EatOf Fiesta: Welcome, foods!

Sunday morning, waking up late and tired about my yesterday's walking. Yesterday, full of stories. Regatta here, handicraft there, food everywhere. Speak about food, the EatOf Ceremony, joined by other countries was held at the same place, Kuching Waterfront. Creative ideas, they build a stage over the fountain pipe and covered it with woods (I do not know about wood-type but I think it's plywood). This food fiesta started from 10 am-10 pm, 7 September is the last day. You know, when foods are calling, people sure coming. As I walk zig-zag, avoiding people who came upon me like a bullet, the food stalls are already filled with customers. The smoke of deliciousness, the sizzling sound, the eye-opener colour and the tasty heat that smack my nose. Since I have to spent more for something else, okay foods, I'll watch you diligently. 

9 in the morning, the local food stalls were busy, the foreign food stalls were getting ready. I managed to get some photos while they're preparing their delicacies. 

Foods, foods, foods~

Chairs and tables are ready for customers- people can come and eat here or probably can take away. Some food stalls were ready with their foods. I saw few signature dish, traditional dish, fusion dish and other dishes that look familiar on TV. Since I came here pretty early, not all foods on the table and I don't want to disturb them. They were busy like bees.

So to speak, the local food stalls were crowded! Foods make people in unity.

Okay, this was the first food stall I saw yesterday. Representing Sarawak (and Malaysia as well), those unique foods were the attraction of Borneo's cuisine.

As usual, Manuk Pansoh (chicken in bamboo) is widely known. I eat that so many times in my life and the taste of 'daun bungkang' ignites my appetite. The second dish, Manuk Empikau (chicken with durian), I never try it before but I loved chicken I liked durian. I should try it some other time. The third dish, Tubu dan Bungai Kechala (bamboo shoot and ginger flower) did attract my attention I'm a fan of bamboo shoot and I used to eat raw ginger with 'belacan.' I believe, it tastes deeply Sarawakian. The last dish is Bunga Entekai dan Daun (pumpkin with leaves). My mom used to prepare this dish before, it tastes awesome with 'ikan masin' and hot rice. Emm, I'm drooling right now.

Next to Sarawak food stall, the Japan food stall from Tottori is waiting for customers. The famous dish, Sushi is not at here because there's sushi restaurant at Plaza Merdeka. Basically, Japanese food is blending so well for Malaysian society and I craved Sushi like hell. But there's other food that I loved too such as Okonomiyaki, the Japanese-style pizza or Takoyaki (Japanese snack round ball with octopus pieces). At here, they decided to promote other Japanese foods such as Yakitori (japanese style satay chicken), Kushi Katsu (crumbed chicken on skewer), Mitarashi Dango (rice cake ball on skewer) and Karaage (japanese style fried chicken). Just saying, they tried to sell their foods that fit with local tongues- skewer food, fried chicken and satay. But I'm a local tongue with international appetite. Osaka-Okonomiyaki (no pork), please come here next time.

Now, we moved further. Jilin, China decided to promote four dishes during EatOf and there's a food that attracts my attention. Look at the poster carefully (zoom it if you want), the first dish is Gou Bao Rou (sweet and sour chicken/fish). I loved sweet and sour fish, to think about that makes me hungry. The second dish is Manchu Yan Rou Chuan (Manchu lamb skewer). Basically, the roasted lamb tastes tenderly mouthwatering but I never try the Manchu recipe. I bet it's really good. The third dish is Char Yek Dan (Tealeaf eggs). It looks tasty and scary at the same time but the black egg with the smell of ammonia looks tasty and scary too. But I loved that black egg so, nothing's wrong with scary foods. The last dish, Di San Xian (assorted vegetables Jilin Style) is something that attracts vege-people. People should try it, Go Vegetables!

Next to Japan food stall, there's Vietnam delicacies. Oyster shells would attract anybody to come near, including me. According to TLC channel, Vietnamese loved vegetables and spicy condiments. Yesterday, I saw those two on the table and they were busy preparing foods at the back. The first food that being promoted is Doi Cuon or Goi Cuon (suddenly I forgot the spelling but I'm sure it's a Vietnamese style salad roll). The next dish is Tom Nin, the Vietnamese spicy tomyam. The third dish is Bun Tom, the dish that makes me mouthwatering because it's a Vietnamese BBQ shrimp vermicelli. I'm talking about shrimp, everyone. Isn't that tasty? The last dish is, quite a twisted name for a dish. Mua Cham Nuoc Mam is actually a dipping sauce, mixed with fish sauce and served together with variety of veges such as cucumber or salad. This dish is kinda familiar with local tongues. I loved eating 'pucuk gajus' or 'bendi rebus' or 'kacang botol' with 'sambal belacan' mixed with 'bubuk udang'. It sounds similar, right?

