CHINA LOOKING IN KUCHING (FRIENDSHIP PARK)

            Before this, Sarawak known as The Land of Hornbill or other name is North Borneo. Here, you will discover many types’ cultures, races, attractions, flora and fauna, and historical places. There is one best attraction in Sarawak called Friendship Park.

             Friendship Park also known as Taman Sahabat. The China looking place very impressed people who come to visit there. The park have a giant monument of Laksamana Cheng Ho that come from China to southeast asia with his ship around 1403-1433.  

A little bit of history foe Laksamana Zheng He.

           Zheng Ho is a Chinese sailor and explorer under the dynasty of Ming. The emperor of Yong Le was chose him to lead the first explorer from the 7 explorer around 1405-1433. Cheng Ho was started his first explorer around 1405 which is more earlier than the west explorer, Christopher Columbus. During the shipping, there are 300 regular ship and 60 big ship with 28,000 crew were joined. The last explorer of Zheng He was around 1431-1433 which is the reign of emperor Zhu Zhanji. Cheng Ho completed his explored for 23 years.

           According to Malays history, Laksamana Cheng Ho accompany Princess Hang Li Po with 500 Dayang to married Sultan Melaka, Sultan Mansor Syah. Finaly, they stayed at China hill, Melacca. The mix marriage from the society were introduced the ancestry of “baba and Nyonya” until present. Taman Sahabat was build because they are a friendship between Malaysia and Republic of China. China also contribute to build this park. Taman Sahabat was inaugurated by the Minister of Sarawak in 18 may 2006. This unique park is the symbol of friendship between Kuching and Kunming city of China

 

            To visit the Friendship Park only takes about only 20 minute from Kuching Waterfront.  It is Located at Jalan Song nearby Tabuan Height Kuching. At waterfront, you just take a way to Plaza Merdeka. From there, you will reach at the traffic light nearby Plaza Merdeka. You just go straight along the way until you reach traffic lights at the 3^rd Miles. Then you turn left and go straight along the way. Just keep on go straight till you see last traffic lights at Jalan Song where ther is a modern looking metallic arch and an adjoining carpark. At the traffic light, turn right and you will see Friendship Park. Go to the main entrance at the Friendship, you will see the gateway standing on four columns and at the top has two tiered roof has an impressive Chinese architecture. That is the main entrance and you can start your sightseeing at the Friendship Park.

            Friendship Park is a place you can see many types of statues, lake, fishes, historical statue and a big Admiral Cheng Ho’s statues. Besides this, you also can see white stone lions guard the entrance.  It’s just like a gateway into a town in China. There is a entrance to the Tea Pavillion with stall selling cakes, etc. There is indoor section overlooking the lake. The opening times are from 3pm to 11pm but it is closed on Wednesday. There is also has a cat  that represents  Kuching and a panda that represents China. Here, you also can jog, cycling, relaxing and hangout through the reddish Zig-Zag Bridge. A zig-zag bridge leads from the Tea Pavilion over the lake to the Kumming Pavilion. At the center of his bridge is a Wishing Well, there you can throw in some coins and wish for wealth, a good health, marriage, better results, and etc.

Prepared by Afdhol, Hapizan, Warren, Samat

Famous Foods You Must Try in Penang

Prepared By,

Sarah Dibba

Simon Ak. Kiai

Suryanie Sarmon

Fefiana Lahong Tony

Everybody knows that Penang is a food paradise especially if you are looking for an authentic street foods. With high-end restaurants and hotel dining rooms, you don’t really get to see the culture surrounding you, where as street food allows you to get a real taste of Penang’s life. Also, you can always try eating with your hands, which is far harder and much messier than you can imagine. Here are some list of foods that you must try in Penang :

1. CHAR KWAY TEOW

Penang is heaven of food. A lot of tourists come to Penang because of the foods. Char Kway Teow, considered one of the iconic dishes of  Penang Island.  Char Kway Teow also a popular street hawker dish in Malaysia.  Long time ago, Char Kway Teow is a menu from Chinese community. But, today Char Kway Teow mixed together with Malaysian ethnic. Everyone can make a good Char Kway Teow. It is basically consists of flat rice noodles stir fried with light and soy sauce, chillies, cockles, and seafoods. There are too many versions of Char Kway Teow nowadays. You can never be arrogant before you taste the delicious of Char Kway Teow.  Also, you can only find the cheapest Char Kway Teow in Penang!

2.   ASSAM LAKSA PENANG

Laksa, a favorite food in Kuching, is popular all over Malaysia. However, the Assam Laksa found in Penang stands out with its spicy and sour fishy taste. The thick rice noodles are added to a fish broth seasoned with lemongrass, chillies, and tamarind. Assam Laksa has a unique taste that is sure to be a new experience. The Long Beach Cafe at Batu Feringgi version is really addictive, with just the right amount of sourness.

