Friday, November 26, 2010

ICT Fiesta 2010

The Sabah Computer Society (SCS) is organising the ICT Fiesta on 26 November - 28 November 2010. If you visit their website, you will see that there is an additional contest for this weekend (Count The Number of ICT Fiesta banners in Kota Kinabalu).

The event was being held at The Likas Sport Complex - Multi Purpose Hall.

On the way in, I saw that Microsoft was trying to "reform" the pirates. Buying a GENUINE copy of Windows 7 will entitle you to a "Dip and Win" contest. Hoo Hoo.

Did you know that the stepped seating in the hall (used for watching the badminton games) could be re-stacked this way?

According to the SCS website, there were 91 booths.

Looking at the white lines on the floor (badminton court markings), I remembered, while playing badminton here a long, long, time ago, the hall personnel telling us off if we wore normal shoes onto the court surface (I supposed there was a danger of making black marks on the polished floor). So why was this fair allowed in the badminton hall without some kind of carpeting on the court floor?

I didn't really have anything I wanted to buy here, so I walked around looking for the slightly unusual. There was a chance to WIN A PS3!

The highest scorer at Guitar Hero 5 (I saw that FIFA soccer was the other contest) would win.

The highest score so far (noted at 2.50pm) was 1,394,664. So the button-mashers (who think they are guitarists) can all have a go.

I was pleased to see we had the Sabah Open Source Group. It seemed to be promoting Linux.

They seemed to be giving away free copies of Linux.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan (HPPN 2010)

There was an event being held at the KPD Tamu Ground celebrating Hari Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan (HPPN 2010). It opened yesterday (18 November 2010) and will last until Sunday (21 November 2010).

It was celebrating Farmers' Day (both plants and animals) and Fishermen's Day. I don't know if these are the correct terms in english? Is a farmer with animals called a rancher? (UPDATE 25 November 2010 - I saw in the Newspapers that they translated Penternak as Breeder; so in english its officially Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day)

Of course all the government departments and agencies were out in force; exhibiting their wares. This was the Agriculture Department's air-conditioned booth ...

... very nice chili and peppers in there.

The Korporasi Pembangunan Desa (Rural Development Corporation) had a big booth.

The Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan dan Peusahaan Ternak (Department of Veterinary and Animal Industry) had a big booth ...

... selling both cooked meats and fresh meats (I saw venison was available).

There was a useful poster on the wall showing the different cuts of beef ...

... and lamb.

Padi (wet rice) seedlings ...

... and the small tractor for mechanised planting.

The Lembaga Industri Getah Sabah (Sabah Rubber Industry Board) had a booth ...

... with some rubber tree trunks being tapped ...

... and rubber seeds (remember these? my childhood toys - they were free) ...

... the old fashioned rollers for expelling water from the coagulated rubber to form sheets before going to the smoke house.

I had an enjoyable time walking around all the exhibits and taking many images. This was the Tiger Garoupa ...

... Tilapia ...

... a school of small fishes (I forgot to note the name) dashing around the aquarium ...

... some kind of carp (?).

These were cocoa pods. The dried seeds (in the sack to the right) were cocoa beans. The flesh surrounding the seeds were removed by fermenting the fresh cocoa. Note the clever use of a photo backdrop by the Lembaga Koko Malaysia (Malaysian Cocoa Board).

MARDI had the Lekor Forming machine (lekor is a kind of fried fish cake snack).

There was a "modern" chicken coop. I preferred the kampung (village) version (to the left in the background) ...

... and some very colourful chicks.


You could do your shopping for vegetables, fruits and chicken while you are here ...

... or you could have a meal here ...

... or buy some decorative flowers and plants ...

... or buy a goat. The announcer mentioned the price for a "pedigree" male at RM2,000.

There was an impressive ram ...

... an unusual white (albino?) water buffalo ...

... a massive hereford bull ...

... and an inquisitive deer.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

QE Hospital KK Demolition - Week 16

They had reached the ground (at least in the middle). I have to say "well-done" and on time.

This was what the landscape looked like this morning compared to that on 5 September 2010. Another landmark of Kota Kinabalu gone forever.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Lembah Impian Country Homes Resort

I sent my wife to attend a retreat at Lembah Impian Country Homes Resort at Kg Kandazon (on the road to the Monsopiad Cultural Village).

The Lembah Impian Resort website was not very comprehensive; so nothing known about its history nor the owner. I did notice it was once put up for sale at an asking price of RM15 million!

Here is a web-page, by a visitor in April 2010, with some interior photos. I did not enter the resort; I just took some exterior shots.

The main gate, with a nice looking "home" inside.

See the signboards (the top one showing that "Reception" is off to the right). Not paying enough attention, I went straight to this building and found myself in the Kitchen!

Going "right", I saw a nice solitary building (noted the signboard said "Reception" was down the road to the left) ...

... a side-view of the building (it appeared to be the admin office? - Updated 15 November 2010 : I was informed this was the private residence of the owner).

Going the road towards "Reception", I saw on my right the Cafe (here's a web-page with photos taken in July 2010 of the cafe interior and the cakes; yummy) ...

... with the spa and something called "Barn House".

Finally, the "Reception" straight ahead. I thought that the "Long and Winding Road", from the main gate to the Main Reception Lobby, did not augur well for the Feng Shui?

To the left of the Main Reception was the swimming pool and the residential rooms and chalets.

All in all; it looked a very nice, quiet, and peaceful place to spend a day.