Close to China food stall, there's Indonesia food stall. With Yogyakarta local cuisine, the element of Javanese is there. Taking chances while the worker is bustling at the back, I recognized some good foods. If you have a good experience with Sinetron, you would able to identify Gudeg, the Yogya signature dish made from young unripe jackfruit. This is the most popular food from Yogya and traditional Javanese cuisine. The next is Nasi Kuning (Yogya Yellow Rice). I saw on TV that this food is symbolized of their mountain and basically the dish is a common food in Malaysia during wedding ceremony or other traditional ceremony. The third dish is Ayam Kremes, the crunchy finger licking gorgeous of Indonesian style fried chicken. No more KFC for them, I believed. The last dish is Perkedel, or Bergedil/Bergedel in Malaysia. Same food with different name, this potato dish is widely famous and it tastes flavoursome with minced meat or corned beef, bit of onion, bit of coriander and most important is, mushy potato. Oh, it reminds me with RM2 Bergedel during my campus life. So big, so yummy.

Now, it's time for Running Man famous food. For those who watch Running Man viciously, you know that Gangwon brought foods that able to attract RM fans at Sarawak. At South Korea food stall, Gimbap, the riceweed roll is common food in the Kpop country because it consist of rice, seaweed, cucumber, carrot and crab meat. I did taste it once, it is delicious. The next food is Tteokbukki, the spicy rice cake. I saw Jonghyun (member of Shinee) eat this during Hello Baby! Shinee show. I was drooling at the moment. The third dish is Kimchi, the preserved spicy cabbage, similar like 'jeruk kobis' in Malaysia. Kimchi is a traditional cuisine, a 'must' food to ignites the appetite and also a signature dish of South Korea. I saw Kimchi many-many times in all Korean TV shows. The last dish is Dakkgalbi, the stir frying marinated dice chicken with gochujang (chili pepper paste). Looking at the poster already make me hungry but poor me, this food stall was not open yet. The table was empty. All I can see is No Pork! Korean food. I wonder, where is Bulgogi?

Walking too much around the food area seems too dangerous for me to handle. I was shaken from top to the bottom. EatOf Food Fair, at the end I stepped out from the booth and looking for the fresh air to breathe. No more sizzling sound, no more smokey smell, no more tasty toothsome. Before that, I stood in front of the Jilin food stall. After roaming here and there, I began to realized the beautiful ceramic plates, teapot, vases and small water jar from China. This thing looks delicious as well, maybe the power of red triggers the eating desire.

Well, this is how the story goes. Foods, culture and art- it come together as a match set. It would be difficult to wait another year or another time, so, wake up your Sunday at EatOf Food Fair. Food is calling~

@themagi2014

O-haa! Regatta Kuching

People come from everywhere, during
Regatta activities in 60s. The differences
were so nostalgic and luminious.
(credits: KuchingProsper 2009)

Regatta Kuching is back, again! Every year, Regatta Kuching becomes a culture, the icon of Sarawak festival. The spirit of long boat, dragon boat, all kinds of boats that being used before never failed to summon people all over Sarawak to come and frying themselves over the heat of sun. And that was what I did during Saturday morning.

Since this year is the year of VMY (Visit Malaysia Year) suddenly collided with few tragedies that we never thought before, the responsibilities to ignite the tourism attraction must go on. Back to Brooke's time, Rajah was so happy and so he promoted it to his English buddies. To make everything more hectic and interesting, he prepared good rewards and send his ships to join the competition. It was a very good old days between we, and colonials. I don't think that I have to explain the whole history inside here. The things I can say is:

"Because I come from the land of cats,

Certain people out there seem to think,

I am expert about the boat paddling,

So I don't want to severe their think,

Or disappoint their culture vulture

I just smile as cool as as a breeze

But let we get down to business,

Tell me what do you want to know,

How this boat paddling began?

What is the beautiful boat I ever see?

What makes it so special?

