PERAK YOUTH FRIENDSHIP TOUR - KUNMING, YUNNAN

Group photo with the Malaysia Consulate General in Kunming

DAY 3 (19 AUGUST, 2009)

Today is our last day in Kunming. The delegation will left for Malaysia at 3 p.m. via Bangkok. We have early breakfast and should be checking out by 8.30 a.m. All delegates are punctual with one or two exceptional.

In Malaysia Consulate General office with Zuraini, Executive Secretary, MBN Perak

With En. Azmi (Immigration Attache), Mejar (R) Amiruddin, Tuan Roseli (Consulate General) and Hang Tuah Din (MBN Perak Chairman)

At 9.00 a.m., the delegates paid a courtesy call to the Consulate General office situated in the 4th floor of Hotel Sakura. Tuan Roseli, the Consulate General and his staff were there to welcome us. There are 5 Malaysian and 7 Chinese staff in the Consulate office. We spent about an hour there.


Signing guest book in Consulate office

I have to leave the Consulate 15 minutes earlier to settle the Hotel and transportation bills.

With Ahmad Ansor [Vice Chairman], Tuan Roseli and Hang Tuah Din

We left the Consulate at 10 a.m. to Loisewan again for last minute shopping. Most of the delegates have not buy the things and souvenirs they need. We spent 2 hours here and by 12 p.m., we left to the airport. We arrived early. We hanging around and continuing shopping with the remaining RMB in the pocket. Off course the price here is expensive than Loisewan.

I have to managed the check in for the delegates. Hang Tuah Din bought a remote control helicopter for his son. He wonder that the item can be hand carry. I suggested that he put the item in the luggage. He did.

We came with 25 luggage and returned with 38 luggage! While I am busy sorting the check in with Ansor, Rozidi and Mona started the disturbance. They did last minute shopping and wanted to hand carry their goods. I could not control my anger and busted.

After the sorting complete, I advise them to put it with the luggage with "fragile" sticker.

Everything done and departed from Kunming via flight TG613 at 3:20 p.m. and reached Swvarnabhumi Airport at 5.30p.m. The connecting flight to Penang (flight TG 421) was at 6:10 p.m. From the previous experience in Swarnabhumi Airport, all the delegates were more alert this time. No more shopping and sight seeing. Straight to the departure gate. We reached Penang Airport at 9 p.m. The bus already waiting and we departed back to Ipoh immediately.

Halim requested 'nasi kandar' as he cannot stand without spices for the past few days. We stopped in Bukit Merah R n R and guess what....????? Most of the delegates ate laksa and nasi lemak!

We arrived safely to Ipoh at about 12a.m.

DYNAMIC YUNNAN

Peacock dance

The Consulate General suggested that we go for Dynamic Yunnan show in Kunming Assembly Hall. The show start at 8 pm daily and entrance fees is RMB90.

I witnessed a live performance of "Dynamic Yunnan". It was the best live show I have ever seen, absolutely brilliant. I was informed that the large-scale dance drama "Dynamic Yunnan" has been an outstanding innovation on the Chinese stage in recent years. Dynamically incorporating traditional beauty and modern flavors with a reintegration of the most original and rustic dance elements of Yunnan, the programme breathes new life into Yunnan culture.

Primitive, unsophisticated folk dances and a fresh artistic concept converge in the programme, giving audiences a unique "Yunnan Impression." Sixty-two drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance. Other props, like a "praying stone" and bull's head are taken from real life. A 70-percent cast of ethnic-minority performers and enigmatic lighting and stage effects also add to the programme's appeal. It shows the different dances of the minority tribes in Yunnan Province. It is both vibrant and colourful as the dancers energetically perform in their traditional dress.

One of the dancers performs the peacock dance. She had very nimble limbs as she imitated the movement of the peacock. To the Dai people, the peacock is a symbol of love called "sunbird". Yang Liping, the creator has created a series of dances about peacocks. In the epilogue of Dynamic Yunnan, Yang dynamically integrates her solo dance and group dance for the first time. The sound and lighting effects add great appeal to the performance.

The dance here is also characterized with its unadorned manner.

PERAK YOUTH FRIENDSHIP TOUR - KUNMING, YUNNAN

Day 2 (18 August, 2009)

This is our second day in Kunming. The weather here is almost like Perak. The delegates do not face any problem with the weather. It is drizzling in the morning. The delegation left for Loisewan after breakfast. As Loisewan will open at 9.30 a.m., the delegation dropped by the Lake Park in Kunming City.

