BANDWIDTH STREET PRESS ISSUE 67

FREE PPH 317/08/2012(031294)

MAY 2015

IMAGO MALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

HARDROCK CAFE NOW IN KOTA KINABALU

HOT SPOTS THE JUNK

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MAY IN SABAH

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Sabah Fest 2015 – A Cultural Extravanganza 1 - 3 May

Traditional Costume Exhibition & Magavau Ceremony 16 May

MAH Gotong Royong 2015 (Community Clean-Up) 1 May - 1 Jun

Harvest Festival, Kota Belud 17 May

Bazar Seni 2 May

International Museum Day 18 May

8th Borneo International Marathon (BIM) 3 May

Mabul World Turtle Day 2015 18 - 21 May

Wesak Day 3 May

Tadau Ka’amatan Celebrations – Grand Finale 30 - 31 May

Malaysian Craft Promotion 2015 16 May - 1 Jun

Harvest Festival Open Regatta 2015 30 - 31 May

Imago Harvest Festival 15 - 31 May

Imago Fest 29 - 31 May

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HAPPENING EXCITING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY Sabah Fest 2015 – A Cultural Extravanganza This prelude to the statewide Harvest Festival celebration is a superbly entertaining cultural extravanganza that incorporates dance, music, fashion, food and more. Sabah Fest 2015 presents a wonderful blend of cultural and natural heritage that is richly embedded in folklore. Ticket is open for booking, please contact Sri Pelancongan Sabah at (Tel) +60 88-232121 or (E-mail) francesca@sabahtourism.com for further information.

8th Borneo International Marathon (BIM) The Borneo International Marathon is held along the scenic coastal roads of Kota Kinabalu with three distances – 10km, 21km and 42km. This will be the 8th edition of the BIM, also dubbed, “The Beautiful Run”.

Bazar Seni ‘Bazar Seni’ is held every first Saturday of the month, for every month this year. This is more like an art expo where there will be art exhibitions as well as talent search.

Admission is Free!

Harvest Festival, Kota Belud The district of Kota Belud celebrate the Harvest Festival with their own line-up of exciting events and the crowning of the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Beauty Queen).

MAH Gotong Royong 2015 (Community Clean-Up) The Malaysian Association of Hotels of Sabah and Labuan do their bit in conjunction with World Environmental Day by organizing a gotong royong (communal effort clean-up) at Likas Bay. International Museum Day May 18th of each year has been designated as World Museum Day by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). On this historic date, entry to the premises of the Sabah Museum is free. The visitors will also be treated to cultural performances, shows and exhibitions.

Harvest Festival Open Regatta 2015 Kinabalu Yacht Club takes the opportunity of the holiday season to organise this annual event that aims to promote sports tourism in Sabah. The regatta’s objective is also to promote sailing as a sport that builds up selfdiscipline among youths.

Traditional Costume Exhibition & Magavau Ceremony Sabah’s rich cultural heritage can be seen through its wide array of traditional costumes, representing the respective tribes and districts. Find out more about these unique costumes and the accessories that accompany them during this one-day only exhibition at the Monsopiad Cultural Village in Penampang. Come evening, the Magavau ceremony is performed – a Kadazandusun ritual performed by the Bobohizans (high priestess) whose task is to search and salvage the lost Bambazon (rice spirit) who are hurt or separated from the main mystical body. All happening at the Monsopiad Cultural Village, held in conjunction with the Kaamatan month of May. Imago Harvest Festival Come and participate in our range of activities and performances from 15 – 31 May 2015. With local crafts displayed and games for all to play. We will also have performance from different tribes and ethnicities where you can participate and even take a selfie with! In need of some retail therapy? Spend and redeem Imago merchandise when you shop in Imago. And let’s not forget we will also be hosting our first Little Miss Unduk Ngadau (Little Miss Harvest Festival) pageant finals on the 30 May 2015. Don’t miss out on the fun and games only at Imago Shopping Mall.

Mabul World Turtle Day 2015 Calling all sea turtle enthusiasts! Come and volunteer during this unique sea turtle outreach programme in Mabul Island by being turtle spotters for the dive team and research assistants on the research vessel.

Malaysian Craft Promotion 2015 An annual craft promotion and fair, this event involves the participation of 100 craft makers from the field of textiles (batik and woven), forest produce, accessories and other metal products. Check out the wide variety of crafts on display and see how they are made during the live demonstrations. Visitors can purchase a myriad of Malaysian crafts and participate in several craft-making activities.

Tadau Ka’amatan Celebrations – Grand Finale This month-long Harvest Festival celebration will culminate at Hongkod Koisaan, the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Hall in Penampang. Join in the merriment as local folks sing, dance, eat and play traditional games. This is also the main stage for the highly-anticipated final round of the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Beauty Queen) pageant.

Wesak Day Wesak Day marks the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha. Devotees gather at temples from the crack of dawn to conduct prayers and provide offerings such as flowers and incense. It is a national public holiday.

