that require the inconvenience of having to put on heavy winter cloths and mittens or the need to turn on the heater.
Books about snows
But as the saying goes, noting is impossible. You can find (and experience) falling snow at the Snow House (I think it is also called Ice Factory) on the grounds of the theme park - "The Mines Wonderland". It was converted from a disused former tin mine in Sungei Besi, a mere 5km south of Kuala Lumpur. Entry is not free of course, but you get to experience not only snow, but a chilling temperature of between -10°C to -15°C, make and throw snowball at each other and see snow carvings in tropical Malaysia. Wonder if any visitor had tried to make a snowman. Warm coats are provided for visitors. It is the first winter wonderland in Malaysia and the nearest to its capital city.
Children's books about snow
There is another one - Snow World in the Genting Highlands Resorts about 2,000 meters above sea level and only fifty kilometres (about an hour drive, some says 45 minutes, but I hope they are keeping within the legal speed limits and driving safely) from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Snow House is said to be Southeast Asia's biggest and best snow house. I haven't personally visited Snow House, but is seems other the fascinating falling snow, there are a log cabin, an igloo, toboggan slides and snow play area and provision for snow sledging. Visitors are also provided with winter jacket, boots and gloves to keep them warm.
Then there is the 'Four Season Environment Controlled Chamber' in Shah Alam, not far from Kuala Lumpur. It is a research center that simulate temperate climate by controlling air temperature, lights intensity, carbon dioxide, etc to enable temperate plants to grow in tropic climate of Malaysia. During winter season (July to September), artificial snow is introduced.
Further north in MegaMall, Butterworth is another Snowland said to be the first indoor ski and snowboarding center with a 45m main slope and a 42m curved slope for skiing and a snow playing area. You can rent winter sport equipment there.
And believe me, you can find "snow" all over the country. I am referring to the car wash centers that often have signboards which says "Snow Wash, Vacuum Body RM6.00". Those foam they used to wash cars really look like "snow" to me.
But really, if you want to experience real snow, not artificial ones or the "snow" that you see at "Car Snowwash" centers, you have to travel abroad, like Bariloche, Argentina around the months of July, the winter months in the southern hemisphere. That site is actually a post of a travel blog like this one. Only difference is that this was created using Google Blogger while that blog was created using RealTravel. You can sign up for free to create your travel blog, or if you don't want your own travel blogs, you can explore blogs by destinations. Unfortunately, when I tried exploring, I couldn't find Malaysia.
I would have loved to create another blog for Malaysia to help promote Malaysia via RealTravel because I think you can sign up and create a blog that has posts about destinations in Malaysia, travellers who landed on RealTravel's site may browse and find Malaysia to be a good destination to visit, and Malaysia gets some extra tourists. My little contribution to my country. Google Blogger don't have such exploring travel blogs feature, and this blog may actually be better if hosted with RealTravel. If I get time away from my busy schedule, I just might just sign up for RealTravel and create a blog for destinations in Malaysia.
Snow at Amazon
I was a student in Ghent, Belgium, for two plus years. I have visited Brussels, Amsterdam, Maduradam, Paris, London, Cologne, Frankfurt, Rome, the leaning tower of Pisa, visited Switzerland in summer, and I can't say I really enjoy it, except perhaps Rome, where I enjoyed being able to eat pizza straight from the oven in the street. All those were nothing compared with the visit to Switzerland in winter. Most of that time was spent in the mountain resort of Grindlewald! I had photos and slides, but unfortunately there are no digital photos, and I don't know what happened to the prints, otherwise, I can get them scanned and post them here. It was fantastic! The snow was piled up above the top of cars and were buried in them. I saw a car totally buried in snow except for a window. The owner must have scrapped away the snow to make sure everything inside was still OK. My young daughter had the experience of riding on a toboggan. I made a snowman. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Grindlewald. I wish there is snow in Malaysia but without the cold weather that require the inconvenience of having to put on heavy winter cloths and mittens or the need to turn on the heater.
