Thursday, December 19, 2013

Satay Mee @ Sri Aman

(Quoted from: http://ccwen08.blogspot.com/2011/01/satay-mee-sri-aman.html)

Years ago I introduced to you about Cha Kway, one of the very few local delicacy you can find in the town of Sri Aman. Recently I found another one which I believe worth to mention about. The food itself is quite common actually, but what make this food in a way special and unique is the gravy serving with it. The local Chinese called it "Satay Mee", i.e. noodles in satay sauce.


So, basically it is fried yellow noodles in Foochow style (stir fried noodles topping with gravy), but they made some modification to the gravy by adding peanuts into the cooking. This method gave the food with very nice peanuts aroma just like the taste of satay sauce (if you know how satay sauce taste like). That's where the name of the food came from.


You can opted the yellow noodles with Kway Teow, depends on individual preference, but for me they tasted equally nice! Sorry I didn't really note down the exact shops to eat these, but the noodles in the photo was taken at one of the stall at top floor of market building and the Kway Teow was at another coffee shop opposite the riverside. I shall be more detail next time!


Anyway, it is definitely a food that worth a try when you are in the small town of Sri Aman. So far I only found such cooking variation in this town, but feel free to argue if you have try it at another part of the state. One plate of the food is about RM3.50 - RM4.00, not that cheap actually if the living standard is taken into consideration.

Sri Aman Cha Kueh

(Quoted from: http://ccwen08.blogspot.com/2009/03/sri-aman-cha-kueh.html)

There are not much of specialty foods from Sri Aman that I could introduce to you. Anyway, this one is particularly my favorite! The Sri Aman Cha Kueh or foochow called itCha Kui. It is fried rice cake with eggs and chai po (savoury).

[The famous Cha Kueh stall in Sri Aman]
This Cha Kueh stall in Sri Aman had operated more than a decade already I guess. Since I was small and visited the town, my lovely uncles or aunties or grandfather would tapao this food for us. Even until now, I still never get bored of it. Thus, whenever I visit Sri Aman, I would never forget to taste the food!

[The cook was frying the rice cakes in pan]

Honestly, this Cha Kueh is the most delicious Cha Kueh I ever ate! No offence, ok? This is my personal point of view. I had tried few Cha Kueh stalls in Kuching, but I never like those Cha Kueh as they were mostly not tasty enough. The way they cook were not thorough hence the aroma couldn't penetrate the rice cakes when they fried it.

[Frying the yummy Cha Kueh]

But for this Sri Aman Cha Kueh, the cook fried the rice cakes more thoroughly. Therefore when the final food is served to the customers, the taste was really delicious! The aroma spread equally to each and every piece of the rice cakes, that's why it is so yummy!

[Eggs are one of the main ingredient to fry Cha Kueh]
[Those Cha Kueh were ready to be served to the customers]
You can have 2 flavours of Cha Kueh to choose from. One is the salty Cha Kueh. The rice cakes were deep fried with oil before they were fried again on a pan with eggs and chai po. The taste? Yummy!!

[Salty Cha Kueh]
[A plate of salty Cha Kueh costs RM2.50]

[The sauce]
The 2nd type - sweet Cha Kueh. The ingredients are almost the same with the salty one, but the sweet Cha Kueh is fried with sweet soya sauce and the rice cakes were not deep fried before they were cooked on pan.

[This is how a plate of sweet Cha Kueh looks like]
If you ask me which one is more delicious, I would say it depends on individual preference. Some said the salty one better but some prefer sweet one. As for me, I like both. The better way to eat is to mix both salty and the sweet one. That will make the Cha Kueh even yummy!!

[Closer look of the sweet Cha Kueh]

The price? Normal serving is RM2.50 per plate. But if you wish to order bigger portion, you can go for RM3.50, RM4.00 and RM5.00.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Call to organise support for Fort Alice heritage museum