Events listing courtasy of Sabah Tourism Board

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Editor Jonathan Tse Writers Keys Abraham Gordon Horace Chin Sharmila Asha Syed Rusydie Hadie Affendie Jonny Dragon Rachel Hee Creative Director Razie Alfiedan Productions Advertising Vekky Stewart Marketing/Events Manager Becka Robert Contact Us Website: www.bwmag.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/BandWidthMag Facebook: www.facebook.com/bandwidthstreetpress Instagram: @bandwidthmag Phone: 016 833 9482 F: Save paper, email us instead For Editorial/Distribution/Advertising inquiries, email us at: kkbandwidth@gmail.com

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m o r f r e t Let r o t i d E the

I can’t believe we’re in the month of May! Time passes too quickly when there’s so much going on. The month of May is always exciting because it’s full of activities surrounding the Kaamatan Festival. If you’re in Borneo for holiday, do check out our Monthly activities page for Sabah and Sarawak to find out what’s happening in beautiful Borneo.

This issue we feature local stars, hot spots in Borneo, articles on style, health, wellness, cars and iPhone techie stuff not forgetting our front cover of Hard Rock Cafe, Kota Kinabalu with a special promo only with Bandwidth Magazine.

Basically what you need to do is bring a Bandwidth magazine with you to Hard Rock’s ROCK SHOP, spend a minimum of RM288 and you’re entitled to an exclusive gift from them.

How awesome is that?!

Besides all that’s happening and our busy schedule, let’s not forget to take time and head over to the beach to catch the beautiful sunset. I recommend ARUBA @ Tanjung Aru, first beach and the Waterfront (not a beach). I get to catch the sunset while having “Yong tau foo”. (if you don’t know what this is, there’s a delicious outlet at the Waterfront).

Have a fun filled May everyone :) Kotobian tadau tagazo do Kaamatan!

Printed by Percetakan Kolombong Ria Sdn Bhd (290030-P) Lot 3A & 5, Neutron Park, Mile 5 1/2, Tuaran Road, 88450 Kolombong, Sabah, Malaysia.

Recycle Bandwidth supports Recycling. Once you’re done reading, either dispose of this publication responsibly or pass it to the person next to you so they can read this wonderful Magazine.

Supported By

Jonathan Tse EDITOR,

BANDWIDTH STREET PRESS

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COVER STORY 20 HARD ROCK CAFE INTERVIEW 14 DJ DEALOWN 16 DAVID CHOI 24 EBI KORNELIUS 28 MY THOUGHTS... KAAMATAN 42 BATE NEWS 26 GROOVE SKILL TEMPO KK 30 Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria’S OCEANO STYLE 34 ONE MAN’S TRASH...

ARTICLE 36 BELLE, MA BELLA HOT SPOTS 18 THE JUNK HAPPENINGS 20 PESTA KA’AMATAN HEALTH 36 ALKALINE WATER PART 2

BANDWIDTH PICK UP AND READING SPOTS

RESTAURANTS & CAFES • Starbucks Palm Square • Starbucks Warisan Square • Starbucks Suria Sabah • Starbucks 1Borneo • Starbucks City Mall • Starbucks The Spring • Starbucks Kuching International Airport • Starbucks Bintang Plaza Miri • Ming Cafe • Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Damai • Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Palm Square • Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Wisma Merdeka • Aubergine 88 Marketplace • Patrick’s Restaurant Lintas Plaza • Party Play Lifestyle Cafe Gaya Street • Hyatt Regency Hotel

CLUBS & PUBS • Shenanigan’s Fun Pub Hyaat • BED Waterfront • The Loft Waterfront • Shamrock Irish Bar • Mynt • Lush • Club Celebrities • Loving MUSIC SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, STUDIOS • RAM Production Damai • Refuge Music Academy City Mall • SIDMA College Bundusan SHOPPING MALLS • City Mall • Wisma Merdeka • Suria Shoping Mall • Star City Shopping Mall • 1Borneo Hypermall

FASHION/BEAUTY BOUTIQUES • Loft Clothing Warisan Square • Quicksilver/Roxy Warisan Square • Quicksilver/Roxy Warisan 1Borneo • The Body Shop Wisma Merdeka • The Body Shop Suria Sabah • The Body Shop Centre Point • The Body Shop1Borneo • The Body Shop Megalong • The Body Shop One Place LABUAN • Tiara Hotel Labuan • Popin Entertainment Centre Labuan • Blue Wave Lounge Labuan • Grand Dorsett Labuan • Lazenda Hotel • Havoc Entertainment

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MAY IN SARAWAK

HAPPENING

World Harvest Festival 2015 May 1 - May 3

Runners Wild Bario 2015 May 16

Borneo Jazz Festival 2015 May 8 - May 9

Padawan International 4×4 Off-Roaders Extreme Challenge May 22

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HAPPENING EXCITING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY World Harvest Festival 2015 The main highlight of the World Harvest Festival (WHF) is the theme play which had received rave reviews from the media in the past. The WHF theme play utilises the lake, ethnic houses and trees as natural props which can only be produced in the Sarawak Cultural Village. Each year the play takes on a different ethnic theme. In 2014, it was based on a Bidayuh legend.