Books about snows
But as the saying goes, noting is impossible. You can find (and experience) falling snow at the Snow House (I think it is also called Ice Factory) on the grounds of the theme park - "The Mines Wonderland". It was converted from a disused former tin mine in Sungei Besi, a mere 5km south of Kuala Lumpur. Entry is not free of course, but you get to experience not only snow, but a chilling temperature of between -10°C to -15°C, make and throw snowball at each other and see snow carvings in tropical Malaysia. Wonder if any visitor had tried to make a snowman. Warm coats are provided for visitors. It is the first winter wonderland in Malaysia and the nearest to its capital city.
Children's books about snow
There is another one - Snow World in the Genting Highlands Resorts about 2,000 meters above sea level and only fifty kilometres (about an hour drive, some says 45 minutes, but I hope they are keeping within the legal speed limits and driving safely) from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Snow House is said to be Southeast Asia's biggest and best snow house. I haven't personally visited Snow House, but is seems other the fascinating falling snow, there are a log cabin, an igloo, toboggan slides and snow play area and provision for snow sledging. Visitors are also provided with winter jacket, boots and gloves to keep them warm.
Then there is the 'Four Season Environment Controlled Chamber' in Shah Alam, not far from Kuala Lumpur. It is a research center that simulate temperate climate by controlling air temperature, lights intensity, carbon dioxide, etc to enable temperate plants to grow in tropic climate of Malaysia. During winter season (July to September), artificial snow is introduced.
Further north in MegaMall, Butterworth is another Snowland said to be the first indoor ski and snowboarding center with a 45m main slope and a 42m curved slope for skiing and a snow playing area. You can rent winter sport equipment there.
And believe me, you can find "snow" all over the country. I am referring to the car wash centers that often have signboards which says "Snow Wash, Vacuum Body RM6.00". Those foam they used to wash cars really look like "snow" to me.
But really, if you want to experience real snow, not artificial ones or the "snow" that you see at "Car Snowwash" centers, you have to travel abroad, like Bariloche, Argentina around the months of July, the winter months in the southern hemisphere. That site is actually a post of a travel blog like this one. Only difference is that this was created using Google Blogger while that blog was created using RealTravel. You can sign up for free to create your travel blog, or if you don't want your own travel blogs, you can explore blogs by destinations. Unfortunately, when I tried exploring, I couldn't find Malaysia.
I would have loved to create another blog for Malaysia to help promote Malaysia via RealTravel because I think you can sign up and create a blog that has posts about destinations in Malaysia, travellers who landed on RealTravel's site may browse and find Malaysia to be a good destination to visit, and Malaysia gets some extra tourists. My little contribution to my country. Google Blogger don't have such exploring travel blogs feature, and this blog may actually be better if hosted with RealTravel. If I get time away from my busy schedule, I just might just sign up for RealTravel and create a blog for destinations in Malaysia.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Malaysia National Wills Registry?
Read a report in TheStar newspaper today that the Malaysian government through its public trustee company AmanahRaya Berhad had set up a National Wills Registry, open to all Malaysians where they can make known that they have made a will, when it is written and who is a custodian of the will. There will be no charge. This is so that the inheritance process can be speeded up. All one need to do is to check with AmanahRaya Berhad whether the deceased has made a will or not. Then those left behind will know which path to take to distribute the inheritance. To the best of my knowledge, this means that if the deceased had made a will, then the executor named in the will will have to apply for a Probate, a much simpler and less costly process. If the deceased did not make a will, then the court will have to appoint an Administrator and issue him a Lettter of Administration, a more complex, longer and more costly process.
The Malaysian government made the decision to set up the National Wills Registry because they found that there is a RM1.8 billion left unclaimed in the Registra of Unclaimed Monies, and RM70 million unclaimed in the Employees Provident Fund, Tabung Haji, Permodalan Berhad and co-operatives.
On reading the report, I was very happy because I had made a will (see Environmentally Friendly Internet) and I would like that to be made known through the National Wills Registry. I tried searching for that National Wills Registry. I used the search term "amanah raya berhad national wills registry" (using google.com) and found 43 entries. None of them pointed to the National Wills Registry. I then tried "amanahraya berhad national wills registry" and found 2 results, also no National Wills Registry. The only site I found was Welcome To Amanah Raya Berhad Wills Online where you can make a will online. It is not free. The charges were listed as:
Further, the will you made online will not become valid until the charges have been paid and the will vetted by a lawyer. It was not something I need. I wanted the National Wills Registry which was nowhere to be found. I have sent an email asking for help/information. If I do get a response, I will update this post.