Tuesday June 4, 2013
KUCHING: Residents in Sri Aman division are encouraged to form a volunteer group known as Friends of Fort Alice (FoFA) to support the Sarawak Museum Department to set up and operate a heritage museum to be housed in Fort Alice after its conservation has been completed.
Consultant for conservation project, Mike Boon, said as the Sri Aman people helped to build Fort Alice nearly 150 years ago under the Rajah Brooke, it was only right and proper for them to help set up the heritage museum.
“Concerned stakeholders including Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) and Simanggang Soon Heng Society (the first Chinese association in Sri Aman) could help provide some guidance. We will retreat to the background after FoFA has been properly set up,” he told The Star when contacted yesterday.
Boon hoped that the three main ethnic groups in Sri Aman — Iban, Malay and Chinese — who played a big part in developing the division would pool their resources and run the show in the future.
“FoFA will run on volunteerism and will be a platform for the locals to be involved in taking care of the fort and museum,” he said.
The idea to form FoFA was mooted during a recent a community-based cultural heritage conservation programme called “Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure ... Simanggang”.
To date a few persons had shown some interest in the idea, he said.
The community programme was held by SHS as its second series following the first one implemented in Siniawan near here called “Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure ... Siniawan”.
This programme was funded by SHS with the Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter as the co-organiser. The corporate partner was NS Bluescope Lysaght (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
Simanggang Soon Heng Society, the local partner, played an important role in the implementation of the programme and logistic coordination.
Sarawak Museum Department and The Talents and Arts Performing Group also supported the community programme.
Boon said the programme consisting of talks, workshop and site visit was held to raise public awareness of future conservation of Fort Alice and to turn it into a heritage museum.
During the programme, he said, participants including secondary school students visited Fort Alice and witnessed a “miring” ceremony to mark the beginning of the conservation project.
He said it was pivotal to include the community in the overall conservation because they were also the custodians of Fort Alice, and not just government agencies.
“We hope that in the coming months the project implementor, the Public Works Department and contractor, will allow us to bring programme participants to the site to see for themselves the work progress and how conservation is done.
“We hope to create an interest in them particularly the students so that they can tell the story of their experience in the future, otherwise it will be a missed opportunity,” he said.

Bengkel Jejak Makanan di Taman Panorama Benak 13-14 Ogos

Oleh : NewsDesk
Tarikh Disiarkan : 11-Aug-2013

SRI AMAN, Sabtu – Kesatuan Warisan Sarawak (SHC) akan mengadakan bengkel bertempat di Taman Panorama Benak, Sri Aman bermula dari 13 hingga 14 Ogos ini nanti. Siaran media memberitahu bengkel-bengkel tersebut adalah Jejak Makanan Dan Kesenian, Sesi Penerangan Awam (Mandarin / Inggeris) serta Jejak Makanan Dan Demonstrasi Kerja Pertukangan di tapak pembinaan Museum Warisan Sri Aman.

Jejak Makanan Dan Kesenian akan bermula pada dari jam 2 petang hingga 4.30 petang pada 13 Ogos di Taman Panorama Benak dengan Sesi Penerangan Awam akan menyusul dari jam 7 malam hingga 9.30 malam. Para peserta bengkel akan mempersembahkan hasil Jejak Makanan masing - masing selain diberi peluang untuk meluahkan erti Kubu Alice (Museum Warisan Sri Aman) menerusi sesi bengkel interaktif bersama Karen Shepherd dan Mike Boon dari SHC. “Kemudian, para peserta menerusi Sesi Penerangan Awam akan dibawa berdialog dalam Bahasa Mandarin tentang Kubu Alice oleh Chue Cheen Choon dari Kesatuan Budaya Cina Sarawak pada malam itu,” katanya.

Pada 14 Ogos, kesemua para peserta akan dibawa ke tapak pembinaan Museum Warisan Sri Aman bagi menyaksikan demonstrasi tentang penggabungan semula perabot lama yang ditemui ketika proses pembinaan semula tapak itu oleh Pakar Pertukangan, Ting Nik Sing dan pasukannya. “Demonstrasi ini akan diadakan dari jam 8.30 pagi hingga 12.30 tengahari. Justeru diharap bengkel seperti itu dapat menambah ilmu mengenai sejarah warisan di Sri Aman kepada para peserta selepas ini,”katanya. Terdahulu kesemua bengkel berkenaan adalah merupakan rentetan daripada program Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure ‘ Simanggang’ yang dilancarkan di Sri Aman pada bulan Mei lepas.

Ia dimulai dengan bengkel awam pada 23 Mei dengan para pesertanya menyaksikan proses Miring sebelum kerja pembinaan Kubu Alie kepada Muzeum Warisan Sri Aman dimulakan selepas itu. Program itu mendapat sokongan daripada Simanggang Soon Heng Society, Malaysian Institute of Architects Sarawak Chapter (PAMSC), NS Bluescope Lysaght (Sarawak) (Lysaght), Jabatan Muzium Sarawak dan Kumpulan Persembahan Bakat Dan Seni WuJiaoJi.

