Sabah has shown yet again that it’s an extra special place, at least in the country.

For his Malaysian stop of his 2009 world tour legendary pop vocalist Peter Cetera of Chicago fame chose 2 venues only: the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands and… Kota Kinabalu. In fact, he’d be doing KK first on the 27th of February, before heading over to the peninsula.

I think this is his first ever show in Malaysia.

What makes this show extra special is that for the first time in at least 15 years the frontman is performing with his band, Chicago.

Hence, it’s a given that the songlist would at least contain these all-time classics:

(i) Glory of Love
(ii) Forever Tonight
(iii) If You Leave Me Now
(iv) Baby What a Big Surprise
(v) You’re the Inspiration
(vi) Hard To Say I’m Sorry

For those who know the songs above, I am sure you will not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Place: Chancellor Hall, University Sabah Malaysia.
Ticket prices:
- Numbered seats: RM353, RM283, RM233
- Free seating: RM173 & RM123
Details: 03-9223-3667 / to www.starplanet.com.my

The BWF Super Series Masters Finals at Kota Kinabalu was held on 18-21 December 2008.

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It’s been some time since a world-class badminton event was held in Sabah, and being a badminton fan, this was something I’d try my best not to miss.

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It was also a chance to observe how to organise a world-class event, something that’s being broadcast live worldwide: on TV and the internet.

I observed there were 8 videocameras, 6 next to the courts and 2 further away.

For the 2 scoreboards next to the courts, they used state government PCs (I thought they’d get brand new sponsored ones?!) and Samsung flat screens. They used a wired LAN setup, cables were hidden under the blue carpet.

I think they utilised the State Cultural Board’s sound system, technical personnel and cheerleaders. I must say they did a superb job. Everything was pin-point precise.

A popular 70s singer, perhaps most famous for the classic “Ingin Bersua“, was spotted at the VIP section:

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It was also a good idea to set up 2 warm up courts in the gymnasium next door. That way:
(i) the players could start warming up earlier, rather than having to do so on the match courts. This enabled matches to be started quicker, hence keeping the crowd’s enthusiasm going, as after the WWE-like introductions, complete with loud music, they could start the match straight away.
(ii) it enabled fans to watch the players from up close, literally only a few metres away! It was very exhilarating watching some of the very best badminton players in the world doing their jumping smashes, returns and drives at eye level.

The running of the event was very smooth, I didn’t notice any delays or technical glitches. Kudos to the organisers.

I guess this is where they catch the drugs cheats:

I spent two afternoons (+ night) at the venue, during the semis and the finals.

The atmosphere was electrifying, whom even the Indonesian players equated with the famed Istora Senayan match day roar. No quiet during play here, unlike in the west. It’s football stadium-like noisy!

Malaysia won all 3 events in which it made the finals, but for many, including myself, the enduring memory of that event would be Koo Kien Keat’s (KKK) triple smash seated return with the score at 19-16 when he and partner Tan Boon Heong played against the higher-ranked Koreans.

The Koreans were riding high on confidence, having beaten reigning World and Olympic champions and the world’s top ranked pair, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan the day before.

For those of you who missed it, user “badmintonluver1511″ has posted it on youtube. The action starts at 6:16 as KKK serves to Lee Yong-dae, who’ve been called “the new Park Joo-bong,” then denies Jung Jae-sung’s desperate attempts to kill the bird.

Click here to see the video

Christmas Eve

Christmas Mass at a church in Kepayan, then the mandatory crib photo.

Afterwards, Christmas party at a brother-in-law’s house.

Christmas Day

Took the family out for lunch, then spent some time at 1Borneo.

Of course time to try something new:

2nd day of Christmas, 26th December 2008

Opening of Christmas presents.

My little girl says Merry Christmas.

Then attended a friend’s wedding reception in Papar. I even played in the band, my first after many years. Later on, dropped by a cousin’s husband’s nightspot, then another.

3rd day of Christmas, 27th December 2008

Attended an aunt’s open house. She and family lives in Australia and it’s a kind of a tradition for them to be in good old Sabah every Christmas. Later on dropped by 2 more houses. In the process, stumbled upon someone sleeping in the middle of the road. Don’t worry, he’s sent back home safely.

4th day of Christmas, 28th December 2008

Spent the morning and early afternoon at the kampung. Then attended Stella Maris’ Golden Jubilee mass, presided over by the Archbishop. Went back home early to send the youngest daughter to the clinic; she’d been feeling poorly since last night.

