Thursday, April 22, 2010

Port Dickson

I was born in Telok Kemang, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

Port Dickson is a popular tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists.

It was a small town producing charcoal and it was name Arang by the local people.

It was later develop into a Port by the British during the Straits Settlement Period.

There were many hotels by the beach :

Glory beach
Tiara Beach Resort
Selesa beach Resort
Corus Paradise Resort
Desa lagoon Resort
Bayu Beach Resort, etc…. to name a few.

Some of the attraction are :

1. Military Muzium. Armed Forces Military Museum is situated about 8 kilometers away from the PD town centre. First opened its door few years ago, the museum houses a wide range of former combat vehicles, planes and artillery. With it spacious grounds, the museum also showcases fighter jet plane, helicopter and transport plane. Besides the monument in the museum, it also houses two buildings whereby one is located in the office zone while the other is a gallery with descriptions of successes and achievements by the armed forces. One of the best attractions in the museum is the subway tunnel which utilizes realistic simulacrum of tunnels used by the communists in the older days.


2. Tanjong Tuan Forest Reserve, Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve is a well-known protected park which spans roughly 80 acres. The forest houses mostly coastal forest with mangroves at the bottom. Even though the reserve forest is small, it is rich with flora and fauna especially hawks, buzzards and kites. Visitors can easily access to jungle area after visiting the lighthouse. Basically, there are two main trails that will lead you to the scenic beaches with breath-taking views. This is definitely an ideal destination for bird watchers as well as nature lovers.

2. Cape Rachado Light House
Popularly known as the country's oldest lighthouse, Cape Rachado lighthouse was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Cape Rachado or commonly known as Tanjung Tuan overlooks the Tanjung Tuan Reserve Forest. To get to the main entrance of Cape Rachado lighthouse, visitors must enter via the entrance of Tanjung Tuan Reserve Forest. Visitors need to climb 72 steps to get to the lighthouse which is situated on the hilltop. When you reach at the top of the hill, enjoy the panoramic and spectacular view of Malaccan Straits with the sights of ships sailing in the clear blue sea water. If the visitors are lucky, they can even catch the sight of Sumatra's outline in the horizon. The site is now famous as a conservation area for migrating birds. A reminder for first-time visitors, you need to get the permit to enter the lighthouse from Harbour Master's Office in Malacca. Sometime between September and March, visitors often see the soaring swifts, hawks and eagles above the lighthouse.

3. Lukut Muzium. Afrter visiting Lukut fort, visitors can tour around the Lukut Museum as it is located on the same grounds of the fort. Strategically situated at the foothill, it is a wonderful wooden bungalow complete with an array of relics and artifacts originated from the tin mining days. Besides that, visitors can also read from a series of posters and dioramas that describes the historical aspects from the local chieftains to the impacts and consequences of British. Just recently opened, the museum is categorized into four different galleries namely History of Lukut, Customs and Traditions, Negeri Sembilan and Nassau. The museum also showcases photos and models of tin mining equipment from the olden days of Lukut.

4. Lukut Fort. Originally built by Raja Jumaat in 1847, the fort serves as a vantage point for him to oversee his tin mining business and community. Lukut fort remains as one of today's best reserved Bugis fort in the country. Situated approximately 10 minutes from PD town centre, visitors need to climb a series of steps to check out the wells and small moat. The once impressive fort now serves as a tourist attraction or for recreational purposes only.

5. Ostrich Farm. Ostrich Farm in Port Dickson has an extensive collection of more than 90 ostriches species as well as jungle fowl, peasants, peacocks, horses and crocodiles. This is an ideal destination for families as the ostriches are reared in open paddocks and thus, visitors can easily reach out to touch the ostriches without restrictions. In addition to that, visitors can also purchase bird feed from ticket counters to experience something extraordinary during the weekend getaway at PD. Besides that, visitors can also enjoy a tour around the premise and check out the facilities used to produce goods such as handbags, ornamental ostrich egg shell and also cosmetics derived from ostrich oil. Besides ostriches, visitors can also enjoy other fun-filled activities namely horse rides and rabbit petting area for kids. Last but not least, remember to take a peek into the farm's collection of real ostrich eggs and get your picture snap!

Port Dickson is easily accessible by road. It is half way between KL-Selangor and Melacca. It is about 32 km from Seremban town and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It take about I hour journey by car from Kuala Lumpur by the North-South Express Highway.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A Little About Petroleum In Malaysia

The earliest record show the ealiest oil find was in Baram, district in Sarawak in 1882, by the British Resident.