The Malaysian government made the decision to set up the National Wills Registry because they found that there is a RM1.8 billion left unclaimed in the Registra of Unclaimed Monies, and RM70 million unclaimed in the Employees Provident Fund, Tabung Haji, Permodalan Berhad and co-operatives.
On reading the report, I was very happy because I had made a will (see Environmentally Friendly Internet) and I would like that to be made known through the National Wills Registry. I tried searching for that National Wills Registry. I used the search term "amanah raya berhad national wills registry" (using google.com) and found 43 entries. None of them pointed to the National Wills Registry. I then tried "amanahraya berhad national wills registry" and found 2 results, also no National Wills Registry. The only site I found was Welcome To Amanah Raya Berhad Wills Online where you can make a will online. It is not free. The charges were listed as:
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Further, the will you made online will not become valid until the charges have been paid and the will vetted by a lawyer. It was not something I need. I wanted the National Wills Registry which was nowhere to be found. I have sent an email asking for help/information. If I do get a response, I will update this post.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Relation between Malaysia and United Kingdom
The eastern spice trade was hot at the beginning of the 16th century. The European countries needed to establish their own trading ports at the source. In 1511, Alfonso de Albuquerque led a Portuguese fleet into Malacca's harbor, opened fire with cannon, and captured the city and that was the start of interference of European powers with regions now considered part of Malaysia.
The Portuguese constructed a formidable fort in Malacca called A' Famosa. The Dutch captured Malacca in 1641 and got an almost exclusive hold on the spice trade until 1785, when the British East India Company persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to allow them to build a fort on the island of Penang in return for protection.
France captured the Netherlands in 1795. The Dutch government preferred to temporarily allow England to oversee Malacca rather than hand control of the port over to the French. Control of Malacca was returned to the Dutch in 1808 in a trade for Bencoleen in Sumatra.
In 1819, Sir William Raffles of Britain established a trading post in Singapore. The three British colonies of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore together was called the Straits Settlements.
While the European powers played competed against each other in the region, the local Malay sultanates continued on their own affairs. New Muslim trading center was established in Johore, then later on Perak. The Minangkabau from Sumatra and the Bugi from Celebes immigrated to the Malay peninsula in droves. In the late 1860's, the Malay kingdoms began fighting each other for control of the throne of Perak, causing disturbance in the region giving Britain a good excuse to intervene and forced the Malay rulers to sign a peace treaty known as the Pangkor Agreement in 1874. This treaty enabled Britain to maintain its monopoly on the huge amount of tin being mined in the Malay peninsula.
While the White Rajas ruled over Borneo, Britain ruled over what was then called Malaya until the Japanese invaded and droved them out in 1942. Large numbers of Chinese fled to the jungle and formed an armed resistance which became the communist insurgency when the war ended. When World War 2 ended in 1945, Britain took back control, but by then the Malayan independence movement had become more active and organized itself in an alliance under Tunku Abdul Rahman. The alliance negotiated for independence from Britain rule and evetually the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Square in 1957 when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed independence and became the first prime minister of Malaya.
The tough military response from the British together with concessions by the Malay and Chinese political leaderships ended the Communist insurgency and helped established an independent, multi-racial Federation of Malaya in 1957.
While Britain interference in the affairs of the components of Malaysia in the past have been blamed for the many current ills of the country, its rule also imparted some lasting benefits. The British left behind an efficient administration, good communications in the form of good roads and railway and the mission schools created an English speaking educated elite which gave the country a competitive edge in the world. There is still a large section of the population who have good command of English which is important in this world of globalisation and the ubiquitous Internet.
