Setiakawan Palm Oil Factory, Kulim, 27 Mar

On 27 March 2009, Lisa, Sharlina and myself made a quick trip to Setiakawan Palm Oil Factory in Kulim to collect some samples for our bioprocessing research project. Mr Lai, the factory engineer, showed us around the factory and helped us in obtaining some soil samples. Brought the samples back to the lab for isolation work and so far, the findings have been encouraging.

The factory

Mr Lai getting some waste samples

Empty fruit bunch

Palm fibre

Visit by UMK 27 March 2009

It was nice to catch up with the Year 2 Agricultural Technology Entrepreneurship students of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan again. Showed them around AIMST; the various labs and the anatomy museum. Then to Queensbay Mall for dinner.

Group photo

Nik Raihan and Lisa Ong

At TGIF

(Thanks Nik for buying us dinner!)

Vasakhi Open House 25 April 2009

Met up with Ranjini and Vicky in Little India area of Penang and then made our way to Fort Cornwalis for the Vasakhi Open House. There were free foods, performances, exhibition and stalls selling clothes and other items.

Vicky's having her hand painted

Ranjini and Vicky showing off their mehndi or hand-paintings

Exhibition

Queuing for food

Back to Penang 15 April 2009

Took Argo Gede train again on April 14 to return to Jakarta and slept throughout the trip. Stayed overnight at Hotel Treva International in Menteng area of Jakarta. My Air Asia flight to Penang was at 5.10 pm on the April 15 so I had some time in the morning to do some last minute sourvenir shopping. Went to Sarinah Department store and bought some things as well as had a quick lunch. The flight back to Penang was uneventful.

Near Sarinah Department Store

At the Bandara

ITB and Shopping 13 April 2009

Met up with Dr. Ir. IGBN Makertiharta, the Head of Department of the Fakultas Teknik Kimia, ITB. He took me around the department and showed the various facilities that are available there. Quite impressed with what they have. I could see some kind of collaboration between my department and ITB soon. Bumped into some Malaysian students studying Pharmacy at ITB.

With Dr. Ir. IGBN Makertiharta (on the left)

Glass workshop

Bioprocessing pilot plant

With Professor Tjandra Setiadi, Professor of Bioprocess Technology

Research lab

ITB

Some Malaysian students at ITB

Had the whole afternoon to do some shopping. Bandung is well known for its numerous 'factory outlets'. I stayed at Hotel Royal Dargo which is within walking distance to ITB and some factory outlets. Went to a couple of these factory outlets, bought some shirts and then decided to check out Rumah Mode. Such a nice place but the clothes on sale are a bit pricier. I had a quick lunch there and took some photos.

Hotel Royal Dargo

One of many factory outlets in Bandung

Rumah Mode

Rumah Mode

Rumah Mode

Also went to Jalan Chihamplas. This road is full of shops selling clothes. I was there more for window shopping than buying since I had already bought my shirts. At around 5.30 pm, a huge thunderstorm broke out and the road suddenly turned into a raging river. Went back to my hotel when the weather cleared up. That night, had some nice Padang food for dinner.

One of the shops at Jalan Chihamplas

To Bandung 12 April 2009

I really enjoyed the train trip to Bandung. Nice and very comfortable. If you want to travel to Bandung from Jakarta and you're not in a rush, this is the best way to travel.

The food onboard was ok and reasonably priced. I had chicken soup, chicken cordon bleu (I think) and aqua or mineral water for 40,000.

But the best thing for me was the view; quaint villages, paddy terraces, rolling mountains and deep valley gorges. I was completely enchanted!

My First day in Jakarta 11 April 2009

My primary reason of coming to Indonesia was to visit Institut Teknologi Bandung, to see if I could form some sort of scientific collaboration with them such as in the area of bioprocessing. Bandung is about 3 hours away by train from Jakarta.

Got up at around 11 am and took an 'ojek' or motorcycle taxi to Gambir train station to buy a ticket to Bandung for Sunday. Filled in the booking form and bought my ticket. I chose 9.10 am Executive class Argo Gede to Bandung for 55,000 Rupiah. The train station is next to MONAS or Monumen Nasional so I decided to check out the place. It is a nice park and well laid-out. It even has trolley-cars to take people around the park. Grabbed something to eat and went back to Hotel Djody.