The oil was used for medicinal purposes, lighting lamps and waterproofing boat.

Commercial expolition only began in 1910 by the Shell then known as Anglo-Saxxon Petroleum Company, the sole company granted the right to extract oil, struck oil in Town of Miri. It marked the start of Petroleum industry in Malaysia.

Petronas or short for Petrol Nasional Berhad is the oil and gas company that was founded on 17th August 1974.

Petronas built the Petronas Twin Towers as its headquarters.

Petronas was one of the main sponsors of the Sauber Formula One Team, main sponsor of Malaysian Grand Prix and co-sponsor of Chinese Grand Prix.

Envo diesel, which is a mixture of 5% of processed palm oil and 95% of petroleum diesel, is currently being implemented in stages starting with government vehicles and moving on to public use.

A Famosa

You can't say that you have been to Malacca if you have not visited the A'Famosa. I am totally agreed with this. It is one of the most famous structures in Malacca and definately one of the world oldest surviving example of the European architecture in Asia and an evident of the Portuguese occupation in Malacca hundreds of years ago.

Location & structure

It is located at the foothill of St Paul Hill. A Famosa or Porta De Santiago is one of the four main gates of the Fortress and is the only remain left of the once the mighty fortress.

The actual fortress has 4 main towers or gates. One for the use as resident of the captain, one for officer quarter, one for amunition and one 4 storey keep.

A'Famosa still manages to inspire the visitor looking at its remains. Looking old but still imposing, its gate has survived much punishment over the last five centuries. '

History

In 1511, Portuguese successfully conqured Malacca.

The Portuguese quickly built a temporary wall to defence from the local Malay attack. Later in 1512 Alfonso D Albuquerque started to built the fortress using force labour and use the boulders taken from the ruin of the palace, mosque, tomstone to defence his strong hold of the land.

The Portuguese had turned the fortress into a Christian city with brick building including 5 churches, a monastery, a chapel, a hospital, captain and bishop's palace and a castle.

Later the the fortress was expanded to the nearby hill and European settlement like, Jalan Gereja, Jln Kota, Jalan Istana, Jalan Mahkamah.

In 1583, Malacca had become a fortified city protected by seventy cannons aimed in all directions.

The magnificent fortress has sucessfully protected the Portuguess for 150 years until it was overrun by the Dutch 1641.

In order to capture Melacca, the Dutch laid seige around the fortress for 5 months with the help of Sultan of Johor, while Malacca's citizen were reduced to eating cat and rats, and there was a case of a women eating her dead infant.

Finally in 14th January 1641, the Dutch stormed into the fort throught the Santo Domingo Gate, by which time, the casulty totalled 7000, some die of famine, disease, hunger or gunfire.

The fortress was damaged by the Dutch during the attack but later the Dutch repaired it. It was also given a facelift and 'Anno 1670' was inscribed on the arch of the gate.

The fortress changed hand again in the 19th century when the British took over from Dutch. The Dutch handed over to British to prevent it from falling into the hand of Napoleon's expansionist France.

The British knowing that the Dutch will eventually take back the Malacca, tried to destroy the fortress and relocated the population to Penang. Sir Stamford Raffle, founder of Singapore, who has a passion for history was there to stop the last gate, A'Famosa from demolished.

Malaysia My Second Home Program

Some of the tourists came to Malaysia for a holiday and fell in love with our country. And if they are keen to have a home here for their retirement or to have a longer staying period they can do so by applying to participate in Malaysia My Second Home Program.

There are many reason why the participants are attracted to Malaysia :

1. Great weather
2. Low living cost coupled with high standard living
3. Friendly and warm people
4. Steady economy
5. state of the art infrastructure
6. Rich culture
7. No language problem as all Malaysian speaks english although Malay is our official language.
8. Free practice of religions with ample places of worship
9. Charming history, etc...

There are a large number of MM2H participants in Malaysia. They live here as an expatriate community and like Malaysian, they enjoy an active social life, being able to easily indulge in a hugh range of activities, from fine dining to sailing in the sea. Malaysia has one of the highest standard of living in the region where luxury is easily affordable and that it is easy to enjoy the good life here.

This program is promoted by the government of Malaysia to allow foreingers who fulfill certain criteria, to stay in Malaysia for as long as possible on a multiple-entry social visit pass. This socio visit pass is initially for 10 years. Our government is striving to make this program a success and continuously seek to improve, to ensure its success.