Dipetik daripada:
http://www.utusansarawakonline.com/news/4834/Bengkel-Jejak-Makanan-di-Taman-Panorama-Benak-13-14-Ogos/

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Activities Record (18-19/11/2013)









Notice of Visit To Marup Fifteen Shares Kongsi and Fort Alice Site Visit (17-18/12/2013)


“记忆的遗珠…成邦江”进甘榜

文:吴诰赐
摄影:李高珠、谢瑞文、David Boon

十一月十八日下午一时四十五分,阴天, “记忆的遗珠成邦江”一行人在慈云阁集合,准备“进甘榜”。这是项跨族群文化交流活动,同时也是我们发现家乡的系列活动之一,文化遗产的范围就是这么广大的。吴老师和温建筑师简短的汇报及介绍新成员后,我们就开始向甘榜勒马纳胡鲁(Kampung Lemanak Hulu)前进,这次的新成员包括了来自古晋的刘老师与儿子、两位回乡度假的大专生、多位中学生、婆罗洲邮报记者爱琳、温建筑师令次郎等。

甘榜勒马纳胡鲁位于海唇街上游方向,早年称甘榜胡鲁(Kampung Hulu),后因人口增加一分为三村,即最上游的巴西邦纳(Pasir Panas)、勒马纳胡鲁(Lemanak Hulu)及胡鲁(Hulu)。据该区社领本固鲁萨马(Penghulu Samad),该村源自鲁勃安都(Lubok Antu)的勒马纳,后因布洛克(Brooke)在色胶朗河口(Nanga Skrang)建堡,而搬迁到该处。1864年,布洛克迁至爱丽丝堡(Fort Alice),他们也追随建村于现址。他称目前勒马纳的苏奔窪(Lubok Subong)还有穆斯林墓茔遗址。
吴老师简介胜钦路的历史。

选择甘榜勒马纳胡鲁是因为我们看上了该村小清真寺旁的传统马来屋,温建筑师答应要为我们讲解马来传统建筑。所以这一趟的对象就是马来传统屋、清真寺与穆斯林墓地。我们在江滨酒店前停下,听吴老师讲述胜钦路名的来源。郑胜钦(1857-1931)是拉查时代成邦江第三任华人甲必丹,他是鼎鼎大名郑成裕号内成员。其堂兄郑宋兴(1871-1899)及儿子郑林典(1882-1952)分别为第二任与第四任甲必丹,拉查政权曾向他家成裕号贷款应急,他在1927年回乡省亲时中风不起,4年后逝世于故里。刚好古晋来的刘老师是成裕号的后裔。

听完历史,我们继续前进,至甘榜登雅(kampung Tengah)桥处。这次吴老师发问我们成邦江名称的来源,当然跑不了那“死光光”的故事。但吴老师说他较信于成邦江(Simanggang)是以河为镇名,而当时大伙儿脚下正是成邦江河。大部分成员都不信脚下是条河,温建筑师表示回程将证实给大家看。吴老师更讲述了两河之间的成邦江镇,及与此河相关的民俗,尤其是农历七月开关地狱门,桥头桥尾烧金纸事儿。这显示了传统在地化的过程。

成邦江河河口。
当我们到达甘榜登雅清真寺前牌楼时,温建筑师要大队放慢脚步,欣赏前方。该地是斜坡,上斜坡时,鲁巴河慢慢显现,那种感觉是特殊的!大队又在实达湾(Stawang)路口停下,这时清真寺秘书来电问为何我们还没到,村人已在清真寺等待了。

实达湾路,以前叫老爷路。


















老成邦江人称实达湾路为老爷路,非意味简陋的路,而是神明的路。潮州人奉玄天上帝,称大老爷,所以也统称神明为老爷。早期实达湾路为慈云阁元宵游神必经之道,处于郊外,即非巴刹境内,有其特殊性,故称老爷路。与实达湾路并行的是实达湾河,属红水河,早期人称后沟,是旱季巴刹人洗漱处。温建筑师也在该路口介绍多种植物,如香茅、木薯、黑橄榄树。尤其是黑橄榄,大家见证了未熟、半熟及成熟果实的颜色。从黑橄榄,我们竟在路口谈起三毛与橄榄树。

火车头!
实达湾路对面有个火车头,由于是在私人住宅范围内,吴老师只要我们望一望。碰巧女屋主开门要外出,在她的同意下,大队进入参观与摄影。女屋主表示不清楚火车头的来源,只知她父亲买下屋地时,火车头已在该处。据悉,1950年代该处为印裔穆斯林开办的小杂货店。温建筑师表示,砂拉越只有三个类似的火车头,因此这火车头的历史值得探讨!

