Borneo Jazz Photos uploaded

The photos taken by me during the first day of Borneo Jazz public performance on 11-May-2012, Friday, is now on my facebook. Please click here to see all.

Borneo Jazz 2012 Day 1

10-May-2012: The Borneo Jazz event started off today with tree planting at Curtin University, Miri. Later in the evening, all the invited guests and VIPs were treated to a dinner and performance by our native friends and performance by the Dutch group.

All the pictures can be viewed here

Front cover photo

If you go to Eastwood Golf and Country Club, you will notice a beautiful company booklet. Do you know that the cover and inside cover photos were taken by me?

This is the cover photo.

This is the inside cover photo.
You may have guessed it correctly that the top photo was taken using my medium format digital Hasselblad. Notice the rich soothing colour.

Meritz Hotel, Miri

A landmark new hotel, the Meritz Hotel, was opened for business on 15th March 2012. The main attractions of this hotel:

1. Dinning is at the 15th floor which gave the guest a splendid view of Miri.
2. Atrium area (I think there is one atrium area every 3 floor) is provided which span three floors. This provide the guest an area to rest or simply to enjoy themselves.
3. Swimming pool is on the 8th floor.
4. The check-in area is very specious and directly linked to Parkson.
5. Special offer of RM160 nett per room including breakfast for two until October.
6. 291 rooms
I think it has the largest air conditioned indoor ballroom in Miri which can accommodate 2000.

This hotel is fully booked on opening!

For more photos, click here.

Air Asia Largest airport in Sarawak

I am now sipping Starbucks coffee at the Kuching International airport and trying to figure out whether to continue...

... eating this blueberry cake with fork and knife or use my fingers! I dropped big chunks everywhere with fork and knife! Ok, you may say that I don't know how to use this thing, but never mind... This is not my topic today!
As I arrived at the airport this morning, I thought I got to the wrong airport! The whole airport ...

... looks like an Air Asia airport with its signature red coloured logo, etc, everywhere! Not just on the outside, but ...

... also the inside!

Their counters are brightly lit up and with lots of travellers!

On the MAS side, it was dark and only partially lit up!

The MAS side seems to be so deserted with passengers just walking pass it!
This airport is also poorly lit up and strangely, they are using yellow light!
... ok, have to dash off to my turboprop airplane - will travel to Miri via Mulu! That is the extra tour I got for paying cheap rate.

Win an IPAD 2 ...

Our government spent RM1,800,000 for us to play game on fb and even give a chance to win an IPAD 2. Click here for your chance to win. The contest closes on 18 July 2011!

One thing that keep me wondering... why on earth did the tourism board called it Cuti Cuti 1Malaysia?! No foreigner would ever search for CUTI Cuti or 1Malaysia. These are local jargon and foreigner won't know. So, it doesn't help the foreigner to find us. This is really a tourism promotion for the local market! If the tourism board had included the word Malaysia (which they do but doesn't seems to help), FB would have easily found it for anyone! Is this a case of over creativity? Whatever, go to play the game and maybe you will win!
Read my other article on the RM1.2+M overhead bridge which can be done at a fraction of the cost.

Borneo Jazz 13 May 11 @ Parkcity Everly

As a member of the media team, we were being fed with quite a lot of information which is useful for publication. However, I will just feed you with photos.
For the media team, last night event started with a cocktail party at Marriott Resort and Spa.

Marriott hotel had kindly hosted the event... on the left is Marcel Hinderer, GM

First performance by SIU2 – China. A very nice performance with a combination of Eastern and western musical instrument.

Kate Ann Welsman - a top Australian DJ!

Cunha E Piper – Brazil/Australia features contemporary and traditional compositions. Listen to their pieces will definitely sooth your spirit!

John Hammond, USA - voted as one of the top ten blues artist in the world. His pieces were soooo very good and you know why? He always serve tradition by pouring his heart and soul into full-bodied interpretations of the classics through the simple combination of brilliant guitar, rack harmonica, and intensely expressive vocals!