Several early independence acts did not contain any provision for the loss of Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) by citizens of the newly independent states as in the case of the former colonies of Penang and Malacca. Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies was withdrawn from those acquiring Malaysian citizenship in 1963, but this did'nt extend to existing citizens of the Federation. I suspect there are still residents who hold Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, but I have no relatives or substantial connections with Penang or Malacca and thus unable to bolster my suspicions. This probably need further research. Whatever it is, this plus what had been described above establish a special relationship between Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
Becaue of this special relationship between Malaysia and the United Kingdom, there will be people here who will want to travel to the United Kingdom. In addition to this special relationship, there would be places of interest you will want to visit. In London, there are Madame Tussaud's, Tower of London, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, The Royal Academy, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, London Zoo, Victoria & Albert Museum, Kew Gardens, British Museum, The National Gallery and Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guards. Outside of London, there are Alton Towers in Staffordshire, Legoland in Windsor, Chessington World of Adventure in Surrey, Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Flamingo Land Theme Park in Yorkshire, Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire, Chester Zoo in Cheshire, Windermere Lake Cruises in Cumbria, Thorpe Park in Surrey, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, Eastbourne Pier in Sussex, The Palace Pier in Brighton, Pleasureland Amusement Park in Southport, etc. You may even try your luck in capturing the legendary Loch Ness Monster (fondly nicknamed Nessie) with your camera at Loch Ness in Scotland.
If you do plan on travelling to United Kingdom, your likely point of arrival will be London. It will be wise to book accommodation ahead of your arrival for there is nothing worst than to be faced with the urgent need to find accommodation in an unfamilair place. You can do this conveniently online at Cheap Hotels in London, particularly if you are on a budget. You may be interested in Convent Garden, something similar to our Pasar Seni. In this case you may want to look for Cheap Hotels in Covent Garden. If you intend to travel outside of London, for example, Edinburg, try Cheap Hotels in Edinburgh. The site offers a Lowest Rate Guarantee which says if you find a rate lower than the best available Cheaperthanhotels.com Internet rate on another web site for the same hotel/accommodation, on the same dates and advise them within 24 hours of booking your room(s) with them, and they will honour that rate for the night(s) for which the lower rate was found and refund you the difference.
The Portuguese constructed a formidable fort in Malacca called A' Famosa. The Dutch captured Malacca in 1641 and got an almost exclusive hold on the spice trade until 1785, when the British East India Company persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to allow them to build a fort on the island of Penang in return for protection.
France captured the Netherlands in 1795. The Dutch government preferred to temporarily allow England to oversee Malacca rather than hand control of the port over to the French. Control of Malacca was returned to the Dutch in 1808 in a trade for Bencoleen in Sumatra.
In 1819, Sir William Raffles of Britain established a trading post in Singapore. The three British colonies of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore together was called the Straits Settlements.
While the European powers played competed against each other in the region, the local Malay sultanates continued on their own affairs. New Muslim trading center was established in Johore, then later on Perak. The Minangkabau from Sumatra and the Bugi from Celebes immigrated to the Malay peninsula in droves. In the late 1860's, the Malay kingdoms began fighting each other for control of the throne of Perak, causing disturbance in the region giving Britain a good excuse to intervene and forced the Malay rulers to sign a peace treaty known as the Pangkor Agreement in 1874. This treaty enabled Britain to maintain its monopoly on the huge amount of tin being mined in the Malay peninsula.
While the White Rajas ruled over Borneo, Britain ruled over what was then called Malaya until the Japanese invaded and droved them out in 1942. Large numbers of Chinese fled to the jungle and formed an armed resistance which became the communist insurgency when the war ended. When World War 2 ended in 1945, Britain took back control, but by then the Malayan independence movement had become more active and organized itself in an alliance under Tunku Abdul Rahman. The alliance negotiated for independence from Britain rule and evetually the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Square in 1957 when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed independence and became the first prime minister of Malaya.
The tough military response from the British together with concessions by the Malay and Chinese political leaderships ended the Communist insurgency and helped established an independent, multi-racial Federation of Malaya in 1957.
While Britain interference in the affairs of the components of Malaysia in the past have been blamed for the many current ills of the country, its rule also imparted some lasting benefits. The British left behind an efficient administration, good communications in the form of good roads and railway and the mission schools created an English speaking educated elite which gave the country a competitive edge in the world. There is still a large section of the population who have good command of English which is important in this world of globalisation and the ubiquitous Internet.