哈惹屋子前大合照:我们都是一家人。
大约一小时后,我们终于走完一公里路抵达目的地。慢走,体验该是我们今日该有的习惯。小清真寺满满人群,让我们感染到马来同胞的热情。不过,我们得先去隔壁哈惹查蕾哈(Hajah Zaleha bte Abdul Wahid)住家,她们一家人已在等待我们了。屋主的女婿博汉(Bohan)老师下来迎接大队,温建筑师先在屋外讲解马来传统屋的建筑风格与提醒大家入屋的礼俗。哈惹一家三代热情招待大伙儿,他们准备了以香蕉叶包蒸粘米粉裹亚答糖的篮糕(Kuih Bakul)、炸菜饼(cucur sayur)与炸苏公饼(cucur sukun),当然也少不了咖啡与茶。哈惹在欢迎我们的谈话时表示,这屋子至少有70多年,他未嫁入时已建成。早期,是以亚答叶为瓦,后换成盐材瓦,现在是钢瓦。其墙壁也从树皮改成今日的木板。总之,一间屋总结了地方上建筑材料的演进史。唯一不变的是该屋的空间设计与格式:其屋沿保留木雕,屋前小平台是乘凉及与邻家话家常的好地点,厨房比主屋低。目前,哈惹单独守住祖屋,儿孙各有住处。告别哈惹前,吴老师代表大家赠送感谢状与红包于屋主,并在大合照时献上大家的祝福。马来同胞是好客的兄弟,吴老师一通电话就促成这拜访。
吴诰赐赠送感谢状于马来传统屋屋主。
哈惹查丽哈细说屋子的历史,
学员们正享用哈惹准备的篮糕。
温志坚赠送纪念品于清真寺管理委员会主席。
  

















进入小清真寺(Surau Hayatul Islam),我们受到管理委员会主席哈志依布拉欣(Haji Ibrahim Arifin)在本固鲁砂末(Penghulu Haji Samad)、卡玛鲁丁村长(KK Kamarudin)及一众理事的迎接。甘榜的妇女团体也与会。哈志依布拉欣向大家简介清真寺的历史及清真寺的角色等。他说早期该寺是以亚答叶为顶,树皮为墙,目前的规模是在1974年完成的。

简介后,大伙儿到一楼的祈祷室参观。首先,哈志依布拉欣介绍和示范了清真教徒祈祷前净身的过程,并表示净身后不可接触异性身体,否则须再净身。过后,他在其他理事的协助下讲解了一天五祷的时间、方式,祈祷面向方向、割礼、葬礼、周四晚祷后的诵经仪式等。同时也让参与者实践与体验清真教徒祈祷过程。

哈志依布拉欣正讲解穆斯林净身仪式。
体验穆斯林祈祷方式。

































因天色渐暗,我们取消到穆斯林墓园考察的计划,赶着在甘榜看梦娜!跨文化交流结束前是茶点。管理委员会为我们准备了传统食品,即戒指糕(kueh cincin)、斗笠糕(Penyaram)、马六甲子(buah Melaka)、蒸番薯配虾酱与亚答糖、芒果及嘛嘛面(mi mamak),巧的是当天的糕类都少不了亚答糖。茶会时,大家与村民欢乐言谈、交流。
清真寺管理委员会为我们准备的传统糕点。
最后,大家带着依依不舍的心情离开甘榜。甘榜,每天我们都经过,但我们不曾深入它,这一天总让我们体验到甘榜与其人的真、美与亲切!这就是所谓“要了解,才会相爱”,“免得像闯进甘榜的小鹿”!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Bringing the shine back to Fort Alice

by Irene C, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 8, 2013, Sunday

SITE VISIT: Students witnessing the reconstruction of Fort Alice.
BUILDING BLOCKS: Pieces of timber to be used in the reconstruction of Fort Alice.

FORT Alice has been left to the mercy of the elements after outliving its usefulness as a military outpost, built by Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah, more than 100 years ago to defend Simanggang (now Sri Aman) against attacks by warring tribes.

After being abandoned, its dignity as the Division’s bastion of defence during a turbulent period in Sarawak’s history descended to the crass level of “a local den for drug addicts.” And parents were quick to warn their children to stay away from the crumbling building for fear they may get injured by falling shards – or harmed by drug addicts hanging out there.

The long-forgotten over a century-old Fort (kubu) has also been described as being dressed down layer after layer like superfluous decks of outer dresses, coats, petticoats and shifts, worn by vain Victorian era ladies as they endeavoured to become the most wooed debutantes at court.
Passing through different hands and transcending time, the Fort had been given several facelifts to suit the needs of different owners – or simply follow prevailing trends. Some added rooms and some added extensions, thus upping the ante for the restorers to bring the original shine back to the worn-down Fort.