Don't expect me to be brief,

Cause boat paddling history

is a long-long story"

(Uh, I got really-really absorb with John Agard's poetry. I'll talk about it in some other time)

And now, never missed the scene, I came to Kuching Waterfront with my low cost camera (obviously, just my phonecam), although I felt kinda inferior with others with supershot-powerful-expensive and 'lemang' lenses, I walked out under the sun and jumped into the ocean of people. I mean really, so many people, don't know where they come. There were few activities before long boat competition begin such swimming across Sungai Sarawak and catching 'itik', so many 'itik' and I began to think about roasted duck in the afternoon. Besides, I also roaming around Eatof Ceremony (I will talk about that later, not related in here), so, I got some pictures to show. It might be not so pretty and stylish like others but I do a bit of editing so it won't look too ugly.

O-haa! Regatta is coming! Set up your boat, buckle up your shoes and muscle up your body! It's time to paddle UP!

Early in the morning, I walked around the kayak base,
it was the old Pasar Ceko and look it now, the view of
kampongs are magnificent and these kayaks are
ready to cut the river.

The 'kayakers' are practicing, before swelling their
whole muscle, paddling over the river. I've heard that
they started at Pengkalan Abok. 

The grandpa and the grandson, they stand next to me.
The grandpa thought that his head disturb my view.
But actually, I was planned to catch his reaction
silently. So I was failed in this mission.

Oh, the dragon boat. I was born in dragon year, so
I'm kinda fond with the dragon things. The members
are waiting their turn to compete. It must be a great
experience for them.

Caught few groups that joined the international
categories. The yellow shirt from Brunei (obviously
the colour of the King) and the red shirt is probably
from Taiwan. I'm not very sure but I am sure they're
not from Singapore. When I go there, the Singapore's
site is empty, I don't know where they go.

The white group is ready to jumped inside the dragon boat.
They are already wearing their safety jacket. As far as I remembered,
the MC did say about the other countries participated in competition
such as Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Australia,
Kanada, Macau, Taiwan, and HK.

This people just the small portion of visitors.
There are so many people along the waterfront.
People standing, people walking, people sitting,
people squatting. All I can see is the evolution
of human race, and boat race.

Told you before, this two men with machine
photo capture. With tripod, with lenses and all
kinds of photography gadgets and anecdotes.
They are part of the dragon boat committees.

And that was the time, the boat paddlers from
other countries prepared to test some energy inside
their dragon boat. The heat was killing me at the moment.
I am very sure that they also got tormented, more than I feel.

The last picture I manage to catch before it blows up
and gone with a wind. This victory moment among local
paddlers that joined the long-boat competition. There's a
slight hassle that happened after that but everything is okay.
It is just a normal adrenaline rush.

I guess, this is quite enough time and space for me to babble about Regatta. Other writers will add up later, just search that on Google. Whatever it is, let the spirit of Regatta with us. O-haa!

@themagi2014

Trip to Asajaya

Hari Isnin, 1 September 2014. Selepas hari 31 Ogos yang jatuh pada hari Ahad, hari Isnin hari yang santai untuk berjalan-jalan. Jadi, aku dan parent pun keluar seawal jam 8 pagi dari Kuching ke Asajaya. Yang peliknya, kenapa Asajaya jadi tempat pilihan? Sebenarnya, mak aku mengidam siang dan malam nakkan tempayan antik. Maka sebab itulah kami bertiga ke sana, semata-mata disebabkan tempayan.

Bertolak jam 8 pagi dan sampai di Asajaya pada pukul 9:30 pagi (guna jalan darat sepenuhnya), ada bermacam-macam benda yang aku lihat sepanjang perjalanan. 

Sedikit info pasal Asajaya>>

Papan tanda ke
Asajaya(ke kanan)dan
khidmat feri (ke kiri)

Dahulu, kawasan ini dikenali sebagai kampung Nonok, perkampungan orang Melayu yang juga dihuni oleh masyarakat Cina dan Iban.  Kawasan Asajaya berkeluasan 443 kaki persegi dan populasi penduduk berjumlah 32,000 orang. Kebanyakan orang Melayu berasal dari Saribas iaitu dari kawasan Serembang dan penduduk di sini mempunyai rentak bahasa yang berbeza dari penduduk di Kuching. Pada 1988, nama Kampung Nonok ditukar menjadi Asajaya disebabkan maksud nama 'Nonok' merujuk kepada alat sulit perempuan. Asajaya terkenal dengan Pesta Ambal, sejenis siput buluh yang enak dimasak lemak atau sambal dan kemudian Ambal dijadikan sebagai simbol Asajaya. Namun, simbol Ambal ditukar menjadi kelapa memandangkan bentuk Ambal menyerupai seperti alat sulit lelaki. Pada sekitar 80-an, tiada jalan darat yang menghubungkan Kuching ke Asajaya dan semuanya bergantung pada khidmat kapal dan feri. Naik taraf jalan bermula pada 1990 dan kini, jalan darat menjadi pilihan pengguna jalan raya selain dari khidmat feri.

