Episode 57: The Kulim Magic School Bus - Lost In The Jurassic

This is the Malaysian Kulim version of The Magic School Bus. Similar to the American version, this episode's main aim is to show that dinosaurs weren't all terrifying monsters, like movies often make them out to be.

The Kulim version of Magic School Bus has never been aired on TV, so I would like to take this chance to show you some snapshots from the real footage of "Lost In The Jurassic".

WARNING! This program contains scenes that some viewers may find it offensive, therefore parental discretion is advised... hehe

Now we understand that dinosaurs weren't all terrifying monsters...

From left to right: Nasha, Syed and Aswad (The Kids), Me (Mr Frizzle, the teacher) and Hafiz (Mr Garth, the PE teacher)

Actually the photos above were taken at Petrosains Dinotrek - Dino Dance exhibit on 17 May 2011. Too much funny moments during the photo shoot, alhamdulellah it was fun...

Kulim-Taiping Weekly Travel: Now I save 50 km (Part 2)

In my previous entry [ From My Desk: Kulim-Taiping Weekly Travel: Now I save 40 km ] I showed how Kulim-Serdang-Bandar Baharu-Taiping route can be used as an alternative route connecting Kulim and Taiping. Yes, I can save a 43 km traveling distance and RM7.30 highway tolls, but truly not on the traveling time, which I found was rather disadvantage.

Now I'm testing another alternative route, i.e. Kulim-Kampung Batu Sepuluh-Selama-Pondok Tanjung-Taiping, in which in my opinion is more quiet and lower-traffic than the earlier alternative. Interestingly, although unpopular, this countryside route is clearly visible in the Google map.

 Kulim-Batu Sepuluh-Padang Terap Village-Selama-Pondok Tanjung-Taiping is marked in Green

After three weeks of route testing, considering the driving comfortability and beautiful countryside, I'm very sure now that Kulim-Kampung Batu Sepuluh-Selama-Pondok Tanjung-Taiping route is a better route than the earlier alternative. Besides, many connecting roads have been upgraded and straightened, resulting in reduced traveling time by 20-30 minutes.

Let me summarize my findings:

Distance from my rental house (Kulim) to my house (Taiping)

… via Taiping Utara-Juru PLUS Highway + BKE = 137 km

| 0 km reference | Traveling time = 90 minutes | Toll fares = RM11.70 |

… via Kulim-Serdang-Bandar Baharu-Taiping = 94 km

| Save 43 km | Traveling time = 90-100 minutes | Toll fares = RM4.40 |

… via Kulim-Batu Sepuluh-Padang Terap-Selama-Pondok Tanjung-Taiping = 87 km

| Save 50 km | Traveling time = 70-85 minutes | NO toll fares |

The best time to travel is around 6.30 pm where you can appreciate the beauty of the countryside of Selama-Pondok Tanjung. You'll pass by MIDA Boer-goat breeding farm upon approaching Pondok Tanjung (nice view too). InshaAllah, if I got time, I'll upload some pictures of the countryside.

I hope my friend Badrul will be happy with this entry since he has been using the later route for quite sometime. Thanks Badrul for your inspiring story. I myself try to experience night time driving in this quiet route and of my greatest concern is the safety but I just did last Friday night, alhamdulellah. 

Secure From Flash Flood

Considering frequent flash floods hit Serdang-Bandar Baharu especially after heavy rain, Kampung Batu Sepuluh-Selama-Pondok Tanjung will definitely be the best alternative for Kulim-Taiping travelers, inshaAllah.

"HERE I AM AGAIN… I'M JUST A WEEKLY TRAVELER"

Kulim-Taiping weekly travel: now I save 40 km

There are at least three common routes connecting Taiping and Kulim. Since I am a weekly traveler, such distance above 100 km will be considered long distance. Thus shorter traveling time is preferred, even though I have to pay more for tolls.

I use the most popular 'faster route' Taiping Utara-Juru PLUS Highway and Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) for my weekly Taiping-Kulim routing. It is convenient, clean, non-snakey and almost clear from potholes.

I never thought of trying other routes until my friend Asri convinced me of the Kulim-Serdang-Bandar Baharu-Taiping Utara route as shorter and passable.

Road map clearly shows that Kulim-Serdang-Bandar Baharu-Taiping Utara is a shorter route compared to the popular highway route

I tried the route last two weeks. To be honest, it was fun. I love the countryside, it's beautiful. It was far from snakey and the traveling time was comparable with the so-called 'faster route', i.e. 1.5 hours. So, not bad at all. The most important, I save 43 km petrol consumption and RM7.30 of highway tolls.

