Thursday, 6 January 2011

XPDC to BANJARMASIN.....Episode 3

EPiSode 3 ........... HoTeL HUJAN EMAs  to....TAYAN FeRRY 
                                           nnnn ... to BALAI BerKUAK

Hello ....!!! 
...MOrning..early woke up..... cool here....as we had aircon.. room ...as ONLY 6 limited rooms were fixed with aircon... lucky us.. to have one...   14 cars should had 14 rooms too.....might be more..!!!  
MOST with families were priority...  
No..need aircon....outside was cold too.......a Hotel in d' MIddle of Noo where..... think of that...!!!

Change style... my  blog series to Episode......wahh... make a thought....suspense...nn dramatically... BEST to..follow...  loll..        like KOREAN films series......eehhh..


Last night was raining a bit......look at d' frontage sign board..... Hotel HUJAN EMAS.... yellowish mud ground just two steps further from d' hotel main entrance.... according to d' owner... MOST people sleep in d' hotel were using bikes... every night UP to 20 bikes parked just frontage shaded entrance... BUT last night were less coz we had already taken d' rooms...  so...the customers rejected.... pity ..lol...they also long distant travellers except using bikes....means of compulsory transportation....here...  cheap nnn easy.. could take 4 people per ride....wooo...    DO U believe....????? ... look  nnn SEE......


Earlier...mentioned about d'room...so here U're... NICE... rather than nothing... quite luxury for Us five...  eeh..

When...tired... nn   d' ONLY driver... so... I fully employed... to drive all d' way to Banjarmasin nn back to Brunei...
This was d' best choice.... as used too....


Early photos....... by 7.00am... ready to zoom...so meantime...had to wait all in d' company... to move on...

surprisingly...no problem starting my engine....  night  long stop.... cold down d' engine.....




One followed after another...my No.11... but....no more regulation...as we...could go... first come fist....position...lol... BUT... car No 1...d' boss... still ...d' front runner...   NO overtake...   d' boss.....!!!!!

Quite all d' way.... TAYAN...... going to d' ferry's landing... at PIASAK.....



MOre BIG.... trucks...lorries.....  van.... come before US... some slept here...as being informed....
All sorts of things being transported...... chicken....wow...many kept in stories... up to down floor level...lol.
By d' time..arrived.. a trip to cross to other TERAJU landing took about 40 minutes...
Had to...Q.......  but ups to space.....available... d' management first arranged according to d' size...nn...located nn squeezed in...right position....so mixed..BIG...nnn SMALL...


WE knew....had to wait...as others were coming earlier..... ONLY one ferry.....coming back..
D' size of d' ferry.....NOT too big.... about six...seven.... vehicles in one go.....
A big river.....Kapuas.... going down sream to Pontianak........



Arrived early morning...at around 8.30am  ...but had to wait...so parked tailing each other....
Young children allowed to mingle around...with their age group...to kill their boreness....
Have patience....to take our turn.... to cross river...


Moving in d' ferry...in group mixed... small....big vehicles...to accommodate empty space....
Able...to go with d' third group...eeeh..
Spouses....of car...Temburong Bisai... Ampuan Razid.....nn  ...Ampuan Hj Hamzah....were with our group... so did CAR No 1.... BT1316



Bottom left... with d' company of car KJ3310... Haji Harun bin Hj Abd Hamid.... nn half head TEO...KL9438
So....d' ferry embarked... with full capacity of cargo..... transporting vehicles to d' other side Landing place at TERAJU...

Driving down...d' lane of two planks... d' drive just watch d' sign language using HANDs... right...left..  forward.. .nn so..
Called d' instruction...as sign language coz...d' front man only using hands...nn d' driver steered d' right path as instructed...


Soon landing... parked along d' side road.... to wait other group.....this area still Dusun PIASAK as seen at d' rest stall on d' side road....
Lucky ........enough time to boil water for a quick mee... pop mee   ..nn  drinks... some chosen their own.. favourite drinks... 
Hj Saring ..nnn..  Hj Mohd Noor   nnn   familes...  were all here.. together
By this time..... around 11.30am....   hungry too...  but could purchase fruits..like bananas.. near by road side stalls....