Old folks were practising varies 'tai chi'. Some were doing line dancing. These were seldom seen back in Malaysia. The younger folks jog around the lake. Some delegates managed to buy Chinese calligraphy drawing from a lady. The lady having tough time negotiate with the delegates; however, she managed to sold a few pieces.

The delegation reached Loisewan at about 10 a.m. Wooohhhh!!! It is a big warehouse type shopping area. It is not a shopping complex, just shops but the area is very very wide. We spent 3 hours here. The delegates went for the shopping spree!

I just went window shopping and brought a few glass souvenirs for the VIPs' back home. Ansor and I sat at a coffee shop for almost a hour as we were too tired to walk.

All delegates back to the bus at 1 pm sharp and we went for lunch. En. Zaman leads the way to a Muslim restaurant - Qingzhen Xiaojinniu Shifu.

Group photo in front of Qingzhen Xiaojinnu Shifu restaurant

We had a warmth welcome by the manager, Mr Chen Si Yu. He is a good friend of En. Zaman. En. Zaman introduced us to him. Mr Chen came from Quangdong Province. He married a Muslim lady from Xinjiang thus converted to Muslim. He spoke Cantonese with me and he said that he is very happy as I am the only one that can speak Cantonese. He hardly speak a word of Cantonese since moving to Kunming a few years ago.

He introduced many local cuisine for the delegates. We had a 12 dishes lunch! It is not expensive either, only RMB320! We have fish, prawn, mutton, beef, chicken and vegetables with a soup. After lunch, we have a photography session in front of the restaurant on Mr. Chen's request then we proceed to a mosque nearby.

Group photo in the Qingzhen Mosque

Hassan was shocked when he found his beg missing after praying! He almost cry as all his belongings and important documents are in it - passport, i.c., money and ATM cards! He begged an old lady sitting near the place where he passed his beg to somebody! He said that he taught that it is one of the delegate. After all .... nothing happen! Hassan passed his beg to Perviaz Akhtar and Perviaz went to purchase some groceries in the nearby shops at that time ....... Everyone laughing after the excitement!

En. Zaman brought us to another shopping area said to have branded begs sold at lower price. We all went and we were joined by Pn. Kathijah, the wife of the Consulate General who is a Chinese from Tapah.

Another incident happened here! Part of the delegates went to the 27th floor where the shop located. Suddenly the lift stopped at 23rd floor for about an hour. A. Sabramani fainted as lack of ventilation. An ambulance was called by the building management, however, all ends well!

After the delegation spent about an hour here buying nothing, we decided to go back to hotel. As the coordinator, I have to stopped the taxi as the bus have already left since there is no parking space. I managed to stopped a few taxis to ferry the delegates back to hotel.

The time almost 5 pm, all taxis fulled. Hang Tuah Din suggested that we walked back as it was not very far....about 3 km? We walked..... and passed through Kunming Assembly Hall, Kunming City Hall, Yunnan Provincial Office, Yunnan Province Communist Party Headquarter and few shopping malls.

Along the way, we saw old folks playing cards and workers walking back after office. The roads were busy with buses, taxis, cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

No dinner today as most of the delegates had gone out shopping. Only 6 of us and I suggested that we have dinner in Marco Polo restaurant, the hotel's restaurant. Hang Tuah Din and others agreed. Since we are not hungry yet, we ordered fruits, creamed soup with buns. Later, 9 others came to joined us.

I was informed that there is a Thai restaurant at 18 floor earlier. Ansor and I went to see if the restaurant provide halal food and the answer is what we guessed .... NO!

I was told that some went to massage and karaoke that night. I just stay back in my room and enjoy my reading.....!

KELAB RAKAN MUDA WAWASAN DESA KAMPUNG BARU

The participants

En. Shahrin, State Youth and Sports Department offcial speech.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports planned to form Kelab Rakan Muda Wawasan Desa Kampung Baru in all new villages nationwide. This is part of the upgrade plans for the Rakan Muda programme which has been carried out more than 10 years ago. I am part of the Rakan Muda since the porgramme was launched at the time that I have actively involved in youth movements.

I was called to assists Sungai Siput Youth and Sports Department to form the club in 7 villages around Sungai Siput a few months ago. I managed to formed 5 clubs and were launched on 23 August, 2009 in Sungai Buloh New Village. The clubs are Sungei Buloh N/V, Simpang Jalong N/V, Rimba Panjang N/V, Lintang N/V and Lasah N/V.

The secretariat

The Rakan Muda

The Advisor to Perak State Menteri Besar, Dato' Chang Ko Youn officiated the launched. En. Shahrin from the State Youth and Sports Department attended the launching together with Ms. Abby from Sungai Siput office. The 'penggerak Rakan Muda' for Sungai Siput and committee members of Kelab Rakan Muda Sungai Siput were there too.