Participants of Malaysia My Second Home Programme are provided with various incentives to make their stay more comfortable and enjoyable in Malaysia and they are made to feel safe and at home.

House purchase

Participants are allowed to purchase a home here for price RM500,000 and above but that is not the pre-requisite for the participating in MMSH program. They can rent a house here instead or they can buy as many properties as possible subject to the minimum rate establish for foreigner by different states.

Car Purchase

Each participant is allowed to bring in his/her own personal car without the need to pay import duty, excise duty and sales tax. They can sell off their car after 2 years of stay. Or they can buy a locally assembled car.

Maid

Each participant are allow to apply for one maid subject to the prevailing guidelines of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Education

Participants are allowed to bring in their dependent under this program like their parents and children. Children who intend to continue their scholling in Malaysia are required to apply for a student pass and should be insured throughout their stay under this program.

Tax

Participant may check with the authority concern on the taxable and non taxable money bring into the country.

The participants can invest or stat a bussiness or working part time in Malaysia subject to term and regulations of Malaysian government.

The major contributions of this programm are :

It is an income to Malaysia. The participants are required to place a fixed deposit or a certain amount of money and are allowed to withdraw a certain amount after a year for children education, house, medical and other approved expensed. It is also an income when they come here for education, medical or holiday.

Cultural exchange. The participants can mixed freely with the local, get to know the local and their culture and this is the best way to get to know the real Malaysia. In this way we are learning from each other culturally and other aspect.

Brain gain. the Malaysia My Second Home program, launched in 2004, is also part of a brain-gain effort to attract foreign talents and high net worth individual into the country.

It help to boost the local property market.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Homestay Program

The homestay program was introduced by the Tourism Malaysia in 1988. It is an alternative accomodation for the tourist which is more affodable and is different from the simple breakfast type of accomodation.

In this home stay program, the visitors are staying in the host family like a member of the family, usually in the kampungs or village-style of home. They gets the taste of traditional way of life of the local people by living with them as a family, eat the local food, get to know the local tradition, harvest friuts during the season, indulge in traditional game like flying kite, spinning tops, congkat, fishing by the river, observe the traditional wedding, cultural dances, learn to cook the Malay cuisine, etc.... Experiencing homestay in a traditonal village is the fastest way to get to know the real Malaysia.

There are home stay program in various part of Malaysia. The villages or kampong that participated in this homestay program are committed and ensure that the guess get to enjoy the village-style living first hand, and are used to welcoming the guess from all over the world.

The visitors will realise the different life style and the life move slightly slower pace than in their city life and is the best place to experience a quiet calm of rustic life.

This is the best way to introduce Malaysian way of life to the tourist.

Homestay is an excellence way to make friends, learn about Malaysia multi-racial culture and have a taste of the kampung or village lifestyle.

This program has help the local folks in their economy, it is an income for them.

This is a good way of cultural exchange between the local folks and the tourists to get a deeper understanding of each other.

Istana Negara or National Palace


Istana Negara or National Palace is the official residence of our king the Yang Di Pertuan Agung of Malaysia.

It is situated at a hillock along Jalan Istana.

Originally belong to a wealthy Chinese Business millionaire, Mr Chan Wing, who own the largest open cast tin mine in the world.

During the Japanese occupation there was a war between Chinese and Japanese. Mr Chan Wing was believe to be the biggest contributor to the Chinese opposition party and was on the highly wanted list by the Japanese. Chan Wing fled to India and his 2 storey mansion was used by the Japanese as an officer mess. After the Japanese surrender, Mr Chan Wing sold this building to the Selangor State Government. They renovated it to used as a palace for the Sultan of Selangor.

During our indepedent we were in need of an official place for the newly set up Monarchy system for official function and ceremony and official residence of the King. The Federal Governmet then bought it over from the selangor state government in 1957 and later extensively renovated in 1980 to hold the installation of Agung for the 1st time. Before that the royal ceremony was held at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Hall in Jalan Ampang.




At the entrance of the Palace there is a Royal Horse Guard and a standing Guard.
In the compound there is a flag pole. The flag will be raised when His Majesty is in town and when he is abroad it is lowered.

This is the only monarchy in the world that did not retain the title for more than 5 years. The 9 royal families agreed to each take turn to be paramount ruler for 5 years after the independent in 1957.

The present king is His Mejesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

There is a new palace just built at Jalan Duta which cover 241 acres, almost 10 times the size of the present Istana.

The present ceremony hall, Balairong Seri no longer suitable for host banquet and meeting. It is believe that the present istana will be turned to Royal Muzium.