Along with sampling of traditional food and crafts of the ethnic communities of Sarawak, there will also be a series of joint workshops by the local and invited cultural troupes.The ethnic beauty pageant lends colour and vibrancy to the event whereas brawn comes in the form of the Ironman World Harvest Festival competition.

Borneo Jazz Festival 2015 Borneo Jazz is one of the longest running jazz festival in the region. This will the 10th year it is held in Miri.

There will be two nights of four performances each by regionally and internationally recognised jazz musicians.

Visitors going to this cosmopolitan city of Miri can use the day to visit the Lambir Hills or the historical Niah National Park located just an hour and two away respectively. And if you are a scuba diver, the dive sites in the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park beckons. The nearest dive site is a mere 15-min away, just off the coast of the city.

The World Harvest Festival (WHF) is an ethnic festival that is one of the highlights of the Gawai Dayak celebration, the largest in Sarawak in terms of the community involved. WHF provides the opportunity for the nonDayaks to understand the cultures, traditions and aspirations of the Dayak community. This will be the 11th year in the running.

Runners Wild Bario 2015 A trail-running series taking runners into the wild for unforgettable National Geographic inspired running experiences across Southeast Asia. The selected routes and locations are key to the experience, from the lush forests of the Philippines, the spectacular volcanic craters of Indonesia, the mythical mountains of Nepal to the idyllic little hamlets in the highlands of Malaysia.

With each run infused with real experiences of the warm rural communities and their lifestyles, the Runners Wild series seek to invoke a sense of adventure into the new generation of runners who seek a sense discovery in Asia.

RUNNERS’ CUTURAL EXPERIENCE | IMMERSING IN LOCAL CULTURE

Padawan International 4Ă—4 Off-Roaders Extreme Challenge Sixty teams including those from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and the Royal Brunei 4X4 team will be participating in the Padawan International 4X4 Off-Roaders Extreme Challenge 2015.

The event will be held from May 22-24 at a temporary track at the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS), Borneo Highlands Road, about 45 kilometres from Kuching.

Some of the activities include river wading, winching, hill climbing, mud slide driving, downhill maneuvering and rock climbing as well as testing the true skills of driving.

Events listing courtasy of Sarwak Tourism

The Bario race will culminate in a feast hosted by the Kelabit community where runners and locals will get to intermingle with each other.

Runners will further have the option to extend their trip to try out other exciting activites such as hiking trips, kayaking adventures, mountain bike excursions as well as immersing themselves in local activites such as fishing, attending local cooking and beading classes.

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INTERVIEW

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NEWS

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INTERVIEW

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dj

INTERVIEW

n w o l a de

DJ Dealown! What made you become a DJ? It all started back in 2009 when me and my band mates went to a local bar and the DJ who was spinning that time was a good friend of ours. He invited me to the DJ console and I was so curious when I first saw how he mixed a song to another song using the DJ equipment. From there on, I was excited to learn more on how to spin the decks until the senior DJs gave me an opportunity to touch the CDJ for the first time. Long story short, my curiosity about how the DJ make their music using songs from various artist to entertain people made me become a DJ today because I want to make my own music and I want people to enjoy it.

How would you define your music? Producing any tracks?

I’m what I call an “open format” DJ. I can’t stand playing just one genre of music at a time because it will sound boring to me. My favorite type of music is old school stuff. I’m currently working on my original song. Fingers crossed, it will be release in the coming months!

Tell us about your music influences. Who would you like to sound like?

My musical influences came from different pillars of genre and different musicians. I can’t list it down because there’s too many. I prefer to be more original and i want people to appreciate me, my style and sound.

What’s one thing that your proud about? Share with us some highlights of your career.

To be honest, I’m never proud of my achievements because I realize no matter how good I am now, someday, there will always be someone who will prove me wrong. I guess one of the highlight in my DJ career is when I won the East Malaysia Pioneer DJ Battle back in 2012. Other highlights would be playing next to international DJs and sharing the same stage with artist such as Alvaro, DVVBS, VINAI at the Mysterious Events last year in Sarawak.

Anything to say to your fans?

Support and love your local act. We can do more if everybody come together. Of course, please grab yourself a copy of Bandwidth Magazine every month and you know its always free.

Photo by Radzie Rahman

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INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

Dav i d C h oi B y Tr y s h a G . h a d j i r i l

Where do we begin? David Choi is an enormously popular YouTube musician based in Los Angeles.

His popular songs which include “By My Side” and “That Girl”, have been featured on NBC, FOX, MTV and E! Calling David Choi a talented singer alone would be an understatement as he is more than just that; his silly humor, down-to-earth personality as well as his passion for music has caught the hearts of many fans all around the world. So, what better way to get to know this charming and talented singer than with 7 fun facts that you might have not known... but, well, now you do.

FAMILY LIFE His parents, Ray and Jane Choi, are both associated with music in different ways; with an artistic mother and musical father.

