WATER VILLAGE "KAMPUNG AIR" TANJUNG ARU

In Sabah, the name "kampung air" or water village does not give a good image to the  people as many of these water villages are associated with squatters, garbage, crime and other anti-social elements. To my knowledge, it is not the case, depending on the location of the village. This water village in Tanjung Aru is just average.    

Located 10 minutes from the City centre and 5 minutes from the Kinabalu International airport.  

From the walkway, visitors can have a good view of the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort.

I saw this boy walking in the water as the tide was moving in.

 He was "fishing" and proudly showed us his "catch"

This boy was using a home made "fish gun" to spear fishes that followed the tide in.  

 Part of the old wooden walkway.

There are around  3,000 villagers staying in some 240 dwellings on stilts. People who live here are the low-income group like fishermen, blue-collar workers in the public and private sectors and some illegal immigrants.

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The Sabah Tourism Board has been promoting this village as an attraction for foreign tourists who have not seen a floating settlement in their respective home country. 

MALAYSIA AIRLINES TODAY - 2

The loss-making Malaysia Airlines together with AirAsia, yesterday announced that they have signed a shirt deal with Queens Park Rangers, a English Premier League club (QPR) owned by Tony Fernandes and others.

 

Malaysia Airlines has never put their money for such branding and marketing strategy in the past and now, out of the blue, committed on something that is unlikely to generate a favourable return. 

What is going on? Who is Tony Fernandes? 

. The man who recently purchased the two-thirds stake of QPR.

. The Air Asia Tycoon

. A Director of Malaysia Airlines (after the last month MH-AK swap deal)  

Some people commented " Why spend money on such a lousy football club like QPR. Why not MU, MC or Liverpool?"  

I just wonder how will the staff of Malaysia Airlines react?

Malaysia Airlines suffered a loss of RM769 million in the first half of this year. Can this deal help? 

May God help Malaysia Airlines! 

A TOWN CALLED BEAUFORT IN VICTORIA AND ALSO SABAH

Fancy seeing a small town named BEAUFORT on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Ararat in Victoria, Australia. We have a town with the same name in Sabah, located about 97 kms from Kota Kinabalu. 

Approaching the Beaufort town, Victoria. The name Beaufort is practically in most of the buildings here. 

 Beaufort Motors.

Beaufort Bakery.

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According to the Tourist Information, this small town started with gold mining back in 1852 and today the town is only servicing the surrounding farming district.

 Beaufort Garage.

 Beaufort Animal Supplies.

This Beaufort can be reached by train.

One of the trains operating through the Beaufort town.

Back home in Sabah, Beaufort is basically an agriculture town located on the main highway linking the city and the Sabah - Sarawak border. In the 50-60's, Beaufort served as the main transit station for the North Borneo Railway from Kota Kinabalu to the interior of Tenom.   

Beaufort town, Sabah, is best known for the juicy local green oranges which are the prized produce of the district. 

The new Beaufort Railway station.

This is the train to the interior of Tenom, old but still operational!

 New part of the town with concrete structures

The older part of the town.

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In terms of attraction, Beaufort has not much to offer. Visitors may find themselves here for one of the several reasons - to take the train to Pangi station for whitewater-rafting the Padas river, to catch the train to/from Tenom, or to take a break while doing the overland trail between Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak.

THE SEAGULLS OF SHIRAKO BEACH

Miura san updated me on his recent trip to Shirako beach in Chiba Prefecture with pictures of seagulls skimming the waves. What a sight to behold!!!

  A surfer trying to imitate the seagulls???  

Enjoy the pictures!