Friday, July 7, 2017

DAY 1 OF SARAWAK RAINFOREST FRINGE FESTIVAL OPENED BY MINISTER OF TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS SARAWAK DATUK ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH AT THE OLD COURT HOUSE, SARAWAK TOURISM COMPLEX. IT STARTED TODAY 7 JULY 2017 WHICH IS AN AUSPICIOUS NUMBER 7-7-17 AND WILL CONCLUDE ON 16 JULY 2017, MAKING THIS 10-DAY FESTIVAL A MAJOR MUSIC, ART, CRAFT, FILM, PHOTOGRAPHY, FOOD AND FASHION FESTIVAL! FASTER FLY OVER ON AIR ASIA!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
THE RAINFOREST FRINGE FESTIVAL ENDS ON 16 JULY 2017 SO MISS IT AT YOUR PERIL! SEE YOU THERE THEN!

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS FOR SARAWAK DATUK ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH WITH DATO KEE HUA CHEE
VIEW OF OLD COURTHOUSE AND DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI SARAWAK FROM MY ROOM 1005 AT WATERFRONT HOTEL, THE BEST HOTEL IN KUCHING! RATES FROM RM 200



The First Rainforest Fringe Festival Kicks Off in Culturally Vibrant Kuching City, Sarawak

 Kuching, 7 July 2017: The first ever Rainforest Fringe Festival (RFF) officially opened on 7th of July 2017 at the Old Court House, Sarawak Tourism Complex in Kuching. 

A prelude to the world-famous Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), RFF’s exciting ten-day programme includes a spectacular fashion extravaganza (SARAWAK: Theatre of Clothes), an entertaining musical showcase (Sada Kamek: Music of Sarawak), various engaging art and photography exhibitions, eye-catching mixed media art showcases, a myriad of products at the craft and vintage market, internationally acclaimed film and documentary screenings, and various talks. 

From the 7th to the 16th of July, RFF is set to attract a deluge of visitors from all corners of the world to Sarawak to offer them a cultural and memorable experience unlike any other.

The free-for-all festival will be officiated by YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak. A welcome addition to the state of Sarawak’s cultural calendar, RFF is proof that Sarawak and the city of Kuching is a truly desirable, one-of-a-kind travel destination to both local and international visitors.

This will be followed by a picture captured by YB on his cellphone, posted on Instagram and then printed as keepsake stickers, on a snap-and-print device, in partnership with M-ND Media Distribution SEA. Thereafter, a tour of the exhibitions will highlight the illustrious works of the artists and photographers that include Raphael Scott Ahbeng, Alena Murang, Kendy Mitot, Textile Tales of Pua Kumbu, Berawan 1955, OH!Rainforest, Spencer Byles, Chien C. Lee, KF Wong and Jimmy Nelson.

The much-anticipated SARAWAK: Theatre of Clothes dazzled the runway at The Waterfront Hotel on the second day of the festival. The fully booked fashion gala highlights the region’s mastery in combining traditional and ethnic prints with modern styles. This event featured collections from trending labels and celebrated designers Edric Ong, Ramsay Ong, Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi, Neng Kho Razali, Tanoti and Ong Shunmugam.

Music fans will delight at the harmonious stylings of various singers and musicians at Sada Kamek: Music of Sarawak on Sunday (Day 3) at the Kuching Amphitheatre. The stellar lineup features Dayang Nurfaizah, Noh Salleh, Tony Eusoff, Nading Rhapsody, At Adau, Pete Kallang, Alena Murang and Mathew Ngau. It will be a high-octane evening as both modern and traditional musical instruments converge under one roof.

The labyrinthine features of the rainforest and its remote populations will be explored in a series of free film and documentary screenings shown daily from the 8th of July. Other free programmes include highly informative talks detailing the lives of significant individuals (Alfred Wallace and Charles Hose) in discovering Sarawak’s diverse flora and fauna and making them known to the world.

Festival goers will be excited to know that irresistible Fringe Benefits await them when they visit RFF on the weekend of 8th and 9th of July. To stand a chance at winning paid trips to the extremely popular Adelaide Fringe in 2018 and Joe Sidek Production’s very own Butterworth Fringe Festival at the 2017 George Town Festival, purchase any RWMF tickets, OR RFF merchandise worth RM120 and above at the craft and vintage market. 

The prizes include return flight tickets from Kuching to Adelaide and Kuching to Penang on top of hotel stays and show tickets. Aside from a mélange of artisanal products and handicrafts, get a hold of RFF’s cool merchandise and show them off to friends and family by social tagging #RFF2017 and #rainforestfringe.