David : My parents own a music store called “Grace Music”. They used to sell all kinds of instruments and had music teachers come in almost everyday to give private lessons. I spent a lot of time there because my parents didn’t have anyone to babysit me.

BEFORE THE FAME Growing up, he did not enjoy playing the piano and violin!

David : I remember enjoying violin and piano for a quick minute until I was told to “practice”.

Practicing sucked. It required discipline... A word I did not care for at that age. I remember getting in trouble all the time for not practicing. It wasn’t just a “go practice please”, it was a “go practice in your room for 30 minutes or you’re in big trouble!!”. Honestly, I don’t remember practicing very much - thirty minutes tops. But I do remember wanting to break my violin every time I did. It started off with a dislike of practicing which turned into a hatred for all things violin and piano. I recall even at one point, I hated music.

PET PEEVES David : I don’t like lies - well, actually no, sometimes it’s okay to lie. I don’t like people who are mean - actually, I do like people who are mean. Because mean people are good too sometimes, you just have to break through their walls. They’re just mean because they have walls. I don’t like murderers - but at the same time... I’m kidding! It’s really hard to annoy me. So, just murderers. They’re the most annoying things ever.

IDEAL GIRL David : I’m not even sure, actually. I don’t know. It always changes. I like when they smile. I like girls who are good and kind and not murderers.

GUILTY PLEASURE David : Sometimes I do like to listen to “Never Gonna Give You Up”. I don’t know, I just really like old songs. Sometimes, when I listen to these songs in my car, my friend would be like, “Why are you listening to these songs?” To them, it’s cheesy but to me, it’s not. I really love them so I guess it shouldn’t be considered my guilty pleasure.

MOTTO IN LIFE David : It always changes. I got a lot of mottos that I need to remind myself of everyday. Today, I like the motto of being good. People ask me, “What is good?”, I think that everybody knows the answer to what being good is if you don’t think too much. You just be a good person.

SONG FACTS David : In my song “Underneath Your Love”, the outro of the song has two melodic phrases from earlier songs “By My Side” and “Won’t Even Start”. The lines at the end are “by my side~” and “if I ever see you on the street~”. There you have it. Secret’s revealed.

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hot spots The well-decorated ceiling of Backstage - not included: Laser lights and a DJ booth.

The Junk A Weekender’s Ticket Through Time

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Penned by Syed Rusydie

onsidered to be close to the top of the list of most bar-hoppers’ destinations come the end of the week, The Junk is arguably one of Kuching’s hottest night spots, be it for the tasteful wine connoisseur or free-spirited, bottle-toting weekender. Comprised of a front and back section that host its restaurant and bar respectively, the sum of it all is enclosed within the width of your typical shop house. Take a step inside, and be transported through time.

To enjoy their selection of fusion food, make a choice to enter from the front. You will be pleasantly greeted with a friendly garcon who will recommend seating based on the size of your party and preferred level of privacy; recommendations on the house signature dish will follow once seated. At this point the author insists an extra serving of mushroom sauce be ordered to accompany that generouslysized, bloody ribeye - it is a hearty meal in its own right.

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with a large, red door that, once slid open, will reveal a contained rowdiness unleashed within that is lacking in the calmer, more dignified antics of those dining up front. Both entrances lead to spaces that have their own charm, and are bridged with a series of niches and corridors that stand to either confuse or further charm the first-timer.

The Junk’s appeal, and namesake, is derived from the manner with which its interior is presented to visitors. The walls are covered with paraphernalia predating World War II; posters, typewriters, model

hot spots Step in through the reception at the front and expect an immediate change of mood from the outside coming in.

Movable dividers upstairs aid those who wish to dine privately, but the ambiance remains the same cars made from tin and even salvaged shop signs, in addition to local relics from forest-born tribes closer to the heart of the state.

However, you’d be wrong to mistake George Ling, the proprietor of the establishment and collector of said junk, to be one who’s hopped on the bandwagon of what seems like an ongoing trend in most cafes and restaurants to display artifacts in search of that timeless retro look.

Each and every one of his hand-selected novelties are highly treasured, some of which are from the boom of the age of advertising - quippy one-liners embossed on metal plates in a typeset you’d be hardpressed to find in the present. Make your way upstairs and you will find the author’s favourite ornament under a dim spotlight - a classy, leather-lined dentist’s chair that has enough nostalgic appeal to summon the spirit of Don Draper himself.

A wall dedicated to artifacts acquired from many of the native tribes in Sarawak

Photos by Yvonne Sam

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HAPPENING

5 a 1 t 0 s e 2 P n a t a m a ’ a K B y Ra c

hel He

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In the month of May, the Kadazandusun community gets ready to celebrate Pesta Ka’amatan also known as Tadau Ka’amatan (Ka’amatan Day). In other words, the Harvest Festival. When we think of Ka’amatan, we think of aramaiti which means the season of gathering of friends and family near and far. Now let us take a look back at its history and where it all came to be.

The word Ka’amatan is derived from the root word, Tomot, a Kadazandusun word for harvest.

