The Disappeared Tower

Sibu people are commonly used to the existence of the telecommunication tower near TM Point at Jalan Keranji / Booke Drive including myself. It has been standing tall and straight at the location and served the Sibu people for more than 5 decades perhaps.

However, for unknown reason, this telecommunication tower had been dismantled recently (about 2 weeks ago). The dismantling works weren't easy. Workers have to take risks to climb to the top of the high tower and dismantled it segment by segment.

At this moment, the tower couldn't be seen anymore as it was entirely removed. Supposed there are 2 telco towers and now became one.

I personally feel not use to its removal as I had been seeing these towers almost daily from my home since I was small. Sometimes when I look on the tower's direction, I would have a very strange "illusion optic" feeling - is the tower covered by thick cloud today? But I know the answer is a NO! The fact is the tower had already been totally removed from our sight and the thing left is only the memories!

More pictures about the tower, you can try the following link:
http://sibuericluk.blogspot.com/2011/08/50.html

Sibu Open Badminton Championship 2011 @ Thumb's Up Badminton Academy

Roundtree-Reliance Transport Sibu Open Badminton Championship 2011 is currently held at Thumb's Up Badminton Academy badminton courts located at Level 12 of Multistorey Carpark, Central Market Sibu. For local badminton enthusiasts, this is one of the highest prestige badminton tournament in Sibu annually held by Sibu Badminton Association.

Differ from previous years, this year's tournament had been shifted to Thumb's Up Badminton Academy's hall which provides international standard of Taraflex flooring technology and more complete facilities like proper shower rooms and changing rooms. If you wish to know more about the facility, read my previous entry "Now Everyone Can Play!".

As the facility is up to international standard, thus this year's tournament is more special with the presence and participation of some well-known west Malaysia's badminton players. These players include former national team men's double cum former national badminton coach Yap Kim Hock, former national team single player Kuan Beng Hong, once Malaysia's number 2 doubles Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.

[Former national player Kuan Beng Hong waiting for service]

There are more peninsular men's and women's players who took part in this year's event with some of them might be in national team but I personally not recognize them including the Latif brothers Mohd Razif and Mohd Najib in men's double.

[Former national coach Yap Kim Hock kind enough to pose in front of my cam! Thanks coach Yap!]

This afternoon I was lucky enough to be able to witness Yap Kim Hock playing in mixed double where he teamed up with a local player, but too bad his team lost in the match and fail to advance to the next round. I was late for Fairuzizuan and Mohd Zakry's match which was scheduled at 8pm tonight. They should be able to advance to final I believe.

 [Mohd Zakry (left) and Fairuzizuan Tazari (right) kind enough to pose in front of my cam! Thanks both!]

[Yap in mixed double]

One thing to emphasize - Thumb's Up Badminton Academy Sdn Bhd had been using "Now Everyone Can Play" as their company's slogan which was initiated by me in my write-up introducing their facilities about 8 months ago!! Honestly, I didn't get a penny from this, they don't even know who the hell I am... but I think I am quite proud with it though!! ;)

Sibu Badminton Open 2011 will be held from 18th-21st August. The more important thing is - the admission is free!!! So, if you wish to see national players in action, it is still not too late for that. Just visit to Thumb's Up Badminton Academy at Level 12 Central Market Sibu tomorrow! Sorry, I don't have the schedule about the event, just read tomorrow's newspaper and you may get some tips from there!

[Latif brothers in action (correct me if I am wrong)]

[Yap Kim Hock in action]

[Kuan Beng Hong in action]

[Latif brother in action]

First Glance @ GIANT Hypermarket Sibu

Sibu is so happening and people here are so busy these days. First, they were busy observing the opening of the 1st hypermarket in Sibu, the DAESCO Hypermarket about 2 weeks ago and the latest, Sibu people are busy with the newly opened GIANT hypermarket at Jalan Ling Kai Cheng.

Giant Hypermarket was officially opened for business on 12th August 2011 (Friday). Sibu people had been commonly waiting for this day for some times when the banners about the opening could be seen everywhere in Sibu town quite ages ago. As Siburians are basically lack of fresher place to go during leisure and the new Star Mega Mall with DAESCO Hypermart in it was a bit disappointed as it still not really in shape yet, thus locals are putting their hope towards this GIANT Hypermarket.

In fact, a day before the official opening, some Siburians already lost their patient and "raid" the place even though it was only soft-open to invited guests. Yeah! This is what Sibu people is all about... the "Kiannai-ness" (extreme curiosity syndrome) is just irresistible!

As a locally born, I inherited some "kiannai" spirit as well. I had visited the place on the 2nd day of its official opening. Yeah...I know the place will be damn packed and crowded! I know I'll be caught in long traffic queue! I had heard a lot about the jammed condition, I just don't care but to show I am just another regular "kiannai" Sibu guy!