A complete festival guide and programme registration details are available at www.rainforestfringe.com or by following RFF @rffsarawak.

The Rainforest Fringe Festival is hosted by The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak, in collaboration with Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Rainforest World Music Festival. Other supporting partners include The Old Court House, Sarawak Tourism Complex, Sarawak Museum Department, The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching In and Out (KINO) and M-ND Media Distribution SEA. M-ND is a technology company that revolutionizes the way brands and consumers connect with each other through multi-sensory experiences. 

The M-ND snap-and-print devices will be placed at strategic areas within the festival grounds during the opening weekend to mainstream the festival experience in a trendy and quick way.   

About Joe Sidek Productions Sdn Bhd

Joe Sidek Productions Sdn Bhd is an events management company specialising in the areas of Arts, Culture and Heritage. The company is the official secretariat of George Town Festival since 2010, and has its primary role of administering and implementation of all Festival programmes, partnerships, marketing and finance. Other projects under JSP’s wings include Butterworth Fringe Festival, the In-Between Arts Festival and George Town City Day celebrations and the inaugural Rainforest Fringe Festival.

 
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS MAGNIFICENT VIEW OF OLD AND NEW COURT HOUSE IS TAKEN FROM MY BEDROOM AT WATERFRONT HOTEL? MAKE WATERFRONT HOTEL YOUR HOME IN KUCHING!
 MY TRUSTY CANON POWERSHOT  SX710 HS ZOOMED IN TO TAKE THE COURTYARD OF OLD COURT HOUSE DIRECTLY BELOW WATERFRONT HOTEL AND 10 STEPS AWAY FROM LOBBY
VIEWS OF KUCHING
NEW COURT HOUSE OR DEWAN UNDANGAN SARAWAK ACROSS THE RIVER
MY ROOM WITH A VIEW!
WHAT A VIEW!
GRAND!
AWESOME
STAY AT WATERFRONT HOTEL FOR BEST VIEWS OF KUCHING!
NATIVE GUITARIST BEFORE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH AT 4 PM ON 7 JULY 2017 AT OLD COURT HOUSE




 FAMOUS DESIGNER DATO TOM ABANG SAUFI AND MUSE LING WITH PENAN HAIRSTYLE
DIZZY LIZZY PIX OF DATO ZAHIM ALBAKRI AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE
SUSAN LANKESTER, HABSAH SAUFI AND DR TINNIE


FAMOUS ACTOR AND THESPIAN DATO ZAJIM ALBAKRI AND FAMOUS FASHIONISTA DATO KEE HUA CHEE
BOTH KNEE DEEP IN THE ARTS
MAGGIE ABANG SAUFI AND DATO ZAHIM ALBAKRI


ARRIVAL OF MINISTER OF TOURISM OF SARAWAK DATUK KARIM HAMZAH AND THE MINISTRY'S TEAM


WELCOME AND THANK YOU SPEECH BY JOE SIDEK THE ORGANISER OF RAINFOREST FRINGE FESTIVAL FROM 7 TO 16 JULY 2017


THE SARAWAK MINISTER OF TOURISM 




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LAUNCHED!




DOING THE HASHTAG THINGY










DATO KEE HUA CHEE HASH TAGGING HIMSELF
SPENCER BYLES EXPLAINING HIS WORKS INSPIRED BY NATURE
THE TOURISM MINISTER OBSERVED THIS COULD BE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH BLINKING LIGHTS ADDED ON!
MANY OBSERVED THE, AHEM, UNEXPECTED LEAF DESIGNS ON HIS T SHIRT THAT RESEMBLED A WELLKNOWN PLANT 










NICE




THE SECOND PRINCE OF NEGERI SEMBILAN Y.A.M TUNKU ZAIN AL-ABIDIN TUANKU MUKHRIZ WITH SARAWAK MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HIS TEAM
TUNKU ZAIN AL-ABIDIN IS A KNOWN PATRON OF THE ARTS






THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS OF SARAWAK DATUK ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH SPENT TIME ADMIRING THE PHOTOS OF SARAWAK'S NATIVES TAKEN BY THE LATE K.F WONG 
CURATOR JIMMY NELSON ANKE DEGENHARD EXPLAINING THE SPECTACULAR PHOTOS OF TRIBAL PEOPLE TO SARAWAK'S MINISTER OF TOURISM DATUK ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH
THIS EXHIBITION CALLED 'BEFORE THEY PASS AWAY' BY JIMMY NELSON IS TRULY AMAZING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING
THESE MODERN PHOTOS DOCUMENT THE FINAL SARTORIAL SPLENDOUR OF VANISHING TRIBES EMBRACING H&M, ZARA AND SMART PHONES AS EVERYONE BECOMES MORE AND MORE HOMOGENEOUS








GROUP PHOTO OF VIPS!