The harvest festival is a month long festival that celebrates the culture and lifestyle of the Kadazandusun community of Sabah. It is to welcome the new harvest season and to celebrate the old harvest season and also to offer gratitude for the good harvest. Magavau, the kadazan term for Pesta Ka’amatan is a special ceremony to honor the spirit of Bambazon.

Who or what is Bambazon you ask? Well, let me tell you the folk tale behind it.

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Illustration by Razie Alfiedan

According to tradition, a god named Kinoingan and his wife, Suminundu had a daughter named Huminodun. The Kadazandusun people were starving from famine. For the love of his people, Kinoingan and his wife were forced to sacrifice their daughter (who gave herself up willingly) by chopping her up to little pieces and scattered her remains all over a paddy field. The body of Huminodun had the seed of crops and when planted, turned into paddy thus producing rice for the first time. Because the body of Huminodun produced fluid and seed, it is believed that the rice has a spirit called Bambazon.

HAPPENING In honor of the sacrifice made by Huminodun, a beauty pageant called ‘Unduk Ngadau’ was created to reflect the respect and admiration the Kadazandusun people had for her. The term ‘Unduk’ is defined as the shoot of the plant which symbolizes youth and progressiveness, while the term ‘Ngadau” is defined as the noon sun which symbolizes the total beauty of the heart, body and mind of an ideal Kadazandusun woman. Put together, ‘Unduk Ngadau’ is a pageant to select the most beautiful Kadazandusun woman; one who most resembles the beauty and personality of Huminodun. The ‘Unduk Ngadau’ is one of the main highlights of Pesta Ka’amatan. Each beauty queen from the different districts of Sabah compete, with the final round and grand finale held at the Hongkod Koisaan, the KDCA hall in Penampang.

The Kadazandusun Cultural Association Sabah (KDCA) is an association of 40 indigenous ethnic communities in Sabah. Its purpose is to preserve, develop, enrich and promote the multi-ethnic cultures.

Don’t know where to go for this Festival Season or want to find out more on the culture of the Kadazandusun and Pesta Ka’amatan? Head on over to KDCA as it is open to the public, for everyone to celebrate Harvest Festival. What can one expect at the present day Ka’amatan festival? Expect joyous celebration and heritage expression through song, music and dance along with traditional costumes, traditional games, cultural shows, exhibitions as well as art and craft sales. During this festival, locals and tourists alike will enjoy a carnivallike atmosphere with rows and rows of local and contemporary food and drink stalls. The homemade rice wine ‘Tapai’ is also served during the festival.

KEEP CALM AND

DRINK RESPONSIBLY Now that you know what Pesta Ka’amatan is all about, don’t forget to practise drinking responsibly!

Aramaiti guys! Kotobian tadau tagazo do Ka’amatan.

Photos taken from KDCA website

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INTERVIEW

Hard Rock Café Kota Kinabalu As you may know or have heard, the Hard Rock Café recently opened its doors at the Oceanus Waterfront Mall at the heart of Kota Kinabalu, facing the South China Sea. I got to sit down with Floyd Pereira, the General Manager of Hard Rock to give us some insight into this world-renowned café.

Let’s get to know the General Manager, Floyd Pereira.

He is a Sabahan, born in Tambunan and fluent in the Kadazan-Dusun language. Among his hidden talents is the ability to sing several numbers in this language. Because of a job transfer, his father moved his entire family to Kuala Lumpur.

Coming from a family of lawyers and judges, Floyd decided to pursue law but after 3 months decided to switch to Tourism and Hospitality and subsequently graduated. Floyd grew in

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the F&B industry and attained over 20 years of experience in this field. He was working at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the banquet department prior to taking up his current post as General Manager of Hard Rock Café Kota Kinabalu.

About the Hard Rock Café: The Hard Rock Café was in the works for 5 years prior to this and was set up to boost the tourism industry in Sabah. It is their hope to promote Sabah’s beauty in terms of nature and culture.

INTERVIEW As for the history of Hard Rock, it was initially a burger joint created by friends Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton in 1971. The pair took over an old Rolls Royce showroom and named it “Hard Rock”. The iconic Hard Rock t-shirts were printed for a charity run and now accounts for about 40 percent in global sales. The Hard Rock is one of the largest food and beverage (F&B) operators with over 200 cafes worldwide and is still expanding aggressively. It also has one of the largest memorabilia spread which is a collection of tools of entertainment donated by various artistes. The memorabilia are showcased at the Hard Rock Cafes all over the globe. It is a monumental part of the history of music and has always aimed to enhance the culture of music.

So what makes Hard Rock Café different from other cafes?

The Hard Rock café uses an American casual dining concept and has one of the largest burger varieties. The current menu is a new menu which was launched for Asia in January this year. The menu consists of locally-adapted Hard Rock International recipes and serves halal food Constant improvement, consistency and value are what Floyd hopes to offer his customers.