Once stepped into the building compound, the feeling was just so different from my first step into Star Mega Mall. The variety of shop design and renovation, the lighting, the air conditional, everything and everything had been dominated by GIANT. Perhaps it is not fair to compare Star Mega Mall with Giant shopping complex at this stage as the previous just having a soft launching and the building just partially in operation. But in term of hypermarket arrangement and management, no doubt GIANT has better experience and more organized as this is its 121st store in the country while DAESCO is just at their first attempt in hypermarket.

Yeah! This is the true hypermarket I was waiting for!!! Maybe I am over excited, some people may feel what's the big deal? It's just a Giant Hypermarket!!?!! Maybe is true, for those living in big cities like KL or used to stay in metropolitan, it's really nothing so big deal as hypermarkets and shopping complexes are everywhere. But as far as small town like Sibu is concern, having an organized hypermarket in town means another choice of shopping among the limited and place to spend leisure with family. It is a big deal really! ;)

This Giant Hypermarket had given me a new experience and excitement of shopping in Sibu. Now, we can have a very "KL" feel of shopping. The goods in the hypermarket had been arranged neatly on the racks with large volume. There are wide range of choices for each variation of item. Basically, you can get any daily life necessities here ranging from DIY hardware, electrical appliances, furniture, camping equipment, bicycles, clothes, footwears, car accessories to wide range of consumable and raw foods and etc and etc. 

Yes! Fresh market is also here! Local and imported fruits, vegetables, raw fish, chicken and beef, even the marinated meats are available for your convenience.

 

Fresh bakery? Yes... you got it! Right away from the bakery kitchen! Fresh and hot!

Lazy to cook? Cooked foods and snacks such as roasted chicken, fish balls and nuggets, fried rice and dishes are ready to purchase!

There is also a non-halal section to sell beers and liquors.

As conclusion, GIANT hypermarket is a one-stop shopping center for daily needs and necessities under one roof. I know other supermarkets in Sibu may also offer the same service, you can argue that it's because I am still fresh with it that leads me for such comments. Maybe you are right, but not neccessary totally right. It is the wide range of choices, more modern cum open management style that make it different from other supermarkets.

Go there and experience the ambiance yourself... perhaps you will agree with me after that, or perhaps it's just a purely fresh?!?!! For your info, Sibu GIANT Hypermarket is the first GIANT Hypermarket in Sarawak, and the next one will be in Miri which will be opened in a very near future.

Festive Feel @ Ramadhan Bazaar Sibu 2011

Yes! Is time for Ramadhan Bazaar again! Every year, during the sacred month of Ramadhan in Islamic calendar where Muslims community are having their fasting month, Ramadhan Bazaar will become the center of attraction for source of Malay delicacies.

Ramadhan Bazaar in Sibu is special in a way that it had became a festival-like occasion where it is a "must-go" event and people come here regardless of race and religious view just to either enjoy the lively ambiance, spend their leisure during weekend or purely for the delicious and tempting foods!

There are wide range of Malay's delicacies to test your temptation threshold at this Bazaar, from traditional pastries, variety of Malay's dishes, snacks, stir fried foods, deep fried foods to barbecue foods. Visitors are free to enjoy the foods they bought on spot, but for sense of respect, preventing to eat in front of Muslim while they are fasting is of course a great deed to yourself!

Keropok Lekor is one of my favorite snacks among the Malay's delicacies.

Deep fried foods are so tempting, but "heaty" to body.

Discovered a stall with very unique decoration to attract customers. Are they selling croc or spider's meat too??!! :p

During the big hot day, stalls selling cold drinks and beverages always receive overwhelmed customers.

These ABC (Air Batu Campur) look attractive and colorful, but don't be surprised if they are really "air batu campur" (mixed ice) with toppings where you get a lot of air batu, but little of other ingredients. ;p Anyway and anyhow, these cold and sweet drinks are really SUPER fantastic in quench the thirst during the hot hot day!! RM2.50 for a package!

Sugar cane juice is also one of the most favorite stall at Ramadhan Bazaar of Sibu located at 2nd phase of Sibu town square.

Pulut Panggang fanatic??? Here you go! Fresh and baked on the spot!

Roasted honey chicken (Ayam madu) and satay? You won't missed them! Look for stalls with plenty of smokes at the right hand side of the bazaar!

Of course there are a lot more nice foods which I couldn't mention them one by one here, such as Kebab, Roti John, Nasi Briyani, Nasi Tomato, bubur lambuk and so on and so forth (yeah... forgive me for drooling when mention about them), so why don't you visit the bazaar to have a look yourself? 

Reminder: Bring your hat or cap or whatever that can protect you from direct sun exposure when visit the place during hot day. I felt like almost pengsan this afternoon when visiting it at around 4pm under the hot sun. Is this a symptom of aging??? *_*