Before the start of the restoration project, the Fort resembled a two-storey wooden bungalow although there are ample proofs to show it was a wooden structure built on stilts. During its heyday back in 1864, Fort Alice was the centre of Simanggang town, bringing life to the surrounding jungles and riverbanks.

Identifying the different add-ons and dismantling the Fort is a delicate procedure so as not to damage the existing architecture. The original structure is hardier than the newer added on materials, making it easier to tell the old from the new. The dismantled parts were carefully inspected and labelled while some of the rotting timber replaced and the still hardy materials reused.

Since the restoration project started in May, the whole Fort has been dismantled and replacement parts will be fitted together piece by piece – like building a house from Lego blocks.
According to architect Mike Boon, consultant for the Fort Alice restoration project, progress has been made with the contractor having already put up the main framework.

The structure sits on a new reinforced concrete pad footing and some of the buried decaying lower parts of the columns which have spliced on the existing woodwork, have been replaced with new belian materials.

“The columns have irregular connections because when the originals were coated with modern acrylic paint or bitumen, it was not permeable (the timber can’t breathe) and rotting started to occur from the inside, moving upwards. That’s why we are replacing the bottom parts of the columns.
“We cut away the rotted parts bit by bit until we reached the solid part of the old column. Then we made a new piece of timber with the same shape and slotted it in like a jigsaw piece,” he explained.
Some of the bottom column parts, requiring bigger belian pieces, are left hanging with the help of props because the new parts have not arrived yet. If not propped up, reconstruction will be delayed because all the parts are interlocked with bearers tying the frame together.

When the bigger timber arrived, all that had to be done was slotting them in from the side, Boon said.
The next step is putting in the floor joists which is expected sometime in December.

GROUND UP: Reconstruction of Fort Alice is making progress.
CLOSE-UP: Students getting a closer look at how tar is poured into the wood and the excess scraped off.

Students site visit
In November, Boon brought 40 local students on a tour of the project site. They are participants of a community engagement programme called Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure – Simanggang which involves a series workshops by local historian Goh Kaw Sze.

The tour – the fourth to be organised – comprised first, second and third timers to the site. The number has more than doubled the 18 students from the initial site visit.

The students were shown how plant-extracted tar was melted and how parts of the timber were covered with it. The purpose is to prevent water seeping into the wood. This is important since the timber parts will be planted in the ground while the face of the timber and the joints exposed to the elements. Even the bolts have to be dipped in tar.

As the tar was very hot, the students were cautioned not get too close. Tar was poured into the spliced timber and the excess scraped off and once cooled, it will solidify and caulk the gaps.
Thick oil will be painted on the column face to make it waterproof. The timber will soak up the oil slowly, just below the surface of the wood, and will be repainted with thick oil over time to create a thicker waterproof layer.

“Paint is not a good idea because it will not bond but peel off over time. Besides, constant repainting will cause the layers to crack, allowing water will seep in and cause bubbles on the surface of the wood and affect the timber,” Boon said.

The second hands-on process was lime-wash. Research shows the Fort had been lime-washed before. It was the finishing used during that time – before the invention of modern paint.
Boon said the method was introduced by the Brookes and usually used on masonry up to 1960. Based on the illustrations left by the Brookes, there was a formula for a waterproof lime-wash as an exterior coating.

Further research reveals the formula originated from Queensland, Australia, and the waterproof version was introduced after government officers at the time complained about the hassle of lime-washing the Fort every year.

Based on the recipe, glue is needed besides lime and water but there is no specific ratio for the ingredients. Thus, a series of experiments was necessary to ascertain the correct quantity.
“The original lime-and-water recipe produced weak bond and there was no clear indication what the glue really was. In Vietnam, cowhide or cartilage gelatin is used. So we include cowhide gelatin in our experiments. Other items used are soap and starch,” Boon disclosed.

“Soap has good bond but is powdery to the touch when dried. We worry the rain might wash it all off. Cowhide gelatin, mixed with water and boiled to glue-consistency, works well and we are trying to figure out how much is the correct amount to use.”

Boon said too much cowhide gelatin would make the mixture impermeable, hence defeating the purpose of the wash.

During the experiments, the students got to mix lime and water and see how the mixture bubbled and gave out heat when mixed. They also got to smell and touch the cowhide gelatin, and see first-hand the melted cowhide, water consistency and colours.

The different recipes were exposed to the elements to test the effectiveness of the lime-wash. The best results will be used on the Fort later.