The Hard Rock is also a trusted brand around the world, so locals and tourists alike can come and bask in the atmosphere and enjoy quality food, drinks and entertainment. Their live entertainment consists of local talents such as the Head Hunters and other up-and-coming acts.

Recently, an artiste called The Santana of Asia

performed there.

When is Hard Rock Café’s grand opening?

The Hard Rock Café hopes to have its grand launch sometime after Hari Raya (Eid) this year. They are in talks with Sabah’s very own artiste Che’Nelle to be a part of this much anticipated event. Yes, you heard it first! Right here. This chart-topping artist will be back in her hometown and maybe contribute a piece of her apparel or music to hang on the famed Hard Rock Café wall.

Upcoming events at the Hard Rock Café include: • Secretaries’ Night • Sabah Country Music Festival • Media Night • Hospitality Night • Aviation Night • Various charity events These events will be held to show appreciation to the people behind the scenes, who form the backbone of society - to show that their hard work and tireless efforts are appreciated by the Hard Rock and they have a place to go where they can let loose and enjoy the night away.

For more information, you can go to www.

HardRock.com or go to their Facebook page, Hard Rock Café Kota Kinabalu. For bookings and reservations or inquiries, you can contact them at 088-273952.

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INTERVIEW INTERVIEW:

EBI KORNELI

Since AF, what has Ebi Kornelis been up to?

Firstly, I would like to thank Allah s.w.t for raising me up to this level – from a nobody to a somebody.

After Akademi Fantasia (AF), I signed a 4-year contract with Astro. After that, I started my own company, Empayar Bayu (M) Sdn Bhd. in 2011 to help me drive my career in this field of artistry.

Tell us about your passion with the music scene. What’s keeps you going?

I have always been a lover of music. Since my younger days, I have been a fan of Santana, Queen and Deep Purple. Plus, I had a band and we would often get together to jam.

Even in my primary school, I would often perform on stage whilst playing the guitar and my teachers would occasionally take me on ‘tour’ from class to class to entertain them. My first guitar teacher was my father who taught me to play keroncong asli.songs. Up till now, I remember the chords and scale of those songs.

At present, I have also composed many songs for local movie soundtracks, including dramas produced by Yusof Kelana, Jurey Rosli and many others.

So you’re producing tv shows now? Tell us about those.

I have been through lots of good and bad moments as a television programme producer. I had to be strong in facing unexpected challenges during filming. I would consider the pinnacle of my achievement thus far as being the first producer to film at the peak of Mount Kinabalu, for the telemovie Aku Dan Kinabalu, which describes the struggles of a blind man in conquering the peak of the mountain. Several other of my productions have also been classified as A-grade.

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IUS

INTERVIEW What do we look forward to with Ebi Kornelis?

In what I envision for the future, I would like to restore the glory days akin to those of Sabah Film.

In the past, our film industry was dominated by Sabah Film and was locally-owned. I would like to produce a film from Borneo that will uplift the name of Borneo in the eyes of the world. In sya Allah.

Can a Sabahan make an impact locally in the music and film industry?

Certainly. All we need to do is focus, be united and work hard. Adding to one’s knowledge is of paramount importance and we should never be envious or spiteful towards one another.

Any words of encouragement for us in Borneo?

We have here something that cannot be found anywhere else. We have a fascinating and unique culture and that is our greatest God-given asset, which we can use to express in art. There are no warriors named Mat Salleh atau Rentap on European or American soil; they were only found in Borneo. We can use this as inspiration in our art. “A hero must run with the country’s flag”...

Do you plan to release an album soon?

Yes, I intend to release an album, which is currently in the midst of production and I will be collaborating with several high profile local and international (including Indonesian) musicians and arrangers, such as Luke Mason, Roger Wang, Jonathan Tse and Greg Henderson.

Photos by Radzie Rahman

www.bwmag.net 25

NEWS

O

rganized by the Sabah Drums & Percussion Association (SDPA) in collaboration with Khaliff Production and Avenue Street 1Borneo, the GrooveSkillsTempoKK was a two-day event that was the first of its kind in Kota Kinabalu where local drummers, percussionists and music enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the talents and accomplishments of drummers and percussionists in Borneo, sharing their artistry with the beauty and magic of those loud, awesome drums. The event also served as a platform to connect the public to the local drummers and percussionists through music. Of course, it was all really about everyone having fun!

The fantastically unique feature of this event was the DRUM SHEDS sessions, where drummers played simultaneously on multiple drum sets and took turns to display their individual drum solos. The public was treated to two days of stunning Drum Sheds and it was a big hit! Even the public decided to join the fun and try their hand at shedding with the members of SDPA. 26 www.bwmag.net

Drum Workshops were also conducted by members of SDPA, which were interactive and educational. People who had an interest in learning the drums could do so by putting forward questions to the drummers and were even encouraged to try out the drum sets that were set up.

Nobody was an exception!

NEWS This event also featured performances by local talents such as French Inhale, Zirconia, Go Down Sound and Buska Buskers.

The event ended with a high note, with the performance by a local percussion unit called BARAKUDA who performed a remarkable set and topped it off by combining with drummers of SDPA for a Mega Drum Shed to close the show.