Pasar berdekatan dengan Batang
Samarahan

Bagi pengunjung yang sukakan pemandangan hijau dan segar, perjalanan ke Asajaya sangat menarik. Di kiri dan kanan jalan dipenuhi dengan pokok-pokok rambutan, jagung, kelapa tinggi melangit, kebun sayur, padi huma, gerai-gerai yang menjual buah-buahan seperti nanas, cempedak, terap dan segala jenis buah-buahan tempatan bermusim, telur itik masin, biskut tradisional seperti kuyak, bahulu dan sebagainya. Sayur tempatan seperti midin dan rebung juga dijual dengan harga yang lebih murah. Harga udang dan ketam juga jauh lebih murah berbanding di Kuching dan tempayan-tempayan antik untuk hiasan rumah juga boleh dilihat di luar rumah penduduk. 

Jambatan Batang Samarahan

Dari Kuching ke Asajaya, perjalanan bermula dari simpang masuk UiTM Samarahan dan melalui banyak perkampungan Melayu dan beberapa batang sungai yang dihubungkan dengan jambatan. Aku sempat catatkan nama-nama sungai yang kami lalui sebelum tiba ke Asajaya,

1. Sg. Meranek

2. Sg. Empila

3. Batang Samarahan

4. Sadong Canal

5. Sg. Mata

6. Sg. Semawang

7. Sg. Sui

8. Sg. Sabang

9. Moyan Canal

10. Sg. Serpan

11. Asajaya Canal

Kumbang mengawan
di sebalik daun bebuas/
daun singkil

Bunga pokok cepak

Asajaya yang masih dilitupi dengan kesegaran alam sekitar dan tumbuhan hijau sesuai bagi penggemar bidang fotografi. Ada banyak tumbuhan, serangga, haiwan dan juga seni bina rumah lama yang menarik untuk dijadikan subjek. Terdapat tumbuhan yang kini jarang dilihat di sekitar Kuching seperti tumbuhan menjalar yang dikenali sebagai 'cepak'. Buah cepak ditutupi oleh bebulu jaring yang halus dan apabila buah cepak menguning, isinya boleh dimakan dan rasanya manis. Buah cepak tidak dijual di mana-mana, melainkan anda masuk ke dalam celah semak dan kutip sendiri. Sekitar tahun 80-90an, buah cepak sangat mudah didapati di tepi jalan di bandaraya Kuching. Tapi sekarang, buah cepak agak sukar untuk diperolehi memandangkan banyak kawasan Kuching telah dimajukan menjadi pusat komersil dan sebagainya.

Burung 'CCTV' yang
 berusia lebih sedekad

Tempayan antik
dari Asajaya

Sebaik saja sampai di Asajaya, niat nak mendapatkan tempayan diteruskan. Aku dan parent singgah di rumah mak cik yang tinggal di Asajaya. Suaminya bekerja sebagai penangkap ketam dan udang. Ketam yang ditangkap biasanya menggunakan jaring perangkap bulat manakala udang pula ditangkap menggunakan tangan sahaja dan teknik itu dikenali sebagai 'menyepa' atau 'sepa' udang. Hasil yang diperolehi hanya menggunakan tangan boleh mencecah 100kg. Aku tertarik dengan burung bacang/merpati yang mereka jaga sebab sangat gemuk dan sangat jinak, fungsi burung ni dah macam CCTV sebab setiap kali orang lalu burung ni buat bising. Ayam belaan mereka juga tak ada rumah reban tapi tak pernah lari dari tuan dan semuanya tidur atas pokok cermai yang berbuah lebat.