The students were also given the opportunity to touch the different mixtures as well as paint the lime-wash on pieces of wood.

This was followed by a third experiment to show how timber is cured or seasoned by boiling belian materials for four to six hours. When boiled, the hard wood leaks red sap. The students were shown samples of the red sap at different boiling stages. The colours varied from light reddish to almost dark brown.

“We need to season the wood claddings (wall planks) before using them so that when we paint the lime-wash, they will not turn red,” Boon explained.

Boon’s son, David, an architecture student, visited the site for the first time and really loved the trial-and-error part of the project in contrast to modern construction which adherers to strict guidelines.
Following in his father’s footsteps, the 19-year-old is interested in conservation and plans to get involved. He enjoyed watching the lime-wash mixing and the tar wood treatment which, he said, were “very hands-on.”

“Modern construction uses premix and modern materials but for Fort Alice, it’s experimental,” David noted.

For Sri Aman-born Lai Jie Ling, a second-year architecture student, it was her first site visit and “a very good experience.”

The 20-year-old knew about the programme through her mum and it coincided with her semester break.

“I learned many new things during the site visit – like using tar to join the spliced wood pieces and I look forward to the next visit to learn more about this historical building right in my own backyard. Even my parents do not really know much about the Fort, apart from its name,” she said.

Second timer Desmond Kii of SJK (C) Chung Hua Simanggang loves participating in the programme because “it is very hands-on” and he can learn traditional carpentry skills from it.

As the 11-year-old loves history, he wants to know about the beginning of Fort Alice so that he can tell his parents what he has seen and learnt.

“My parents don’t really know much about the history of Fort Alice and now they will learn more about it from me,” he said.

For fourth-timer Yvonne Derrick Warren of SMK St Luke, she decided to take part in the programme out of boredom but is now looking forward to the next site visit.

“Previously, Fort Alice is known as a local haunt for drug addicts and my parents warned me not to go near it as the building was crumbling down and I may get hurt. Also, there may be drug addicts using the place,” the 15-year-old said.

“Since the reconstruction of the Fort, I became interested to see how it looks like when restored to its former glory. It’s good to know the historical sites of my own hometown. I will continue to participate in the programme to follow the rebuilding progress.”

“Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure – Simanggang” is 100 per cent NGO-run, involving the Sarawak Heritage Society, PAM Sarawak Chapter, Soon Heng Society, the Sarawak Museum and Talents and Arts Performing Group Kuching. The CSR sponsor is NS Bluescope Lysaght (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
All the processes and procedures on the work done on Fort Alice are recorded on the blogs friendoffortalice@blogspot.com and johntingarchitect.blogspot.com.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/12/08/bringing-the-shine-back-to-fort-alice/#ixzz2mzqrISg6

Sunday, November 24, 2013

"Reminiscing Forgotten Treasrer...Simanggang"'s members invited to participate in Community Engagement Program organised by Museum Sarawak (5/10 and 26/10/2013)


Breifing by the organizer
RST...S team
 


Group presentation



Workshop in progress.
Our memebrs won the group project competition.


Group photo after closing ceremony.




'Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure - Simanggang' - Notice of Workshop 4 and Site Visits

 Dear all,

During our previous workshop on 13.8.2013, Mr. Tay Chek Pin (a local historian) shared with us the following report that he found in the archive :

"ADO D.C. Hudden - At 5am on 12.4.1931, after a short ceremony, the first post of the new Office was erected. Despite the early hour, there was quite a good attendance and a point of great interest was the presence of the grandsons of 4 of those people who helped to raise the first post of Fort Alice 67 years ago - Dato Abang Haji Addul Rashid, the grandson of Abang Ali of Pusa, Abang Omar, Native Officer, grandson of Pengeran Matali and Teliang, Resident Office Clerk, grandson of Orang Kaya, Pemancha Nanang of Saribas."
(SG 1.5.1931, P.111, Simanggang Monthly Report).

Mr. Tay said that invitation for a Chinese Towkay to raise the second post was also being mentioned. In close examination of construction details in Fort Alice, joineries resembling Malay, Iban and Chinese carpentry traditions were self-evidence in suggesting that the fort was constructed by these communities with supervision from the White Officers. Local history revealed that the same communities have contributed, in various ways, to the development of Simanggang ever since the Fort was built.

In view of this unique social history, we wish to initiate a series of cross-cultural exchange to engage these communities, in support of the Community Heritage Museum that will be set up in the conserved Fort Alice.