When everybody landing... had to move.... following d' direction on wards.... good road compared 4 years ago...  but a few meters still not been covered with tar yet.... for the 1st destination.... to Balai Berkuak....
Diesel...called SoLAR here...... NO filling station....... but still could BUY...from d'...fuel containers' on d' road side too....
Small town.... selling many varieties..... for locals... eating places were available...too


Familiar small box house.. just  a distant from  d' house...   WHAT...??
NOT pigeons house...lol...
Ok..... correct...guess..    WC...   as popularly known if asked people here...  for toilet.... NOT Comfort Room... lol.. ???
Waw... making used....of water.. down stream.... we NOT dare...eeeh    !!!


Rumah Makan .... Eating House... direct translating... easy to remember...lol
Could purchase...SOLAR here... but...price already... different... about Rp 7000 @ liter
Quite town... but  many people around... especially bikes... here..there... most younger riders nn pillions..   but most wear NO  helmet ..   called HELM here....
Stayed here  for a while rest... drink for  tinned refreshment... cost Rp 6000...  NOT bad..!!!!
At money changer in Brunei B$1.00 = Rp 6700  .....

EPisode 3....... Know someting about small town here... TaYAN   nnn   Balai Berkuak  

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

XPDC to BANJARMASIN.....Episode 2

EPiSode 2 .....18 December........    3th Day
                                 A DAY in KUCHING CITY.....

A night in KUCHING... was NOT intentionally... was LAST minute changed.... DUE to sudden immediate work's commitement of our TRIP's BOSS....Haji Ibrahim......  our programme should had crossed d' border nn stayed a NIGHT in TAYAN....

A NIGHT in HOTEL GRAND CONTINENTAL, KUCHING CITY......  wow...good enough to give room meeting our relatives here.....
Cost.....RM$180.00....for  large double beds...  Room 1015


Actually.... tried to solve an earlier problem... if POSSIBLE....  my car twice checked... for known STARTER of...ignition problem.... At this place ... FAR.... a small problem might create...sound bigger....if unrepair....!!!!   Have time... as we checked OUT tomorrow NOON at around 12.00....
So...wife's cousins here... might give a hand.....
so...first..s step to relax mind... nn .spent a NIGHT out to SPRING Shopping MALL here in KUCHING...


SALES....everywhere... at  SPRING... as XMAS was just round d' corner..... a week to go...
Cousins...nnn... meeting 2nd cousins too


SPRING SHOPPING MALL.... just located outside main city...on half...way to AIRPORT...
DIN...fetched all of US at d' hotel...in his KIA Carnival....car...plus his wife...Seha..
Soon joined by  Mimi nn husband....nn daughters...cousins...nn 2nd cousin to my children....


A quick snapped...photographs......     cousins... 2nd cousins...nn in laws....
Left-right...   
Mimi & daughter, Din.. Mimi's husband.. daughter & Din's wife.. Anih.. Malina...Liyana..nn Zakka.

Next morning... still too early... brought my car ...NO problem to switch ON nn started d' car....
D' mechnic was unable to solve... so here.... GOD willing.... NO ideas...what to do... as times limited....
Morning breakfast at RUMAH HIJAU .as this eating house called.....used to be a kampong double terrace-house....d'looked still there.... at SATOK area...serving MENU of Malay Sarawak Foods....  as used to be Malay dominated area too....but this is city area....shops..restaurants....hotels.. all around here...


Soon...after d' breakfast  over... drove to Jalan Astana... nn turned to Jalan Tunku... d' Uncle & auntie were here...Haji Morsidi  nn  his wife Pg Hjh. Asmiah Pg Hj Md Said....
YUL....cousin too.... a late comer when we just left .....to move.. to hotel... to check out soon....

A day to remember..as d' COUPLE just a month ago performed Hajj to MECCA.... 
A rare family photograph...... once in BLUE moon.... lol...


Packing  nn leaving...nn settling d' room......just in time... before 12.00 noon..
Hotel Grand Continental  ...  really GRAND.... looking at d' wall pictures around Malaysia nnn neighbouring countries...

