Nature and Nightwalks

Dipterocarpseed

 Getting ready for the night walk

Colugu/Flying lemur

Pitviper

Project Runway: Eco-style Lifestyle By Patricia Hului @pattbpseeds

PROJECT RUNWAY IS A REALITY SHOW where contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes with restriction on time, materials and theme.

During the second Santubong Nature Festival (SNF) recently held at Permai Rainforest Resort, 22 teams came together to compete in the SNF version of the fashion reality show called ‘Eco-Fashion Contest’.

Organised by Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, the competition aimed to promote the concept of 3Rs-recycle, reduce and reuse.

Open to students from secondary schools and universities, designers were encouraged to use their creativity to turn waste into chic fashion. All designs were judged according to five criteria; creativity or innovation, use of the recycled item, environmental message they want to portray, visual display and presentation.

Trienekens’ Corporate Communications senior executive Janet Balong said, “This competition is a way to open our minds to use waste and recycled items and in the same time to preserve environment.”

All 22 teams gave fierce competition with their designs. From a dress decorated with expired condoms to an avant-garde dress made of old curtains, all entrants had to use recyclable materials or waste such as plastic bags, used paper, plastic bottles, scraps of old fabrics, wire or metal.

At least 70% of the design must be made up of discarded, used or recyclable items.

UNCONVENTIONAL BEAUTY: ‘Fabulosity’ from Unimas was inspired by ballerina costumes, creating this dress out of expired condoms and umbrellas.

AVANT GARDE: Another team from Unimas called ‘Green Vintage’ did this piece out of old clothes and curtains.

SPOT THE RATTAN: GWO Designer from SMK Penrissen No 1 made this dress out of tissue, plastic, rattan, old clothes and bottles.

RUNWAY: The models lining up to take their final bow.

FROM OLD JEANS TO THE RUNWAY: Members of D-ECO from Unimas was inspired by Coco Chanel when they designed this look from recycled denim.

But only one team could emerge as champion. Eventually three girls all aged 15 from SMK St. Mary’s – The Passerine – won first prize with their dress ‘Bird of Paradise’.

THE PASSERINE: The Passerine (from left) Siti Nur Sarah, Cherlene and Alleyshya received their prize from Janet (second right).

Inspired by the various types of colourful birds in Borneo, their dress was made from newspapers, magazines and plastic bags.

BEAUTIFUL: Cherlene modelled for her team with their design called ‘Bird of Paradise’.

The Passerine made up of members Alleshsya Sudan, Cherlene Natty Wilson and Siti Nur Sarah binti Abu Bakar walked away with a RM500 cash prize, trophy and certificates.

Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup may not have been in the Powerpuff Girls team but Hu Hui Hui, Joanne Law Ru Yan and Fiona Yong Wee Na were: they won the first runner-up with their creation called Dress4U.

GREEN AND PRETTY: Powerpuff Girls (from left) Yong, Law and Hu all delighted to receive their second runner-up title from SNF’s organising chairman, Vincent Wong.

Their dress and handbag were made of playing cards, plastics, aluminium lids, plastic bottles, old fabrics, wire, metals, posters, magazine and newspapers.

ROCKING IT: Hu from Powerpuff Girls rocking her team’s look called ‘Dress4U’.

All aged 16; the girls said they were inspired by bloggers, magazines and reality shows.

As for the second runner up, the winner was a one-woman team.

Clarissa Chia Yen Yen from Swinburne University of Technology won herself RM200 cash and certificate.

LONE WINNER: Chia (front left) who designed and modelled her own dress made of plastic bags and trash bags won the second runner-up.

Chia design and modelled her own dress ‘The Beauty of Recycling’ which was driven by her desire to save the environment.

The white whimsical dress was made from trash bags and plastic bags.

PRETTY IN WHITE: Chia is modelling her dress which she called ‘The Beauty of Recycling’.

Besides the top three winners, the organisers also gave away ten consolation prices.