In addition to our regular site visits to Fort Alice, we intend to bring our participants to visit traditional Malay kampung, Iban longhouses and Chinese farmhouses during this coming school holiday. Our first visit is to Kampung Hulu, which will be hosted by the community leaders, house owners and school children. The participants will visit traditional Malay houses, Surau and historical graves site. Participants will be treated to traditional Malay food and refreshment prepared by the hosts.

Attached [below] is a registration form for interested participants. Please note that participants are limited to 30 persons only! Non-local participants are encouraged to book their accommodation early.

Regards,
Mike Boon
Project Director





“Taman Panorama Benak won ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2013 ”梦娜美景公园荣获“2013年亚洲建筑师理事会建筑奖”


1.       A special presentation during launching of Pesta Benak on 19.10.2013 in Sri Aman

Taman Panorama Benak has won an international architecture awards - the ARCASIA AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURE 2013 in Nepal last week.

This is a special ‘gift’ to be presented to the residents of Sri Aman to coincide with the launching of Pesta Benak.

梦娜美景公园上周在尼泊尔荣获“2013年亚洲建筑师理事会建筑奖”。这奖项将在梦娜节推展礼上移交于斯里阿曼子民。


2.       About the award

ARCASIA AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURE was instituted in 1992 by Architects Regional Council Of Asia (ARCASIA), an organization of 18 National Institutes of Architects from the Asian region, to encourage and recognize exemplary works done by Architects working in Asia.

This year, the Awards Committee has received 191 nominations for 10 Categories of which, 74 projects were shortlisted and eventually 24 projects were selected to receive the prestigious ARCASIA Awards for Architecture.

 Taman Panorama Benak, submitted by Architect Mike Boon of Arkitek JFN Sdn Bhd, has won a merit award in the Public Amenity: Social/ Instituition Buildings Category.

This is the second architecture award won by the project after winning the Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia’s national PAM Awards for Public and Civic Buildings Category in 2010.

 “亚洲建筑师理事会建筑奖”于1992年开始由亚洲建筑师理事会颁发,目的是鼓励与认可亚洲建筑师们的贡献。

今年,一共有191项建筑设计参加10组的比赛。74项设计入选,24项获奖。梦娜美景公园由JFN公司的温志坚建筑师提呈,获颁公共设施:公众建筑奖。

这是梦娜美景公园第二次获奖。之前,它在2010年获得马来西亚建筑师协会的公共建筑奖。


3.       About the project

The project is sited in Sri Aman, about 110km from Sarawak’s capital city Kuching. It is separated from the town and its waterfront by a small hill, which is a significant heritage site where the historical Fort Alice stands. Fort Alice is the oldest surviving fort made of belian (ironwood), built by Charles Brooke in 1864, and includes a historical tomb on site.

 美景公园处于斯里阿曼,距离砂拉越首府古晋110公里。它处于爱丽丝堡山侧。爱丽丝堡是斯里阿曼的古迹,是现存历史最悠久的盐木堡,由二任拉查查里斯在1864年建成。美景公园内还有一百年古墓。

The client originally wanted an observation tower for viewing the tidal bore – a natural phenomenon unique to this town – with facilities such as a resource cum visitors centre for public awareness and educational programmes.

 The architect successfully convinced the client and local community of an alternative approach for the project and proposed a design that addressed the site, heritage and cultural issues.

原本,官方是要建筑一所包含游客资讯中心的观潮台,所谓的潮即是鲁巴河独特的河潮,或俗称梦娜。但建筑师提呈了一个容纳场地、古迹与文化因素的设计,并获得官方的接纳。

The site is conceived as a public park with a wheelchair accessible ramp that brings visitors from the road level down to a new river esplanade. A 7m drop from the road level to the esplanade means that, functionally, the ramp has to wind down the slope with sufficient distance to achieve a gentle gradient. This results in a spiral form resembling a ‘midin’ or ‘paku’, the edible shoot of a wild local fern and a delicacy, which is also significant for the Sarawak Iban ethnic group.

Rather than the common practice of using indigenous motifs as surface decoration, this approach uses the motif to generate the form of the building.

该公园主要建筑为一个可供轮椅通行的斜坡,游客可从公路下到一个新的河景。公路与河边的高差是7公尺,这意谓需要有足够的距离,来建立“舒服”的斜道。建筑师以螺旋形式类似当地野生蕨'midin''包谷',配合砂拉越伊班族传统条纹的设计处理这舒服的斜道。

以土著图案为建筑形式是一项创新,因为过去人们常用它作为表面装饰。

The functional spaces include an exhibition space, audio-visual room and offices, which are placed under the ramp and dug into the hill. A sunken courtyard allows natural light and cross-ventilation to these spaces which have sweeping view of the river.
 