So hurry... but...our teams mates were still relaxing....


Drove to SERIAN....took about 40 minutes to an hout.... d' 4wd cars were here already... according to our latest radio contact as heard on air....... some at eating stall.... in  SERIAN....  so late noon...we're getting  hungry too....
NOT to mention..switch off my car's engine...couldn't start but....as with teams'...soon proceeding to border with others....
Before border... at around 4.30pm.... ...a last FILLING Station... to refill diesel.....RM$1.80@liter...paid nearly $50.00. 

Entering...d' border..Malaysia side....TEBEDU.... vehicles passes already hired somebody for quick entry... but had to do d' passports as well...
Crossing to d' opposite...would be ENTIKONG...Kalimantan Barat, Indonesian...side...  as well hired to process d' 14 vehicles...much faster...easier....BLUE CARD....of cars' owners... applying for ROAD TAX.....nn..of coz cars' INSURANCE... paid for time-framed... a week... more then a week...varied..
PASSPORTS...had to go individually...coz... d' immigration counter was going to record d' pictures according to d' passports...   waahh...   
BUT.....we made it...CUT times....a much faster.....as NOT many people crossing d' border at this late time....too

U would meet people...doing business here....money changers..... telephone...mobiles'  cards   ..so...so..


D' athmosphere...now changed here.... just looked around.... d' houses packed one another.. small shophouses...stalls.. eating stalls.... more motor bikes.... young....old.... more cross houses.....churches...of coz...non Muslims...lol...
On d' way...met...few...Temburong BIKERS on d' way back from PONTIANAK....
BUT...today's destination was to TAYAN......

It was dark NIGHT...... not well remembered ...but around 9.00pm... Stopped at a filling Station..   Given  limited liters to purchase...only 50 liters each car...Rp4500 @liter... cheaper then Malaysia...woww..  
SO....all of us REFILL..d' fuel....coz... tomorrow would be LOOOONg journey....

D' ONLY Hotel... already booked.... remember a Malay proverb....Hujan Emas...di Negeri orang... HUJAN BATU di Negeri Sendiri.........lebih BAIK.......?????

Typical hotel here......better too....three stories....inside...were d' rooms.... each opposite others....side stairs to d' upper rooms.... like a hall if looked down ward...as empty space in the middle/center house... to see down.....nnn people could be seen or heard from d' upper third floor.... well how to explain...lol...
So...we a family of 5... could accommodate....wow..good enough big room BUT...few lackings... unfinished room... electrical power..from d' engine generator... notice leaking somewhere... wow...so many NOT to mention... but this was good enough...lol....!!!!
HAVE a NICE sleep nnn rest for d' night.....

Phase 2..... KUCHING....
                                to a night stop at Hotel HUJAN EMAS.... TAYAN


XPDC to BANJARMASIN.....Episode 1

Blog is back DATED.... in sequence of photos taken......
so have a nice... glimpse of my story... this is EPiSodE ONE
Brunei.....to Miri....SIBU....nnn....KUCHING.....


So here.... I'm BACK to show nn tell the journey back from d' START.....
16 December...   LAST YEAR ....!!!..oh...hoo.... a year agoooo.....!!!

A LONG distance .... about more.... 2500 km round ...this is nOT kidding.... 
All teams should have in mind a rough journey... each one had to bear in mind... difficulties ...all sorts of things.... my team ...CAR... NO 11.... of coz....include my self...spouse....Anih.. Liyana...Zakka...nnn Malina... All had  experienced rough journey to SAMARINDA, Kalimantan Timur..... back in December 2006....???    everybody.....must put in mind a pleasant trip.... ah...aaa


                                    

So...too d' 4wheeldrive cars.... mine... Landcruiser 80series.... 1991... as old as my daughter Liyana...    made a double checeked.. after fully servised...chanage oil... brakes system.. engine....nnn so on.... recently d' engine starter made trouble... twice checked..   seemed ok..... beginning..??
RADIO communication.... as one most important......distant travellers.... NO licence BUT.... have to make instant ready to use...or portable ONEs....

