The Blooms of the Ixora

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

IMAGES OF KOTA KINABALU AND ITS SURROUNDING..

First of all, I would like to apologise to Uncle Al (Dato') for the delay in coming out with the promised pictures of Kota Kinabalu. I have no excuse Sir except the usual, I've been tied up with other stuff since my return from travelling a few days ago. Ahhaa.. isn't that a classic excuse?

Anyway, I've tried to search through the archive of my album of photographs of KK and its surrounding area and came out with some randomly taken sometime last year, now, proudly showing to you and to my other precious readers. Though not well-taken, I hope in some ways, you get to retrieve your beautiful memories of KK when you were once upon a time living here. I hope you and your beautiful wife Datin Ina would come and visit KK again one day soon.

I was walking along Gaya Street and spied the historical Atkinson Tower and took a snap.

Built in 1903, this all-wood, no nails structure was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson, the popular first District Officer of Jesselton during the British North Borneo Chartered Company Administration, who had succumbed to a tropical disease at the young age of 28. This clock tower has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the destruction of Jesselton town during the WWII. Till today, it still serves to keep the city’s time.

Jesselton Point ... Si

situated north of Kota Kinabalu, this scenic place has an unmistakabe historical feel to it - complete with olden days snapshots of Kota Kinabalu city (Jesselton). Jesslllton Point serves as the only ferry terminal for Labuan-bound passengers as well as the main boat terminal for the islands nearby.

View from the top.. Bandaran Berjaya.. Yonder is the Wisma Budaya building

and the long building with the brown roof is what used to be the BFO Cinema.

Suria Sabah Shopping Mall - the green glass building is the latest shopping mall in

Kota Kinabalu. If you are in KK and feel like shopping at Metro Jaya, Suria Sabah is for you.

The building on the left is Wisma Sabah.

A shop in Gaya Street. The walls are lined with nostalgic pictures of the British Colony era and Japanese Occupation. This event is a community heritage exhibition that features old buildings, old-time stories, cultures and social history about Gaya Street. This street was known as Bond Street during the British Colony era. Known as 'Bonding with Gaya Street' this event was organised by North Borneo History Enthusiasts and Kota Kinabalu City Hall, supported by Sabah Tourism Board, Information Department, Sabah State Museum, Sabah Archives and Daily Express.

Gaya Street

Sweet Young Things..Gaya Street

One of the nostalgic pictures of beautiful ladies

Tourists love Gaya Street and its quaint coffee shop..

Above and below : Gaya Street

a group of Ukulele enthusiast busking at the

Gaya Street..

one of the oldest shops - Gaya Street

Sunday Gaya Street Fair

Every Sunday from 7.00 am to 1.00 pm, this street will come alive with hawkers selling their wares as well as shoppers.

Bukit Padang - a favourite jogging place

That building is a restaurant that specialise in sea food.

Can you spot Yayasan Sabah Building. (aka Menara Tun Mustapha)

This is Tanjung Aru Beach.

View of KK from Likas Bay

Gaya Street

Gaya Street, popular with tourists and locals alike..

the sunsets of KK seen from Likas Bay..

Tanjung Aru Beach and it's sunset

.. a fisherman at dawn and Mt Kinabalu taken

at the bridge of Mengkabung River, Tuaran.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

MY OTHER FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME - MandyNikko's Collections

As mentioned before, my other favourite waste of time besides photography is stringing fashion accessories. It never fails to amaze me of any finished item especially when it gets good comments from friends. It was also a pleasant surprise that friends are even willing to buy them. I also managed to sell some during the Christmas Carnival of which a portion of the proceeds were donated to charity. If you are on Facebook, perhaps you might just pop in at http://www.facebook.com/#!/MandyNikkosCollections. We are also on Instagram. Credit to my girls for the set up.

I am thankful that my two girls and my son's girlfriend are supportive and are enthusiatic about getting a concept to make this hobby into something more tangible. They are now trying to set up a website and God willing would be available soon.

In trying to get new designs, I noted that charm bracelets and necklace are getting more attention. I like the vintage look. I learned that a charm bracelet is an item of jewellery worn around the wrist. It carries personal ‘charm’ decorative pendants or trinklet which signify important things in the wearer’s life.

Lately, my girls and I managed to string a few and would be available in February hopefully to coincide with Valentine's Day. Reserve orders though are very much welcomed..hehehe..

We have yet to perfect our designs which do not strictly follow the design of a conventional charm bracelet or necklace but be assured that each is made with much joy and enthusiasm.

Here are some pictures. The 'old look' and the frame is deliberately done to heighten the vintage look. They are semi complete as I have yet to fix the clasp, preferably a toggle clasp as we have yet to receive them which were ordered online just a few days ago.

All pictures were taken using our handphone.

Cheers.

Work-in progress, tools and raw materials. Most materials are readily available through the Net and we sometimes get carried away. It is so easy to just click away adding stuff into the cart and later find out much to our dismay that the amount we have to pay has exceeded twice the amount that we were supposed to spend...haha

Bead Turquoise Blue, a personal favourite.

ohh look at the mess.. need to organize.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A SOMBRE CELEBRATION

A sombre and a celebration.. looks like I am contradicting myself.

Hi All, I guess it is still not to late to say Happy New Year. My first entry for the new year, now the 6th day. My bad for my tardiness. Been meaning to write but lately couldn't get anything out of these old bones.

But back to the Annual Family Reunion that we usually hold every new year eve. This year was done on a slightly sombre scale to respect the memory of my late uncle's demised. My uncle, my dad's youngest brother succumbed to his illness 2 days before the new year. My uncle has been ill with the big C for quite a while. Though he responded to treatment earlier on, he apparently turned out for the worst after Christmas Day. My siblings and I had the opportunity to visit and talked to him a little on Christmas Day when we visited him at home. It was a shock therefore that after a few days, my cousin called us that he had passed away in the hospital.

Our uncle was the nearest to a father to us all as our own father had gone to Lord years ago when I was still in my teens. Deepest sympathy to my aunt and cousins. A rather bleak new year for them. Though sad, we take comfort that God has taken him to a better place, a place where there is pain no more. Rest in peace uncle. Till we meet again someday, we will hold on to the memories...

My siblings and I then contemplated whether to hold the Reunion. But as all the preparations had been made, we proceeded to hold it though on a much lesser scale. No singing, dancing or games. We had our exchange of gifts and of course the usual.. eating. Life has to go on after all. Would like to share some pics taken during the new year eve, some are taken by my sister. My regret, forgot to take nice pics of the food...aiyaaa.

Cheers every one, and God bless.