A WOMAN’S DIARY

Enjoy your life today because yesterday had gone and tomorrow may never come, so live life to the fullest.

I is Writer’s Block Now!

I know I have few pending blog post about Borneo Jazz 2012 events.

Your patient in this is highly appreciated. Have mercy on me please as lately I’ve been  struggling managing my time between my work, my studies, my love and my hobbies.

It is said good stuff worthwhile to wait so at the mean time, feel free to experience my fellow bloggers team mate adventures covering the event;

ABANG DAIZRULIZAM
Twitter: @adjaymagic
Website: http://adjaymagicoftheday.blogspot.com/

RAIHANAH
Twitter: @reyanna13
Website: http://reyyanna.blogspot.com/

FATIMAH
Twitter: @orend3vil89
Website: http://orend3vil89.blogspot.com/

WILLIAM TING
Twitter: williamting99
Website: http://williamtingcl.blogspot.com/

MARGRET
Twitter: @mcdrewnis
Website: http://marg.wordpress.com/

Borneo Jazz 2012 Press Conference

As usual, the following day after the concert, a press conference will be held for the media. This morning, I was late attending the press conference (something that I’m not proud of) and lucky enough other Sarawak Bloggers team member, Miss Marg and Reyanna get to cover the part that I missed.

The press conference were attended by F.V.E Project (Malaysia), Nita Aartsen (Indonesia), New Cool Collective (Netherlands) and Schalk Joubert 3 Continents Sextet (South Africa, USA, Norway, Sweden).

I let the pictures tells the story.

To those who are yet to experience Borneo Jazz 2012, I encourage you all to come early today as Miri renowned Chung Hua Miri Marching Band will kick off the festival with its world class performance. Come on guys especially to Mirians, where on earth can you get such entertainment when it is just at your own backyard? So, come out, come out and have fun!

So, come early today! There’s plenty of food and drinks made available so no worries on those stuff. Bring along mat, towels or even small pillows as you can just lay it on the ground while enjoying the live music performance.

Let’s chill under the stars, by the beach side tonight!!
I see you all tonight and don’t forget to say hi when you get to see me around. ;)

Borneo Jazz 2012 Opening Concert

In Dato Rashid Khan’s note to the Media, Borneo Jazz is a signature tourism event hence putting Miri the northern region of Sarawak into the spotlight. The event itself along with the Rainforest World Music Festival has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Last night, Borneo Jazz kicks off with an opening concert and dinner to invited guest, sponsors and also to the media.

Sarawakians are well known for its warm hospitality and rich in its culture and heritage. Last night, the guest was welcomed in a traditional Sarawakian style. The silent of the evening was filled up with live sape performance followed by Orang Ulu warriors dance performance. Later some young Orang Ulu maiden dances gracefully swinging their hands covered with hornbill feathers left and right, swaying their body gently in tune with the live sape beats. What a lovely sight to witness. J

While our eyes were feasted with such great performances, not only we get to enjoy the food but also get to mingle and building new network with the other guest.

For the opening concert, Schalk Joubert’s (Cape Town born, Award Winning Producer, Arranger and Performer) and the Three Continents Sextet entertained the guest with their music of sophisticated mix of western and South African jazz. The uniqueness of this group is that they are from South Africa, Scandinavia and the USA; of which the 3 huge jazz hubs in the world.

For the record, the jazz festival tickets are on sale and are available at ParkCity Everly Hotel reception counter. I see you there, tonight. J

Note: Picture credits goes to William Ting (except those with A Woman’s Diary’s watermark).

Borneo Jazz 2012 Media Briefing

As usual, a media briefing session was held for international and local media representative at its official accommodation premise-ParkCity Everly Hotel. This year, Sarawak Tourism Board is very generous by granting 5 media passes to Sarawak Bloggers. Thanks a heap STB! J

Once again, I was given the responsibility to shortlist qualified bloggers and coordinate the Sarawak Bloggers team. This year, among the 5 Sarawak Bloggers team, I get/will to meet new blogger faces : Miss Oren and Miss Marg. The team gets to mingle with the international and local media representative while registering ourselves and collected our goodies bag. The team were been introduced to the organizer as well.

The simple yet informative media briefing session was emceed by Gustino. In the media briefing session, the media group was being introduced to the key players behind the international recognized event and the floor was also opened for Q & A session.

As there is an official photographer appointed, the media group is given the permission to use the taken photos throughout the 2 days event (yeahhhhh - of course, blogging ethics applies). His name is Pein Lee and I promised I’ll ‘camwhore’ with him soon (he’s always on the move ;p ).

Anyhoo, after the media briefing session ends; we were invited to attend the Opening of Borneo Jazz Concert (aka Launching Ceremony) with dinner. What can I say, it is indeed such a bliss to cover an event under a Media tag. J

Note: Picture credits goes to Sarawak Bloggers William Ting (except those with A Woman’s Diary’s watermark).

Borneo Jazz 2012 Tree Planting Ceremony

Last year, it was held at my campus and this year the ceremony is being jointly organised by Curtin Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).

In the simple ceremony, Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO, Dato Rashid Khan said, “The Greening Project we have undertaken with Curtin Sarawak today represents the opportunity for all of us to come together as one and to cultivate especially amongst the youth of Sarawak that Borneo’s greenery is one of its precious national treasures and the tree planting that we are carrying out today goes some way to balancing the carbon footprint from Borneo Jazz”.

Later, after delivering the speech, we were invited to participate in planting the trees.

As this is my 2nd year covering the prestigous event, I get to meet some familiar faces.

This will be the second year the university is carrying out such a campaign and it is hoped that it will remain a tradition in conjunction with the annual Borneo Jazz Festival for many years to come. ;)  

Lunch Date with Linut aka Ambuyat

It started when one of my colleague mentioned about ‘Linut’ prior to lunch period.

What is ‘Linut’?
Linut is a starchy bland substance, where it is made out of the interior trunk of a sago palm. It is also one of the famous delicacy among the indigenous people of Sarawak and Sabah. In Brunei, the same dish is better known as ‘Ambuyat’. The dish is best complimented with ‘sambal belacan’ but one may also have it with other side dishes such as curry gravy, fish, veges or practically with anything that suit your taste buds.

You see, I have 3 packet of fresh sago paste at home and the girlfriends have been planning on having ’linut’ lunch in the office but somehow the plan has never been materialised as we were too busy with office work or the person who know how to mix the sago paste is not available.

The thing with ‘linut’ is you need to know the mixing technique really well (equal portion of boiling water and warm water followed by a non stop consistency mixing the sago paste until it turn into white sticky substance) otherwise it can’t be eaten due to too watery or it has harden.

So, there you go, it is not easy to prepare one.
Until, one of my colleague told us that there’s a shop in town offers ‘linut’ in their menu hence the ‘linut’ hunting adventure.

There you have it.

If you like to give a try on one of Sarawak delicacy – Linut, look far no more coz I highly reckon you this place – Selihah Cafe & Catering. As this post is not a promotion for the mentioned place (full address will be provided if I do full food review-on request basis), fret not coz the place can be easily located. It is just next to Ipoh Kopitiam Saberkas.

I definitely will be back here again.
Till next post! :)