3. HOKKIEN PRAWN MEE

Cooked in a fragrant stock, Hokkien Prawn Mee is a delicious noodle dish made from yellow noodles, vermicelli and large, juicy shrimp. The Hokkien Prawn Mee is originated from the Fujian province in China.The Malaysian version is considerably enhanced with better flovours, ingredients and toppings. We can find this at Long Beach Cafe at Batu Feringgi in Penang. The taste is absolutely delicious with the reasonable price.

4. NASI KANDAR

The name originates from the way nasi kandar was served back in British colonial days. Nasi means rice. Meanwhile, kandar refers to a pole or yoke that Indian vendors used to carry food for sale down the streets of Penang. Vendors would dispense food from the containers and hungry diners would order and eat right on the street. 

Nasi Kandar Line Clear was found in 1930 by S. N. Sekandar and his brother, S. N. Seeni Pakir. The shop has flourished over the years, despite its location in an alleyway and the prices staying unchanged for over a decade. 

The present-day proprietor, Zainul Halam Abdul Hamid, is Seeni Pakir's son, and his own children and nephews work for him, taking orders and cleaning tables in shifts throughout the shop's punishing 24-hour schedule.

5. HOMEMADE SPRING ROLL

Spring roll or also known as Popiah is available at just about every hawker centre but nothing beats homemade. It is a Chinese crepe that holds perfectly some cooked filing usually consists of stir-fried turnip, french beans, steamed bean sprouts and fresh lettuce leaves. Each crepe is prepared on a round thin white edible wrapper. After spreading some sweet sauce onto this thin wrapper, it will be added with fresh lettuce, following by filling and then being secured on both ends and roll almost like a cylinder. Adding up the flavour of spring roll, they usually serve it with a sweet sauce. They serve the best homemade spring roll at Long Beach Café at Batu Feringgi.

6. THAILAND COCONUT WATER

Exhausted from working the whole day? Try out this fresh coconut water, ice cold, very refreshing and scoop out the flesh with the spoon. The taste of this coconut water tend to be slightly sweeter with a much deeper, nuttier flavour from any other coconut water. It beats an ice cream for dessert any day and this can help to remove all of your exhaustion of the day.

    Magnificent Colors of Kek Lapis Sarawak

Have you ever saw or taste a cake with various colors and tastes in one? With nicely layered colors and different taste, this cake actually stands out from any other cakes. Wondering where to find them? You have finally come to a correct destination in order to know about these cakes. Known as Kek Lapis Sarawak or Sarawak Fresh Layered Cake, there are many places or shop that actually produces these cakes such as Dayang Salhah Kek Lapis and Mira Cake House. However, we choose to highlight about Mira Cake House today.

Mira Cake House began as family business and the spirit to bake unique type of Kek Lapis Sarawak which is also known as Kek Lapis Basah. Their philosophy combines baker minded approach with a deep commitment to bake fresh Kek Lapis. Since then, Mira Cake House has expanded the business with locations in Kuching and Kota Samarahan. Mira Cake House offers over 40 different flavors of Kek Lapis Sarawak and ships its cakes nationwide.

The main shop is located at Kiosk No. 15, Tebingan Permaidani BGS, Kampung Gersik, Petra Jaya, 93050, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. They choose this location as it is located very near to the city. People can come here either by car or by sampan from Kuching Waterfront. The next location is in Samarahan, very near to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kampus 1. When Hari Raya festival nearing, or simply when semester break is starting, students from the nearest institution will come over and buy at least two to five kek lapis from there to bring home for their family. This is because it doesn’t only look tasty but it also tastes delicious.

As said earlier, Mira Cake House offers up to 40 different flavors of Kek Lapis. Some of it is Chocolate Cheese, Masam Manis, Jasmine Oreo, Strawberry Cheese and Double Chocolate. What’s more interesting, Mira Cake House pays attention to customers taste and satisfaction so they prepared free sample for every flavors of cake available. According to the staff that works there, cheese and chocolate flavored cakes is what sold out the most especially during festivals. But customers and consumers also have their own preferences but as expected, many still prefer to buy cheese or chocolate flavored cake.

To end this article, we found that Mira Cake House is one of the famous cake houses that produce tasty kek lapis in Sarawak. Not only they have up to 40 flavors, they also have their own loyal customers who will order cakes from them when festival such as Hari Raya come. Even if customers can’t come to the shop, they can still order online or by calling the shop and their order will be shipped at certain date that is agreed by both consumers and staff at the shop itself. Whenever you got the chance to come over, trying this cake is a must! Your taste bud will definitely experience new kind of sensation when you finally got to taste the Sarawak Kek Lapis.

                                      

                                     Prepared By :

                               Nyura anak Tedong

                              Rafidah binti Zulkarnain

                              Nur Amni binti Kassim

                               Marcus Anthony