Cladding and screens constructed from ‘belian’ are reinterpretations of the construction of Fort Alice, a unique building type, and the traditional Malay houses around the area.

公园建设包含了展览厅、视听室与办事处。这些建设处于斜坡下。其下沉式庭院允许自然采光,垂直的格条让人们能从室内观看河景。这建筑物的主要材料为盐木,因为避免与爱丽丝堡与邻近的马来老屋冲突。

The local contractors are only familiar with basic construction technique, as such, low tech construction methodology was considered employing the use of Reinforced Concrete (RC), timber and basic metal work.

The majority of the accommodations are enclosed by RC retaining walls and RC ramp or RC roof deck with thermal insulation. RC construction is also used for riverwalls, foot paths and drains.

The landscaping involves recreating the terrain into a rolling hill slope, which is turfed with existing mature trees retained on site and other indigenous plant species grown.

The building is today the new home of the annual week-long Benak Festival, the town’s largest social and tourism event. It is also becoming a popular spot for families and the gentle gradient provides safe access to the elderly, disabled and children.

So popular is this project, that the area is a new landmark for Sri Aman and is officially named ‘Taman Panorama Benak’. The project addresses the lack of public green open space that caters for the multi-cultural community by offering a building with cultural references in modern interpretations.

The award recognizes the architect’s design approach that has successfully addressed the site, heritage and cultural issues.

梦娜美景公园成为了斯里阿曼年度大型活动-梦娜节的中体,它也是地方上老中青各年龄层的消闲处,它独特的建设也方便残障人士。此公园成为斯里阿曼德新地标,补充了该坡绿地休闲空间,显示多元文化的新含义。

这奖项则肯定了建筑师的设计概念,他的设计成功与巧妙的包含了场地、古迹与文化因素。

4.        About this special presentation

After completing the award winning project, the project Architect Mike Boon’s current undertaking in Sri Aman is to conserve the Fort Alice for adaptive reuse as a Heritage Museum for the local community.

In conjunction with this conservation project, he has initiated a Community Engagement Programme called “Reminiscing Forgotten Treasure … Simanggang”. It is a NGO programme co-organized and funded by Sarawak Heritage Society and Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia Sarawak Chapter. The programme is supported by Sri Aman SoonHeng Society and Jabatan Muzium Sarawak, with a local company, NS Bluescope Lysaght (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, as the corporate sponsor.

Under the programme, a series of site visits and workshops are organized for students and public to witness and learn about the conservation process since May 2013. The objective is to encourage the local residents to set up the Friends of Fort Alice (FoFA), a volunteer group to support your future community museum in the conserved Fort Alice by the end of 2014.

完成了美景公园的建筑,温志坚现正参与爱丽丝堡的维修与提升为地方文物馆工程。

配合爱丽丝堡维修工程的开工,温志坚发动了“记忆的遗珠…成邦江”的社区维护古迹计划,由砂拉越遗产协会、马来西亚建筑师协会砂拉越分会与其企业伙伴NS Bluescope Lysaght(砂)有限公司联办与资助,砂拉越博物院及五脚基表演艺术坊的协办,及成邦江顺兴公会为本土伙伴。
自今年五月,此计划推动了系列的考察、工作坊。目的在于唤起学生与公众对古迹的醒觉与体验古迹的维护过程,并实现爱丽丝堡之友的成立。爱丽丝堡之友将会是一个支援将在2014年底完成的文物馆的志工团。

In appreciation to the support in conserving the fort and making Taman Panorama Benak as a popular new landmark of Sri Aman, the Project Architect wishes to dedicate and present the award, which he received in a special presentation by the President of Nepal on 8th October 2013, held in conjunction with the 17th ARCASIA Forum in Kathmandu, to the people of Sri Aman.

The Guest of Honor, YB Datuk Amer Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Haji Abang Open, (Minister of Tourism Sarawak) receives this award on behalf of the people of Sri Aman.

Mike Boon also presents a limited edition T-Shirt printed for the Community Engagement Programme as a souvenir to the Guest of Honor.

为了感激斯里阿曼子民对维护古堡与实现梦娜美景公园为新地标的努力与热情,温志坚特把他在108日于尼泊尔总统手中领取的“亚洲建筑师理事会建筑奖”献给斯里阿曼德子民,并由2013年梦娜节开幕主宾州旅游部部长拿督阿玛卓哈里将代领。温志坚也将赠送“记忆的遗珠…成邦江”限量衫于主宾。