Monday, July 30, 2012

Ramadhan Bazaar - Sembulan

I last did a posting on the Ramadhan Bazaar on 21 August 2010 (the bazaar in Asia City). Yesterday afternoon I went to a nearby one in Sembulan. For the non-muslims, the month of Ramadhan is the chance to enjoy the spectacle of sights, sounds and tastes of the food sold at these bazaars.


The bazaar at Sembulan is smaller (compared to the one in Asia City). Since I walked there, the traffic jams and lack of parking did not affected me. I could see that the number of stalls had increased from last year and were better arranged.


The usual stalls were there; ikan bakar ...


... and the briyani fella (guy in the gren apron) ...


... though this stall tried to differentiate itself with the "fishy" signboard.



I had always bought the grilled fish from this stall in the past; so I continued the tradition this year ...



... this year they had expanded the menu to include grilled chicken and lamb; so I bought the lamb chop (update: very nice).


This kuih stall caught my eye as they had used the rattan tray to steamed the ricecakes (update: nice and not too sweet).


This stall promoted their ayam bamboo (said to be a Sarawakian recipe). Its those bamboo tubes in the blue box lah (update: not that special).


More stalls were extending down the road each passing year.


I did not forget to buy the air tebu.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sembulan River Park

I paid a photographic visit to the recently completed Sembulan River Park. The lack of traffic on a sunday morning made it an easy visit. During working hours, this whole place is a nightmare; traffic jams and the totally inadequate number of parking spaces.


I did a posting on 24 October 2010 when they had just started the beautification project. This was the view this morning from the end nearest to the Sembulan Kampung (approximately the same view point as the second photo in that Oct 2010 posting).

 
This end had the public toilet and the Police Pondok.


The boardwalk wound round the backs of the buildings in the Karamunsing warehouses district ...


... some portions were without railings (for boat rides in the future?) ...


... and metal posts to demarcate the roads ...


... the Sembulan River is actually joined by the Karamunsing River at The Stage.


The boardwalk is very wide and a lot of seating available.


ALong the Karamunsing River; Ming Garden Hotel in the distance, Sabah Oriental Hotel (previously Beverly Hotel), the Indonesian Consulate, and Maybank out of the picture on the right.


The view towards Karamunsing ...


... and the park administrative office ...


... at the entrance to the park ...


... where there was an "info display board" with the history and other stuff about the area.


This is a modern park with CCTV (24 hours!!! don't play play) and anti-littering (RM500!) ...


... warning signs (no swimming, no skateboarding, no littering and no sitting on the railings) ...


... but if you did dive into the river (totally not recommended ... see photo much further below) ...


... direction signs ...


... yet another warning sign (it almost sounded like its too dangerous to visit this place) ...


 ... the "You Are Here!" map ...


... not forgetting the very nice police pondok.


There was a boy fishing; how long ago did we last do that?


Those fishermen selling their catch on the river banks (see the Oct 2010 posting) had built their new "Fish Markets" on the river!


Not just for their human customers!


I wondered what stuff he sold???


Off to a Secret Rendezvous perhaps ...


... ugh! motor stalled; restarted ...


... and on his way.


I wondered what was the story here?


A close look at the rubbish in the river and the "smell" told all that its best NOT to go into the river. I remembered reading that our Mayor said something about the many old cesspits upstreams not functioning, so raw sewage ended up in these rivers. Repairs to be made when funds available in the future.


Anyway, the one thing I was very happy to see were all the old trees retained.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Seri Mengasih Centre - Food Fair 2012

With the coupons bought by my wife and daughter, My daughter and I went down to the Seri Mengasih Centre Food Fair. The centre is an NGO helping the development for intellectually disabled children.


As usual, there just wasn't enough road nor parking for all the visitors. I parked far away and just walked there.


Near the main gate, I could see many happy people and many tents.


The need for a "Layout" map for the stalls meant that this event was very well-supported by the kind people of Kota Kinabalu (those working to raise money).


There were many stalls; from parents, from companies, from the Likas Baptist Church Youth ...


... a stall well-watched over by my friend Jaf (Hey! I did come back and bought kebab and some chicken pies!) ...


... you could spend the coupons on the trampoline (uh! kiddies only lah!) ...



... or the roast lamb ...



... even dry goods ...


... perhaps veggies? ...



 ... or fresh fish? or fresh chicken? ...



... or even a roast chicken from this happy lady. Why didn't I see you earlier before I spent all those coupons!!!


This resource centre was well supported by some of the local business community ...



... including Ronald McDonald!



Seri Mengasih Centre is located at Tanjung Aru Beach, next to the Windbell Restaurant ...



... which is homeground to the Sabah Friendship League. The club was formed in 1961 and counted many graduates as members.