D'tyres....of coz... should prepare d' worst... fives...MT tyres... my old ones ... only twice used...2006...... to.... HOT spring ..Mararap....in LIMBANG.... about.. two years ago..oh..ho.. 
BUT still GOOD ....lol... NOT yet expired.......

D' stickers...love these.... so I added more...making acknowledgable...nn attractive... those see us on d' road...
Cut d' main poster..to look NICE.. attractable....   so doo....
TEMBURONG BISAI wass added before departured.....nn soo... d' towns names.. to be recognizable... places would be....visited...!!!

D' DATES  ...of coz.... journey... time-framed.....important days to remember ...nnn easy make a quick reference.... who knows....   all SET..... so do the ..foods... dry...like pop mee....nn so.... clothes...... MOST....important.....travelling asset.... budgeting... MONEY.... lol... FIVE persons...NOT... little....




16 December 2010.....Before 9.00am... things all being packed rear seat... got space... but an addition... a rack  on top of my car could do help if more luggage needed....  just be prepared....!!!!...wow....each brought their own packed luggade...!!!!..lol..
 So...in TIME... as we excited...to paticipate... after quite long NOT joining car xpdtion....our LAST journey was to JAKARTA nn BALI....back December 2007....
9.30 am...we're... assembled.... d' cars front of d' RiZQUN International Hotel.....Gadong..


BW2633....Haji Maramit bin Haji Saban nn spouse...Hjh Asmah Hj Talip.....
KJ 151..Hjai Othman bin Hj Hussiin nn spouse..Hjh Asmah Hj Mohd Salleh...nn son..Quayyum...
KP 9924 ... Zul Rushdi bin Hj Md Sallen  nnnn  Sabtu bin Hj Tupok...   
KE1619...Mohd Shahminan bin Hj Besar.. nn ..Sahdan..nnn partner. Aisah.... 
B419..Haji Saring bin Hj Besar...nn wife..Hjh Saripah bt.Hj Ismail...nn 2 daughters..  Killah .. Bazillah.... 
KK5102 Ampuan Razid bin Ampuan Sabli nn spouse...Fataaimah bt Jaludin...nn Ampuan Hj Hamzah nnn wife...
KK1313...mine...lol...
KH6069 ...Haji Mohammad Noor bin Hj Mohammad..nn wife..Hjh Siti Rapiah bt Hj Ismail...nn 3children Aziz ..Azeziee... Alia..

More CARs.... NOT included YET....
They were LOOKED clean.....beautiful...... wow...



NO special TAKE OFF ceremony...except... all of us invited be seated... at the RIZQUN Coffee HOUSE d' ground floor of the Hotel at MALL....   looking familiar ...traveller.....faces.. except few.... NOT known yet....

A GOOD start..... everybody... seemed happier.... wiith smiles... a good sign... yeh...



A short speech by our..leader BOSS ..Hj. Ibrahim bin Hj. Awang Damit..... then...thanksgiving DOA for d' safe drive, departure.....nn home.. by member of 4WD Pg Hj Damit...He probably NOT to join this XPDCion...
So....Rizqun sponsored.. place...nn..this .MORNING refreshments for ALL...  thanks... anywhere...



To make a merrier.. gathering... photo session for d' group for remembrance... front entrance of d' Rizqun Hotel..






TOOK OFF.......  TOP left.... a looked alike my car...
BL 76...Mazalani bin Hj. Mahadi...nn wife Nuraryani bt Abdullah Anis...children nn ..a good friend...Johari bin Hj Karia...with children too.... leading d'  way...
A sudden changed.... BOSS...Hj Ibrahim... got commitment... nn... could NOT make today... soo... a few followed... 4 altogether... TODAY...only 10 cars were proceeding to SIBU before KUCHING.. a night...nnn last before entering d' border would be SERIAN as a meeting place for ALL of US....





TWO hours drive...  to MIRI.... joined in by another car... KL9428..Safuan bin Abdullah...Md Zulqarnain Abdullah...nnn 2 others... as they're BELAIT people..... as we've given enough time here... to change money...nn so.. at BOULEVARD....shopping mall.... Miri...