DATUK ABDUL KARIM RAHMAN HAMZAH THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS OF SARAWAK WITH DATO KEE HUA CHEE
HONOURED TO MEET THIS GREAT MINISTER FOR TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS OF SARAWAK
THE ELEGANT OLD COURT HOUSE COURT YARD
LARGE PAINTING BY RAPHAEL SCOTT AHBENG
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TRIBAL MUSICIANS






COSY CAFE
















YES AR?
WATERFRONT HOTEL LOOMS OVER OLD COURT HOUSE




ANOTHER CHARMING EATERY








IQBAL 
SUSAN LANKESTER AND PALS








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MY FIRST KUCHING IN KUCHING!










KOOL KUCHING KITTY!
THE TOURISM MINISTER HOLDING PRESS CONFERENCE
SARAWAK'S ATTRACTIONS ARE UNIQUE AND SO IS ITS TOLERANT CULTURE. SAID THE TOURISM MINISTER. "WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA. FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE BEEN CHAIRMAN OF A FUND-RAISING TO COLLECT MONEY FOR A CHURCH, SOMETHING THAT A MUSLIM MINISTER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IN WEST MALAYSIA. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH HELPING RAISING MONEY FOR CHURCHES AND TEMPLES IN MY CAPACITY AS MINISTER AS I BELIEVE THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME LESS A MUSLIM." BRAVO!!!!










JOE SIDEK AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE
2 ICONS
2 ICONS ALSO


DAUGHTERS OF RAPHAEL SCOTT AHBENG, LOVE THE NAME!


THE AHBENG CLAN


RAPHAEL SCOTT AHBENG'S WORKS




VERANDAH ON FIRST FLOOR


MY FIRST DINNER IN SARAWAK!
STARTERS AT TELANG USAN HOTEL




JOE SIDEK AT WORK


YUMMY




FOOD FROM THE JUNGLES
DET DIET EMSEMBLE
MYSTICAL SOUNDS RARELY HEARD OUTSIDE REMOTE VILLAGES
NOW THESE MUSICAL WORKS ARE PRESERVED!


AUDRY WAN ULLOK THE GENERAL MANAGER OF TELANG USAN HOTEL AND RESTAURANT


AUDRY WAN ULLOK AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE


DELICIOUS
FREE RANGE CHICKEN
EXOTIC AND UNUSUAL DISHES INCLUDE GRILLED STINGRAY ON BANANA LEAF, COCONUT SHOOTS, FRIED TAPIOCA LEAVES, SWEET CHANGKUK, BAMBOO SHOOTS,HEARTS OF YOUNG BANANAS, ORGANIC BROWN RICE AND VENISON WITH YOUNG GINGER













ENJOYING DET DIET ENSEMBLE FROM BATU LINTANG TEACHER'S INSTITUTE
SHE IS FROM KELANTAN SO SHE IS BEAUTIFUL LAH
COOL SOUNDS
BEST OF ALL, SOME ARE FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA LIKE PENANG WHO ARE PRESERVING SARAWAK'S NATIVE MUSIC
INSTRUMENTS MADE OF BAMBOO, WOOD AND EVEN GOURD


SINGING LITTLE KNOWN KENYAH SONGS 
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FROM FROM UPRIVER  BARAM AND BELAGA 












BORNEO BAMBOO BAND FROM SABAH!
SWEET KIDS FROM TAMPARULI, SABAH




































SWEET AND YOUNG AND TALENTED
















DATO KEE HUA CHEE WITH AUDRY ULLAM AND CHEF
THANKS FOR A GREAT JUNGLE MEAL AND 'FORGOTTEN SOUNDS' SHOW!

1 comment:

Naomi said...

Don't forget the Borneo Fashion Week 2017 happening in B744, Bintawa, Kuching, today 9 July. Aaron Von Jolly of Von Jolly Couture, Pua Heritage, De Myla on the runway. Our beloved To Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib our Governors wife will be in attendance from 4pm. See you there.