Several early independence acts did not contain any provision for the loss of Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) by citizens of the newly independent states as in the case of the former colonies of Penang and Malacca. Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies was withdrawn from those acquiring Malaysian citizenship in 1963, but this did'nt extend to existing citizens of the Federation. I suspect there are still residents who hold Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, but I have no relatives or substantial connections with Penang or Malacca and thus unable to bolster my suspicions. This probably need further research. Whatever it is, this plus what had been described above establish a special relationship between Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
Becaue of this special relationship between Malaysia and the United Kingdom, there will be people here who will want to travel to the United Kingdom. In addition to this special relationship, there would be places of interest you will want to visit. In London, there are Madame Tussaud's, Tower of London, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, The Royal Academy, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, London Zoo, Victoria & Albert Museum, Kew Gardens, British Museum, The National Gallery and Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guards. Outside of London, there are Alton Towers in Staffordshire, Legoland in Windsor, Chessington World of Adventure in Surrey, Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Flamingo Land Theme Park in Yorkshire, Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire, Chester Zoo in Cheshire, Windermere Lake Cruises in Cumbria, Thorpe Park in Surrey, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, Eastbourne Pier in Sussex, The Palace Pier in Brighton, Pleasureland Amusement Park in Southport, etc. You may even try your luck in capturing the legendary Loch Ness Monster (fondly nicknamed Nessie) with your camera at Loch Ness in Scotland.
If you do plan on travelling to United Kingdom, your likely point of arrival will be London. It will be wise to book accommodation ahead of your arrival for there is nothing worst than to be faced with the urgent need to find accommodation in an unfamilair place. You can do this conveniently online at Cheap Hotels in London, particularly if you are on a budget. You may be interested in Convent Garden, something similar to our Pasar Seni. In this case you may want to look for Cheap Hotels in Covent Garden. If you intend to travel outside of London, for example, Edinburg, try Cheap Hotels in Edinburgh. The site offers a Lowest Rate Guarantee which says if you find a rate lower than the best available Cheaperthanhotels.com Internet rate on another web site for the same hotel/accommodation, on the same dates and advise them within 24 hours of booking your room(s) with them, and they will honour that rate for the night(s) for which the lower rate was found and refund you the difference.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Homestay in Bukit Gantang, Taiping, Perak
Bukit Gantang is a rural area not far from Taiping, Perak containing some quaint kampongs well known for its agricultural activities such as orchard farming, especially for the famous durian orchards. Homestay programs are available in Bukit Gantang at very reasonable rates. For the homestay program, the host may provide food plus tour of nearby orchards and you can tour the durian orchards during the durian season, which is on now. You can pluck the fruits and sit down under the tree shade to eat it, take a refreshing dip in the river, play congkak (a local Malay game played using marbles in holes dug in a block of wood), watch the local folks practice stylish silat (the Malay art of self defence), go fishing in the fish ponds, watch the kampong folks climb up the petai tree to pluck the petai (long, flat edible beans with green seeds which have a rather peculiar smell and which is said to be good for diabetes) or soak yourself in the nearby hotspring.
Just yesterday, 1 July 2007, there was a Bukit Gantang Durian Fest which was attended by an estimated 10,000 people which surprisingly include foreigners who are known to detest the strong smell of durian as much as the locals hate the smell of blue cheese. They went to enjoy the free durians during the launch of the Bukit Gantang Durian Fest. There were also durian-based food such as durian dodol, durian ice-cream and lempok. The authorities is planning to make the Bukit Gantang Durian Fest an annual local and perhaps an international event. So if you missed the last one, plan for the next one next year and beyond.
For further information, contact:
En Manaf
Kampung Kubu/Bukit Gantang
34850 Changkat Jering
Taiping, Perak
Tel: 605 855 4967
H/P: 6019 5740 767/6019 402 5842
Fax: 605 855 3991
Just yesterday, 1 July 2007, there was a Bukit Gantang Durian Fest which was attended by an estimated 10,000 people which surprisingly include foreigners who are known to detest the strong smell of durian as much as the locals hate the smell of blue cheese. They went to enjoy the free durians during the launch of the Bukit Gantang Durian Fest. There were also durian-based food such as durian dodol, durian ice-cream and lempok. The authorities is planning to make the Bukit Gantang Durian Fest an annual local and perhaps an international event. So if you missed the last one, plan for the next one next year and beyond.
For further information, contact:
En Manaf
Kampung Kubu/Bukit Gantang
34850 Changkat Jering
Taiping, Perak
Tel: 605 855 4967
H/P: 6019 5740 767/6019 402 5842
Fax: 605 855 3991
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