Dan sebelum pulang semula ke Kuching, apa yang mak aku idamkan akhirnya menjadi kenyataan. Dua bijik tempayan antik yang entah tahun bila agaknya dibawa pulang dan seekor ayam kampung paruh hitam yang gemuk dan menyelerakan diberi secara percuma. Mak cik aku memang terr-boek~

@themagi2014

ruj.info: 

theborneopost.com/indecent tale of Asajaya

Wikipedia/Asajaya

Kraftangan Malaysia 2014

Selamat hari Sabtu, Happy Saturday. Dah lama rasanya tak update entri pasal event di Sarawak. Niat asal nak beli barang, sempat pulak menyinggah ke Kuching Waterfront. Semalam, pameran dan jualan Kraftangan Malaysia 2014 bermula dan bermacam-macam jenis produk seni boleh dibeli, ditengok, dijadikan inspirasi dan dipegang (tapi kalau pecah consider sold la~)

Aktiviti Kraftangan Malaysia kali ini berlangsung dari 29 Ogos sampai 7 September, kalau tak tersilap tengok banner. Terlalu banyak benda yang menarik perhatian (seramik, bakul anyam, seni batik, parang, manik, siput et cetera), sampaikan aku berebut nak amek gambar seni seramik dengan salah seorang urusetia yang terliba. Dan sebelum sampai ke booth kraftangan, aku tetiba jadi pedestrian model by foreigners di India Street. Btw, tak sia-sia aku datang ke sini, aku dapat idea yang baik untuk artwork akan datang. Sekarang, masa untuk berseni-seni. Ideas, come to me...~

Sedikit gambar dari khemah Kraftangan Malaysia di Kuching Waterfront.

Seni seramik pasal ibu dan anak. Aku tertarik betul dengan
kraftangan ni. Penggunaan warna yang menarik. Ada banyak
lagi produk seramik yang menarik di gerai ni seperti
bunga raflesia, burung kenyalang dan motif-motif flora dan
fauna.

Loket yang kreatif, diperbuat dari kaca kalau tak silap aku.
Tapi masa aku pegang satu, benda ni tak berat. Semua
loket di atas semuanya ready for sale.

Baruk mini, rumah tradisi bagi masyarakat Bidayuh dalam
saiz yang lebih, lebih, lebihhh...kecil. Aku tak perasan
berapa harga benda ni tapi dari jauh aku nampak baruk mini
ni di khemah belakang.

Sekarang, batik dalam saiz yang kecik, sesuai
untuk dijadikan hiasan dinding. Aku sempat
pegang masa lalu di kedai tu petang tadi,
batik-batik tu dilukis atas kain kanvas.

Jangan sangka kayu buruk tak berguna. Kayu ni
bertukar jadi tempat duduk dengan ukiran timbul cello.
Produk kerja kayu ni dari Manly Ironwood Kraf Enterprise
(Kpg. Stunggang Dayak, Lundu). 

Selain dari baruk mini, perahu tambang pun dah
bertukar saiz. Ada banyak lagi jenis perahu mini yang
dijual. Harga produk dalam lingkungan RM35 dan ke atas.

Salah satu gerai yang menjual parang iban dan orang ulu.
Terdapat produk yang disertakan dengan bulu khinzir jadi
bagi yang Muslim, sila tanya dulu sebelum pegang.

Antara parang yang paling cantik dan kreatif- parang naga.
Bentuk bilah parang sangat menarik dan apa yang
paling best, harga parang ni sekitar RM1000+. Tak mampu
nak beli jadi ambil gambar je la.

Yang ini parang orang ulu. Bersebelahan dengan parang iban.
Kata anak tauke yang jaga gerai tu, bulu yang terjurai  dari hulu
parang tu bulu kambing, hulu diperbuat dari tanduk rusa dan sarung
diperbuat dari kayu tapang. Parang ni dijual dengan harga RM650.

Hiasan manik dengan motif orang ulu. Ramai pelancong
di gerai ni. Tarikan produk ni terletak pada warna kuning.

Produl bakul anyam dari Catherine Handicraft. Gerai bakul
ni terletak di depan sekali, tak jauh dari produk Manly Ironwood.
Ini gerai pertama yang aku singgah. Dulang air yang dijual di
gerai ni memang cantik.

Koleksi parang yang pelbagai bentuk dan rupa.
Gerai ni pun terletak di bahagian depan khemah.

Antara produk yang sangat comel, siput-siput dari Sematan,
Sarawak. Ramai yang datang singgah, harga produk pun
sangat berpatutan. Boleh dibeli untuk souvenir rakan-rakan.

Koleksi yang banyak di khemah kraftangan ialah batik, ada banyak jenis gerai yang menjual batik (Nordin Batik, Puncak Alam Batik, Aminah Batik-aku dengar dari pihak urusetia) dan banyak lagi. Dari kasut, beg tangan, dompet, baju, jubah, tudung, penghias dinding dan sebagainya, semuanya bertemakan batik. Akhirnya, aku tak beli apa-apapun, aku cuma cuci mata je hari ni..hahaha~

@themagi2014