By Zul Khalif

www.bwmag.net 27

INTERVIEW

MY THOUGHTS

Pesta Kaamatan is around the corner and we had a chance to ask three famous Sabahans about their best memories of the Harvest Festival and its significance to them.

Daphne Iking (TV personality, emcee, actress) I would have to say the celebrations at Malaysia Hall was the most memorable for me because my folks were students studying in UK and being students, resources were limited. So it was a huge deal when we were able to party and celebrate with not just the kadazandusun community, but with Malaysians and sometimes other Asian communities too. This was somewhere in the early 80s.

/p/12KXL-nK3l/

https://instagram.com

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Illustration by Razie Alfiedan

Admittedly, I did not understand the actual significance of the Kaamatan celebration till I was encouraged to join the Unduk Ngadau Pageant back in 200. It was then that I took the whole celebration with a profound renewed respect. The significance of each traditional ritual and the legend of Huminodun was embraced with more gratitude, love, appreciation of my roots.

INTERVIEW

S... KAAMATAN Esther Applunius (Singer, OIAM3 second place) My best harvest festival memories.....lots and lots of moginum!

I was just joking. Actually during the harvest festival, I get the chance to meet lots of people that I don’t normally meet daily.

Yearly, I get to sing and perform in various places during Kaamatan, and also be a judge in the Sugandoi singing competition. It’s a happy season for my family and I. There are times it gets really busy for me during the Kaamatan season.

Faizul Sany (Singer/Songwriter, AF2013 champion) Every Kaamatan brings sweet memories to me. To me, Kaamatan is a time when my family takes the initiative to travel home and we get to meet up with everyone at home. We get to catch up and spend quality time together.

Every year, the atmosphere in the home is always exciting, uncles and aunties in the kitchen cooking, barbecue in the garden and of course a can of beer in their hand. One of the things I really enjoy is that I get to spend time with my nephews because it makes me forget that I’m getting old each and every year.

https://goo.gl/0j7

0KL

For me, Kaamatan is a time with my family rather than a time to hang out with friends, socialize and drinking. Now I get really busy with work and gigs, I take time at home and family very seriously because time with them is precious. That’s what makes me love the Kaamatan Festival so much.

Photos taken from social medias

www.bwmag.net 29

NEWS

SHANGRI-LA’S RASA RIA RESORT & SPA, KOTA KINABALU OPENS NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT

S

hangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu recently opened its new Italian restaurant, Oceano, in a ceremony officiated by Sabah’s minister of tourism, culture and environment, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun. The new restaurant is featuring the Ossobuco di Vitello or Veal Shank as its signature dish, while the barrelaged Negroni will be served as its signature beverage. Pricings are ranged from RM35 to RM135 per dish. As part of the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Rooted in Nature, the finest locally and ethically sourced ingredients are incorporated in the dishes.

“At Oceano, we offer the best of regional Italian cuisine with traditional flavours presented in a fresh and modern way.

Our lunch menu offers light and delicious Italian favourites while the dinner menu features classic favourites. The ingredients used are a combination of fresh local produce and imported organic and naturally grown products,” said the resort’s general manager, Jean-Marc Michel. ‘Being a responsible operator, Rasa Ria deepens its relationship with local communities by creating a market for sustainable farming, fishing and livestock practices, and providing higher-quality cuisine to guests as part of Shangri-La’s food and beverage sustainable initiative, Rooted In Nature.”

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Oceano’s chef de cuisine, Mauro Altea, 34, who hails from Sardinia island, Italy, created the restaurant’s extensive menu, which was inspired by his mother’s cooking using fresh produce brought in by his father. With over 14 years’ culinary experience, Chef Mauro is a highly creative, detail-oriented chef with a passion for the culinary arts and loves to challenge himself on a daily basis, refining his skills in the kitchen. He began his career working in the kitchens of respected restaurants in his native Italy and progressed to five-star hotels. His passion for Italian cuisine has brought him to Spain, Ireland and Oceania to spread the authentic Italian flavours before starting his first stint in Southeast Asia at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu to helm Oceano.

NEWS

Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa general manager Jean-Marc Michel (left) looking on as YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun cuts the ribbon to launch the new Italian restaurant, Oceano.

Aside from its newly added Italian restaurant to its list of ethnic restaurants, the resort is also home to the awardwinning Indian restaurant, Naan, and the popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, Kozan. The exclusive breakfast venue for the resort’s Ocean Wing residents, Oceano is approximately 665 square metres and seats approximately 102 persons indoor and 64 persons for al-fresco dining.