Les Doigts De L’Homme – France

Les Doigts De L’Homme – France. Their Bio:  Explosive, eclectic, and unexpected, Les Doigts de L’Homme, takes gypsy jazz further than ever before. Infusing this exciting up-tempo music with elements of swing, rock, and even punk, they are pure energy in human form. Their show is dynamic, comedic, passionate and always captivating. They meld gypsy jazz standards and their own compositions with influences of Balkan and rock, all with a close eye on the details. Les Doigts de L’Homme combine excellent musicianship, innovative creatively, and powerful showmanship, to move this popular genre into a new direction – reaching beyond the limits into a refreshing new sound. Les Doigts de L’Homme is unmistakable authentic with explosive energy perfectly mastered.
I can't disagree with their bio!
Tonight is the last night at ParkCity. You will get to see:

7.00 – 8.00 pmVictor Yong & the Electric Carnival Band – Malaysia Canada
8.15 – 9.15 pm Yuichiro Tokuda’s Ralyzz Dig – Japan
9.30 – 10.30 pm State of Monc – Holland
10.45 – 11.45 pm Maria Muldaur – USA
11.45 pm – end FINALE – all musicians

If you are still undecided, just go. The entry ticket is worth every cent of your investment! Make sure you bring some spare money to treat yourself to some of the food offered on site!

To see all my photos, click here and here.
For more infromation about the performers, click here.

Borneo Jazz at Marina Bay Restaurant

12 May 2011: The opening Borneo Jazz 2011 was at ...

... Marina Bay Restaurant.

Performances by the local with local instrument.

... Then the pro! CQuence from Malaysia

Dhruv from India.

This group is good and kept everyone entertained!
Tomorrow (Friday) will be back to Parkcity Everly Hotel. For the programme, click here.
If you are undecided whether to go or not to go, I would say... go go go!
For all the photos taken today, click here.

Borneo Jazz 2011 Press conference & Tree Planting

Yesterday, I attended the first press conference for Borneo Jazz 2011. CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, Dato' Rashid Khan gave a presentation. Also at the conference was Project manager, Ms Pauline Lim; Project Director, Angeline.

CEO gave a briefing about Borneo Jazz 2011. Reason for the re-branding.

It is now a four-day event!

Altogether, 10 bands will be here to entertain us.

During the briefing, CEO Dato' Rashid and project director, Pauline.

A group photo from the media group.
This morning there was a tree planting event at Curtin University...

Speech by Vice Chancellor, Alister

Exchange of gift.

Tree planting.

We were all treated to a "makan".

Actually, it was a sumptuous meal!

Ticket to the event... have you bought yours yet? If not, why not quickly go online or proceed to Parkcity Everly Hotel. You will be entertained! Go go go...
For online ticket, click here.
For information, click here.
To see the rest of my photos taken yesterday and this morning, click here.

Borneo Jazz 2011 preparation

Once again, Miri is hosting the Borneo Jazz 2011. This year, it will be held at three different venues ...

 Marina (12 May 2011 8:00PM)

Parkcity Everly Hotel (13-14 May)

Eastwood (15 Lunch time)

This morning, the audio video were very busy...

... fixing up equipment. They were from Kuching.

The tents were up as well.

See the load of equipment brought in!

While visiting Miri, don't forget to visit all the nice eatery places. Today, I just wanted to introduce Pete's DELi. They have been in business since 1992. They were located just outside the hotel along the main road, second row from the hotel.

They serve lots of nice home made western food. The price is reasonable and affordable.

Chef's recommendation - chicken pie, RM10. No MSG added!

More photos click here.

Borneo Jazz 2011

This year, Borneo Jazz will be held from 12-15 May, ie, in two days time! Have you bought the ticket? There will be some big stars coming all the way to Miri to perform!

I will be one of the three official bloggers to cover the event. So, get ready for photos from me on my blog and facebook.

To find out more, click here.

KLCC

I took the following photos of KLCC during my last trip there...
I stood close to the entrance and pointed my camera vertically upward. The sky was clear and blue and reflected on the glass and steel building. Time: 7:40PM ISO: 1000 1/60s f/2.8
... another view of the twin tower.
As I was on the top floor of the shopping center, I saw the twin tower and bridge clearly visible ...
... inside the shopping mall.
Going to the back entrance facing the lake, there was this musical fountain.
Time 9:06PM ISO:2000 f/2.8 1/8s 35mm.