Today is All Souls Day.
My thoughts and prayers are with my late mother-in-law, my cousin Gabriel, Melinda's dad, the late Pope John Paul and all those whom I know and love but have departed and I do not know about.
To know more about this Catholic Day of Obligation, please visit http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0199.html
Thursday, November 02, 2006
WANTED: Paranormals of Kuching'
Dear Readers Based (or From) in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia,
I am collating stories of ghosts (fiction, non-fiction, unexplained, yet-to-be-demystify) which happens in and around Kuching.
No need to send pictures or videos... because you nasty ones would probably send me a 'diseased' file. So stories in the form of .txt, .rtf or .doc are the ones which will be accepted. HOWEVER, please also indicate if you have proff - photos, videos etc and if I really like your story, I will get in touch with you with regards to viewing these images.
Why I want them? Because I would like to publish my own 'Paranormals of Kuching' (that's the working title) book.
Please note that the appearance of your submission will be at the discretion of the author (that's me!).
Send your stories to paulina[d0t]michael[at]gmail[dot]com.
Looking forward to your submissions.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Why Kuching (that's the city where I live...) Have Many Cats
Story no. 1:
James Brooke arrived in Sarawak in 1839, hailed a friendly local and asked the name of the nearby township on the river. The local, thinking that he was pointing to a cat prowling nearby said “Kucing” or ‘cat’ in Malay.
Story No. 2:
James Brooke (first White Rajah of Sarawak) referred to the town as 'Kuchin' similarly referred to Cochin or Port as in India.
Story No. 3:
The township in Brooke’s era was overgrown with a large local fruit tree call “pokok mata kucing” (nepphelium malaiense), a varietys of local Lychee fruit. Brooke named the township thus when he came across the trees and made it his first resting place, sitting under the shady tree.
James Brooke arrived in Sarawak in 1839, hailed a friendly local and asked the name of the nearby township on the river. The local, thinking that he was pointing to a cat prowling nearby said “Kucing” or ‘cat’ in Malay.
Story No. 2:
James Brooke (first White Rajah of Sarawak) referred to the town as 'Kuchin' similarly referred to Cochin or Port as in India.
Story No. 3:
The township in Brooke’s era was overgrown with a large local fruit tree call “pokok mata kucing” (nepphelium malaiense), a varietys of local Lychee fruit. Brooke named the township thus when he came across the trees and made it his first resting place, sitting under the shady tree.
This is the main cat statue in the centre of town. It is located on the fountained-roundabaout of Jalan Tunku Abd Rahman/Padungan.
The city also have a Cat Museum.
This statue is actually the boundary indicator for the Kuching City South Council. This is on one end of Jalan Padungan.
At the other end of Jalan Padungan, there is another statue of a cat. This is the hippest cat in town because every festive season, he/she will be dressed for the occassion. Here, he/she is dressed in a Chinese attire.
These felines are found on the garden/park at Waterfront.
Alternately, this is the fruit which is also in the midst of this name-sake argument.
And this is Dido, my mom's cat with whom she have a love/hate relationship.
Monday, October 30, 2006
A Neighbourhood Park Built for a Foreigner
I am fortunate enough to live in a neighbourhood where its developer is mindful to the social/recreational needs of its residence. The neighborhood I am in – the greater Tabuan Heights area- have ample mini parks where families and friends can gather and socialize in the evenings and weekends.
One of this is the Malaysia-China Friendship Park (Taman Sahabat) at Phase 3 of Tabuan Heights. The park is just a hop, skip and jump away from the cul-e-sac where I live. For Kuchingnites, the park is along Jalan Song, directly opposite the Tabuan Heights Commercial Centre (think Pizza Hut, Fujisan Bakery and 7-Eleven!).
The park is managed by the Kuching City South Concil and was built at a cost of about RM10mil. If you ask me, that is a whole lot of money spent on a piece of land.
Anyway, the park was built in commemoration of Admiral Zheng He’s 600th anniversary (boy! Is he old). The Malaysia-China Friendship Park was created to signify political ties between the two governments. At 5.88-acres, the project was undertaken in collaboration with the Council Office of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching.
This is the main entrance to the park. 
One of the two marble seats at the main entrance which depicts animals found in Malaysia and China. My daughter thought it was cute!
These marble plaques surrounds a small fountain. There are 14 - to depict the 13 states and one Federal Territory in Malaysia.
Kuching (which means 'cat' in Malay) is famous for its cat statue and the park is not to be left out. These hugging cats is situated at the car park space on the main entry way. Mind you, these statues are actually about 5' tall.
One of the buildings in the park is this pagoda, strategically situated along the long, windy walkway that encircles the park. 
The statue of Admiral Zheng He that stands about 3 stories high.
At night, the park is well lit.
The statue from the other end of the Koi pond.
This is the Tea Pavillion, taken from where the statue stands. The fountain goes on/off are specific time, of which I am yet to find out. The Koi pond is...full of kois!
The pavillion at night, taken from where the pagoda is situated. Light food items are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The main entrance is situated next to the Tea Pavillion. These is where the Tai-Chi and joggers congregate every morning and evening.
One of this is the Malaysia-China Friendship Park (Taman Sahabat) at Phase 3 of Tabuan Heights. The park is just a hop, skip and jump away from the cul-e-sac where I live. For Kuchingnites, the park is along Jalan Song, directly opposite the Tabuan Heights Commercial Centre (think Pizza Hut, Fujisan Bakery and 7-Eleven!).
The park is managed by the Kuching City South Concil and was built at a cost of about RM10mil. If you ask me, that is a whole lot of money spent on a piece of land.
Anyway, the park was built in commemoration of Admiral Zheng He’s 600th anniversary (boy! Is he old). The Malaysia-China Friendship Park was created to signify political ties between the two governments. At 5.88-acres, the project was undertaken in collaboration with the Council Office of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching.
Among is features are a unity garden, a rock garden (a good way for free foot-reflexology), a pagoda, pavilions, paved walkways, cat sculptures and a bridge.
This is the main entrance to the park. 
One of the two marble seats at the main entrance which depicts animals found in Malaysia and China. My daughter thought it was cute!
These marble plaques surrounds a small fountain. There are 14 - to depict the 13 states and one Federal Territory in Malaysia.
Kuching (which means 'cat' in Malay) is famous for its cat statue and the park is not to be left out. These hugging cats is situated at the car park space on the main entry way. Mind you, these statues are actually about 5' tall.
One of the buildings in the park is this pagoda, strategically situated along the long, windy walkway that encircles the park. 
The statue of Admiral Zheng He that stands about 3 stories high.
At night, the park is well lit.
The statue from the other end of the Koi pond.
This is the Tea Pavillion, taken from where the statue stands. The fountain goes on/off are specific time, of which I am yet to find out. The Koi pond is...full of kois!
The pavillion at night, taken from where the pagoda is situated. Light food items are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The main entrance is situated next to the Tea Pavillion. These is where the Tai-Chi and joggers congregate every morning and evening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