5th day of Christmas, 29th December 2008

Had planned to bring the family to one of the islands, unfortunately almost everybody in the house fell sick, including my son and wife. I think it’s almost certainly caused by one of the things served for last night’s supper, which fortunately I didn’t eat.

6th day of Christmas, 30th December 2008

Several options, depending on everybody’s health. Son still not at 100% health, so brought eldest daughter to the kampung to visit her “Australian” aunt together with my mum, brother and another cousin. Later dropped by a nightspot at Tamparuli.

New Year’s Eve

Coincided with the last “tamu” (traditional open market) at Tamparuli. Had the last fried mee of the year at the famed Wun Chiap restaurant, then made my way to KK to make preparations for the evening’s program.

My mother in law scheduled to return home after several weeks in Italy, Egypt and the Holy Land, including spending Christmas in Bethlehem. An exchanging of gifts has been planned, and as usual there’d be a party in the house to welcome the new year.

Here’s wishing everyone a prosperous New Year 2009!

David Tan’s wedding proposal to Kelly Tan on Valentine’s Day 2008 using a billboard at the LDP in Kelana Jaya was probably the first such proposal ever done in the country.

The second could very well be right here in Kota Kinabalu; the one in September 2008 at the Damai-Luyang intersection, apparently of a Mr Jason proposing to a Ms Viviana Yew. She apparently accepted, as later “Yes, I do” was added to the bottom right corner and the smiling couple posed for photographs in front of it with the beaming lady sporting a diamond ring:

Click here to see the photos

The up and coming music group from Tamparuli, Papier Mache recorded, over two nights, on the last weekend before Christmas, two popular 1970s Indonesian Christmas songs, “Hari Natal” and “Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru.”

Recording was done at “Firehouse”, in a humble home studio, yet the results were not bad at all. I must say their version which stuck firmly to “old school” tradition reignited my interest to the 2 songs which was even on the must-do-songlist of carollers more than 20 years ago.

The songs were then sent to DJ Othoe of SuriaFM who promptly played them on his show.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to all of you!

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Click here to listen to the songs

UPDATE 29th December 2008

Around 11.45pm on Saturday the 27th of December we were driving from a friend’s house to another somewhere in Tamparuli, passed a corner and what did we see? Someone was lying ON the road, apparently too drunk to walk home. I dread to think what would’ve happened if we had driven faster and could not stop in time.

One of us recognised the person but didn’t know the exact location of his house. Later we got someone who knew the location of his house to send him home.

Therefore, it seems that it’s not just “don’t drink and drive” but “don’t drink and walk.”

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Apparently happened on 17th December 2008, a tamu [traditional open market] day.

He was not drunk enough because he still could talk, but he was so drunk that he could not even stand.

Let the video tell the story:

Click here to see the video

On 9th December 2008 around 5am, one whole row of the old shophouses, out of 5 were destroyed in a fire.

Originally there were 6 shophouses built sometime 1954. One was destroyed in another fire in 1976.

Three sundry shops, a jewellery shop, a tailor shop, two book stores, a restaurant and two shops selling mobile phones were totally destroyed.

Also destroyed were a luxury car which belonged one of the shopowners:

Pic courtesy of Romeo

The fire was believed to have started in the jewellery shop.

All 30 people who lived in the building residing in the units escaped in time.

Some videos follow.

The following was taken apparently around 6am:

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Click here to see the videos

For the sleeve of their debut album, the Tamparuli music group Papier Mache took a group photo, around 6.30am on 3rd February 2008 on the (only remaining) narrow lane in between 2 rows out of the 5 fifty-year-old wooden shophouses in town.

The photographer was Mr CV “90 Degrees” Chong of Borneo Post.

Preparing for the shoot:

The selected photo:

Click here to see more photos

While most people were preoccupied with the F2 Powerboat World Cup my son pestered me to watch horseracing at Tanjung Aru instead.

We only stayed a few minutes, because an incident happened during the very first race we watched.

Two jockeys fell off, one apparently seriously injured. I am not sure if Ethan will like horses very much after this.

If there’s one thing I learnt, it’s to bring a point and shoot camera with video-taking capability at all times, you never know what might present itself…

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Click here to see the video

I first saw the excellent “Rahsia Terpendam” sketch / short film by J.M Poyee on a mobile phone several weeks ago.

It really reminded me of the carefree times when I was a kid at the village.

Then yesterday I found out that there are at least 6 other similar shorts uploaded to youtube earlier this year.

If this trend continues, I might just disconnect the Astro off the main TV and replace it with youtube instead…

Here’s a playlist of all 7:

Click here to see the videos