Late noon.. 2.30pm... all were leaving for Bintulu.....cool....nnn...  raining all d' way....refilled petrol here..on arrival at around 5.00pm.. we used coastal road instead... passed Bintulu Hospital, entered Sibu 's junction...AVOIDING d' road to Bintulu Town.... half an hour rest..nn..continued to Sibu...
My car showed a  problem... situation like this...???... Feel like.....wa... 
BUT...a convoy... somebody MUST knew something.....  !!!!! 
Had to used jumper to restart d' engine at d' Fillng Station.... key ignition did NOT function...!!!
So..GOT in mind...how to solve....  ????
Late 9.00pm arriving SIBU....to town center....going two rounds before could enter to d' front road of d' PREMIER HOTEL ...SIBU... had to enter a small door too....people were making renovation...here....much bigger.. soo...room 1216 for a night around RM$270.00...

Budget night for us..a room for 5...  eeeh... ok... used to live like this.....while travelling... !!!


Taken these photos... at morning.... soon.... 
ONLY 2 persons for breakfast.... so d' rest had to make their own coffee... lol..
Or may be ...had to smuggle some.... eating foods..... while having breakfast....later...on... oo h.
Soon after...around 9.00am.... ready for KUCHING's destination...




Before leaving...SIBU ..a must to REFILL.... here... a standard price for  Diesel...RM$1.80..@ liter...   had to take turn...nn wait for others..... a convoy had to wait until every cars  got ready for next drive.....
A long bridge ...JAMBATAN LANANG.... to cross .. Rajang River.... soon...toll charger cost RM$5.00..... then... proceeding...  on ward...
  

An hour drive...stopped at d' recereational park.....SEBANGKOI COUNTRY RESORT...SARIKEI.......those wanted to make use toilets were most welcomed.... males...females... still have a long way to go....
My car didn't have to switch off engine... so...running.....
(Sorry...here..miss placed photos)


Keep on driving after a short break... about half an hour.... at d' recreation park........
We countered  few accidents.... involving many cars as well... d' van for instance.......luckily no fatalities....
Sri Aman is stop over..rest..,, EATING stalls are just outside d'corner.
A T junction to enter d' TOWN...  a popular spot... for drivers...big...small.. 2wheels also..  including passengers of long distant buses.... Specially looking for TOILETS... stretching stiff muscles...refresh driving tensions... while some... to fill empty stomach....or may be smoker corners for people tempted to smoke...


Times passed...fast.... d' journey to KUCHING..... BUT had to  go through a road to SERIAN...
A meeting place for d' extra 4 of our teams left behind ....tomorrow...as promised...!!!!

A NICE lonely BIG tree... just a symbolic.... to enter SERIAN....
On d' way to KUCHING...4 stayed back...looking for ...cars' parts... 6 proceeding straight to Kuching......so RADIO on...hotels were NOT yet booked...
So needed help.....called MIMI....a cousin...fortunately...she is working with Tourism Agencies... bull eyes.... a place 263 Hotels was full...end of year.... Peninsular Malaysians were  tourists here as well.... so... althernative...ample large parking space for 10 4WD cars....near town area.....HOTEL GRAND CONTINENTAL....

Passed through....the road...likely busy... almost 5.00pm....KUCHING AIRPORT....then a well seen Kenyelang Bird..... Sarawak symbolic steel....bird......

Arrived  destination   ...to wanted  Hotel.... with d' help of GPS.... by our lead car  LANI...BL76..
Thank U ... MIMI... as an advance quick contact to inform... about d' hotel....NICE looked...nn quite place too... near to city areas....nnn price bargaining... only @ RM $180.00...    wwwooo..happy...lol..

TEMBURONG BISAI...as friend called...KK5102... Ampuan Razid..... took d' advantage...NOT to waste.. as d' diesel container was leaked somewhere......!!!

Top seated front hotel....left...Sabtu...Ramadan...ZulRushdi...nnn..  Hj Mohd Noor.......

Phase 1...... arrived KUCHING  & 
                   Stayed at GRAND CONTINENTAL HOTEL...