In conjunction with the launching, a 3 On 3 basketball tournament was held. 16 teams took part. This tourney is open for all youth in Sungai Siput age between 15 - 25. The responds are good. As this is the first time, the Kelab organised the tourney; there are weaknesses which should be overcome in the next event. The tournament is a success.

Prize giving by the Sg. Buloh N/V Chief, Sg. Buloh RELA chief and Ms. Abby.

The winners - 1st & 2nd.

The prize money were RM500 (champion), RM300 (2nd. runners-up), RM200 (3rd place) and RM100 (4th). No entrance fees.

PERAK YOUTH FRIENDSHIP TOUR - KUNMING, YUNNAN

Day 1 (17 Aug. 2009)

Today is the first day the Perak youth delegation in Kunming. With the assistance from the Malaysia Consulate General in Kunming, 3 official meetings were arranged.

Meeting with CPC Kunming

The first meeting was at 9.30 a.m. with Ms Zhang HongPing, Member of the Communist Party of China Standing Committee, Yunnan Province and Director-General of Department of Publicity, CPC Kunming Committee. The Perak youth was represented by Hang Tuah Din, Ng Kah Choong, Ahmad Ansor, Pervaiz Akhtar, Mohd. Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Taufik, Halim, Tan Wee Tion, Hajjah Faridah and A. Sabramani. Tuan Ruseli Abdul, the Consulate General accompany the delegation. The Secretary General of the Yunnan Youth Federation, Ms Cai JiaYu and the Secretary General of the Kunming Youth Union, Ms Meng Jie were with the Chinese party. Ms Rose Li from Malaysia Consulate office acted as the translator for Perak youth. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes.

The Kunming Youth and Children Activities Centre

Showing the centre

The swimming pool in the centre

The Perak youth delegates later tour the Kunming Youth and Children Activities Centre. Ms Gloria was the translator for the centre. The centre consist of 2 auditoriums, an Olympic size swimming pool, an art gallery and a few training centres. There is a folk dance centre where children were trained. They performed for the delegates; later the delegates joined the children to dance. The delegates also been given a chance to do arts i.e. drawing on a "hu lu". It is a nice experience although it is simple. I have drawn one for my lovely wife! We spent about 2 hours touring the centres.

The children dancers

The tae kwan do class

Our art work

After lunch, the delegates left to New Asia Sports City. It is a new township developed by the Shinning Star [Xingyao] Group. The Group Chairman is Mr Yan Yu who is the Kunming Youth Union Vice Chairman. The Group use 4 years to complete 4 phases of residential and commercial areas. The Group also built a sports complex which consist of a 20,000 capacity football stadium and indoor games i.e. squash, badminton, ping-pong, futsal, basketball etc. There is a 5,000 capacity multi-purpose hall too. The delegates was told that there was a concert by the latest Chinese idol last Saturday. The delegates tour the sports town by buggy.

Visit New Asia Sports City Complex

Prior to that, there is an introduction of Xingyao Group by Mr Yan Yu and a meeting with the Yunnan Youth Federation Chairman, Mr Lu Ping. We spent the whole evening in this impressive township. Xingyao Group currently in progress of developing the "Little World" project in Tianjin. It is a futuristic project!

Before the delegation left for New Asia Sports City, the Consulate General brought the delegation to Lake Dian. It is the largest lake in Yunnan Province and the water source for Kunming. It is believe that Cheng Ho learned sailing in this lake.

En. Azmi, the Immigration Attache in Consulate General office shown us verbally to a Muslim restaurant nearby Sakura Hotel. Everybody were in the lobby by 7 p.m. We intended to walk to the restaurant as I was told that the restaurant is very near. Frankly, I remembered En. Azmi said that just walk straight turn cross the road, the third lane.

However, Taufik told me that walk straight and turn right. I taught he knows the place as he is confident. We walked about 20 minutes, I felt amused as the route we took was the way Ansor and I walked last night! Rashid told me to keep quite and lets walk. He said he know the way. We walked about an hour, can't find the restaurant. A. Subramani started to crumbled and the rest of the delegates already tired sitting by the roadside.

I asked a few people, they shown me directions. Just followed as they told. Later on we reached the Tuadong Sports Complex which is visible from the hotel. A couple said just walked straight, the restaurant is just across the road. We walked. Later I asked another couple and they leads us to the restaurant as they are going to the same direction. We reached the restaurant at about 9 p.m. Almost 2 hours walk. The restaurant is just across the hotel!

Well, it is a good experience .... walk to see Kunming at night! Deep in my heart, I guessed all the delegates were cursing me!