Eco Fashion contest /Trienekens

Eco Fashion contest, make up before the models will do the catwalk

Eco Fashion contest, waiting for the show to start 

Eco Fashion contest

Eco Fashion contest

Eco Fashion contest

Eco Fashion contest

Eco Fashion contest, interviewed by the Emcee

Eco Fashion contest, The winners and all the participants including the judges

Talks

Opening talk by Gerard Proust Australia

Life on the sea coast with Prof Steve Oakley(Sabah TRACC) & Bec Luxford(Australia)

Life on the sea coast with Prof Steve Oakley(Sabah TRACC) & Bec Luxford(Australia)

Life on the sea coast with Prof Steve Oakley(Sabah TRACC) & Bec Luxford(Australia)

Life on the sea coast with Prof Steve Oakley(Sabah TRACC) & Bec Luxford(Australia)

Life on the sea coast with Prof Steve Oakley(Sabah TRACC) & Bec Luxford(Australia)

Bicycle ride and rubbish collection from DBKU to PRR

7.00 a.m

Police keeping an eye on the traffic that all goes smoothly 

Datuk Abang abdul Wahap Bin Abang Julai,Mayor DBKU

Getting ready to go

Off they go

 9.00 am Arrival of the teams at Permai resort, hand over flag and rubbish and the SNF begins. Datuk Abang abdul Wahap Bin Abang Julai, Mayor DBKU, Vincent Wong SNF Chairman & Rahim Bugo Manager from PPR

Datuk Abang abdul Wahap Bin Abang Julai, Mayor DBKU, Vincent Wong SNF Chairman & Rahim Bugo Manager from PPR, 

Group photo from all the participants taking part at the bicycle ride

Dolphin watching with Cindy Peters Santubong Nature festival 2014

Photos Courtesy of Sarawak Dolphin Project in conjunction with the Santubong Nature Festival.

This is a photograph of a mother and calf taken on their left side. The single blowhole, one characteristic of small dolphins can clearly be seen on the first animal.— at Permai Rainforest Resort.

An Irrawaddy dolphin seen in the estuary of Santubong river with Pasir Pandak in the background. — at Permai Rainforest Resort.

Right dorsal fin shots of a mother and calf observed during dolphin-watch tour on 7 November 2014.

This is a photograph of a mother and calf taken on their left side. The single blowhole, one characteristic of small dolphins can clearly be seen on the first animal.— at Permai Rainforest Resort.

Mt Santubong/Picture taken by Zora Chan

Merchandise for sale at Santubong Nature Festival

KUCHING: Beautiful Penan bags and baskets are back at this year's Santubong Nature Festival. 

Proceeds from the sale of the bags and baskets and any donations made will go towards the HelpingHands Penan, a charitable group, that helps to improve the Penan's livelihood. 

The bags and baskets are priced between RM20 and RM90.

The two-day festival takes place at Permai Rainforest Resort in Santubong on Nov 8 and 9, offering indoor and outdoor activities such as talks, guided  walks and children's activity on both days.

The Malaysian Nature Society-Kuching Branch (MNSKB) is holding the festival with  Permai Rainforest Resort in collaboration with Kuching City North Hall (DBKU). 

The festival is also supported  by Sarawak Museum, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Geoscience and Minerals Department, Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, Sultan Iskandar Planetarium, Sarawak Society of Prevention of Cruelty for Animal (SSPCA), Ika Picture House, IBEC of Universiti  Malaysia Sarawak and Society of Wilderness (SOW).

Festival goers with usable items such as clothes, toys, shoes and stationery that they like to donate are encouraged to bring them along to HelpingHands Penan's booth. HelpingHands Penan will find a home for them where they will be appreciated. 

There are other exhibition booths set up by MNS Kuching Branch,  WWF-Malaysia, Hearts Treasures, Sarawak  Museum, Geoscience and Minerals Department, Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, Sultan Iskandar Planetarium,Sarawak SSPCA and E-Mart.

Besides informative exhibits and reading materials, exhibitors have a wide range of merchandise for sale such as T-shirts, books, postcards, paper jewelry, hand crafted note pads, reusable shopping bags and many more. 

Admission to Permai Rainforest Resort on both days is free. Participation to all activities is also free except for dolphin watching and Survivor Race.

Early registration is necessary to take part in these activities. Intending participants are to provide their name, mobile phone number and identity card number for the indemnity form and email to santubongnaturefestival@gmail.com

For more information on SNF, visit http://mnskuching.blogspot.com/  and http://santubongnaturefestival.blogspot.com