Summary:
Distance from my rental house (Kulim) to my house (Taiping)
...via Taiping Utara-Juru PLUS Highway + BKE = 137 km
...via Kulim-Serdang-Bdr Baharu-Taiping = 94 km
(save 43 km)

Toll fares
...via Taiping Utara-Juru PLUS Highway + BKE = RM8.50 + RM3.20 = RM11.70
...via Kulim-Serdang-Bdr Baharu-Taiping Utara = RM4.40
(save RM7.30 (USD2.15))

Route selection is not a simple equation. Some prefer shorter distance, some prefer faster traveling time. The choice is yours... To me I accept any alternative routes as long as it is passable, shorter and non-boring drive..

"I'M JUST A WEEKLY TRAVELER"

I found another shorter route! You should read this too:
From My Desk: Kulim-Taiping Weekly Travel (Part 2)

Bachelor Iftar at Taman Mutiara

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Yesterday was a great day for me and my housemates, Khairuldin and Shams, when eight of our colleges came and broke their fast at our rental house. We prepared fried noodle (courtesy of Shams al-Thani), water melon, cold drinks (courtesy of Tengku Kudin), wet and fried popia, satey and karipap (curry-puffs). This was the second after the first closed iftar we did last year.

The spirit of iftar was further realized when my colleges brought plenty of food with them, even though we expect them to bring only their mind and body.

Enjoying our meal before prayer congregation

The weather was so hot that evening but no one was complaining, alhamdulellah. Really, this was the spirit of iftar.

Among all the food I ate, I enjoyed fried noodle the most. Cooked by the creative hands of Shams, I think he cooks far better than the girl next door. By the way, I can cook too, but of course not more than the famous instant noodles, hehe...

Guys, thanks for coming. May Allah bless you people. Barakallahu feekum.

From left to right: Asri, Azmir, Firdaus, Ridhuan, Muzaffar and Jaber
(Married - 2, Bachelor - 4, Still available - 2)

Nakbah Palestin in Kulim

Nakbah
I would have not known about this program if they didn't put the poster on our notice board. This program, NAKBAH PALESTIN (Nakba Palestine) was organized by the State of Kedah (currently ruled by The Pan-Islamic Party of Malaysia a.k.a. Pas) and Islamic NGOs Malaysia on 20 June 2008 (Friday night) started from 9.15 PM at Kulim Mini Stadium. Among the invited speakers were:

[1] Dr Hadfizi Mohd Nor (Assoc. Prof.) / Head of Board, Palestinian Centre of Excellence, Malaysia
[2] Muhammad Sabu / Pas Vice President
[3] Naji Zuher / Palestinian Representative
[4] Muhammad Azmi Abdul Hamid / President of The Core Ability of Malay (Teras Keupayaan Melayu a.k.a. TERAS)

NAKBA, perhaps best translated as CATASTROPHE in English, is referring to the remembering of the 1948 Palestinian Exodus involving brutal aggression of Israel against Palestinian people, expulsion from their lands, massacres and ethnic cleansing which continues to this day.

All mosques in Kedah were instructed to deliver khutbah (sermon) commemorating 60 years of Palestinian dispossession, thanks to the state government. The khutbah text (in Malay) can be obtained from this link: Khutbah Jumaat - Memperingati 60 tahun Penindasan

What is our role as a Muslim? As a Malaysian, the most practical thing we can do is to contribute a little sum of money from our pocket, in which many of us do on either periodically or non-periodically basis. This shall be continuous, inshaAllah.

In 2006, Government of Malaysia announced to aid Palestine USD16 million (www.kln.gov.my), while Pas collected more than RM3 million from the people.

On May 16, 2008 in Kelantan under the program "Save Palestine", Pas collected more than RM1 million in just one night. The contribution mainly came from:

Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri Kelantan (PKINK) / RM300,000
Kompleks Perkayuan Kelantan (KPK) / RM200,000
Syarikat Ladang Sungai Terah / RM150,000
Bina Raya Sdn. Bhd. / RM100,000
Yayasan Islam Kelantan (YIK) / RM67,000
Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu (MPKB) / RM30,000
Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Kelantan (Kelantan Islamic Department) / RM10,000
Persatuan Pengilang Papan / RM10,000

and the rest came from the ordinary people. Million thanks to you people.

Here in Kulim, I saw most Malaysians poured a few of their Ringgit in the donation bags. I'm more proud when I saw non-wealthy people do the same without bordering the petrol price hike. Alhamdulellah, may Allah bless you people. Other than donation, what we can do is doa (prayer). We pray for our brothers and sisters in Palestine, may Allah protect them from Israel brutal aggression, free their land and let them stay united. NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

I will not forgive you ISRAEL-BRITAIN-AMERICA for the conspiracy and destruction you did to my brothers in sisters in Palestine. As a Malaysian that care for Palestine, I know the truth and I will not stop telling the truth!

"MY HEART AND SOUL WITH PALESTINE"

I was so glad that my Palestinian brother Bashir agreed to join me to the program, so I picked him up at USM Engineering Campus and took him for tour to Kulim Hi-Tech and Kulim Town. The next day, he cooked magluba (Gaza style). It was delicious and I never thought that he is such a good cook.