Oceano’s rustic interior concept is complemented by the use of earth tones and wooden decors, providing a relaxed ambiance for an Italian dining experience.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages nearly 90 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over

37,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. ShangriLa hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar and Sri Lanka. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www. shangri-la.com. www.bwmag.net 31

FEATURE

Belle, ma Belle

by Jonny Dragon

T

he sunlight peers through the palm fronds and lays itself gently all over Belle. Her hair lights up like firebrand in some places, but sleeps quiet and moody in others. It is evening sun - that wonderful golden glow you sometimes get that blankets everything in a surreal light which the French refer to as “L’heure entre chien et loup” or “the hour between the dog and the wolf.” More commonly known as the twilight hour, it is also referred to as dusk, or minimally put… sunset. She’s napping and unaware of her splendour and radiance. I breathe quietly. My name is Sylus, and I live with Belle.

I head to the kitchen and pour myself a whiskey after which I return to her on the patio. She has stirred, but not woken. The dogs are suddenly irritated and barking. It’s over quickly, just some strange dogs passing by on the street. I sip my whiskey slowly, lighting a menthol cigarette. Belle shifts and opens her eyes. She sits up and stretches, ever so slowly, yet consistently. She blinks and our eyes meet. She walks over and I touch her face. She kneads her cheek into my palm and then moves her head slightly as it if to shake off the remnants of an uncomfortable dream. Without a word, she gracefully leaves me, and heads inside. I’ll follow her in a minute. I like watching the sunset. It reminds me of the impermanence of things.

Darkness sets. I head inside to turn on lights and check on Belle. She’s probably hungry and there are some leftovers in the fridge. She sits quietly in the kitchen, with a slightly dazed look on her face. I prepare her a light snack. She never eats in large amounts but she can be quite meticulous in her choice of food. My mind drifts, wondering aimlessly for a few minutes and then I notice that Belle has slipped away quietly. She does that sometimes. Sometimes she goes to the studio. Maybe she prefers the colour of the walls in there, for certain moods.

Sometimes she goes outside to walk around or just sits alone with the wind in her face. I leave her alone in these times. When she wants to be with me, she comes to me – she finds me, and then we spend time cuddling and being playful.

We exchange few words, as she is not the verbal type. We don’t need to be, as we have been together for twelve years and we know each other very well. But I still don’t know her, and on occasion, she shows her discontent when I read her incorrectly or force her to be close to me. She’s doesn’t lie. She never has.

Dusk has passed and it is a clear night sky. The moon is bright, not quite full, yet shining brightly enough if one wanted to sail on calm waters. Belle hates the sea and doesn’t really have any much of an affinity for water. I love it. She is more content to relax, meditate and observe her surroundings, never getting bored and never asking for much. It suits me. She calms me down and reminds me that most of the time, nothing is an emergency and that it’s quite sane and sensible to put off today, what one could do tomorrow.

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FEATURE “What’s the rush?” her face says to me.

“Where are you rushing too?”

She’s right. From experience, I have noticed that if I wear a watch, I tend to need to know what time it is more often. Only us humans conciously count Time. Yet Belle never rushes anywhere, nor ever worries about Time. She worries about nothing. I guess that’s why she makes such a good companion as well as the fact she loves me unconditionally and asks little in return. I pour myself another strong whiskey and celebrate the coming of the night. Belle will probably head out to see some friends and might not return till very late. It’s how it is. And in this particular relationship, it works. No deliberations, no altercations, no egos.

It’s a little lonely sometimes, but conflict is minimized. It seems healthy and longer lasting than passion.

Seven more whiskeys later, It’s late and I’m alone. I like it that way nowadays. I think I do less damage. I must make sure she has something to eat when she get back home. She prefers canned food rather than Friskies.

Illustration by Razie Alfiedan www.bwmag.net 33

STYLE

“One man’s trash is anoth

They have pretty cool names for people like us. Divers (penyelam) being one of them. Scavengers.

Personally, I think we are more or less treasure hunters, finding delight in snagging those perfectly fitting vintage Adidas original kicks someone out there had the heart to (thankfully) call their trash.

We see Macklemore rapping about wearing your granddad’s clothes and looking incredible, and just cringe. Yet, you have got to admire the guy’s sense of individuality and his talent of making a $5 faux- fur coat look like he bought it for $300.

being the only thing still intact. The best thing about these places is that they do not limit to only clothing apparels, rather, some shops extend to selling furniture, decorative items, bags. It is endless.

Yes, I’m talking thrift shops, or ‘bundles’ as we call them in Sabah. Bundles are basically businesses that sell pre-loved items at incredibly lowered prices, depending on qualities and brands. Items range from being new-with-tagsstill-intact to battered vintages with personality

If you live anywhere in Sabah, most definitely have you passed by one or two bundles, and it might have not occurred to you to throw a second glance. No one blames you. After all, a majority of them don’t exactly fit into today’s criteria of being utterly glamorous. Don’t be fooled, though.

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another man’s treasure” Written by Sharmila Asha

STYLE

Inside the labyrinth of tacky sequined overalls and things that were probably originally intended to be asymmetrical (the tailors tried) dresses, in already low yet negotiable prices lay a pair of First Edition Muhammad Ali’s , or that Coach bag that would have cleaned up your savings account if bought in retail...plus GST. Or a fur coat, if that is what you are into.

Typically, people who thrift shop look for known brands to ensure quality of material.

It is especially important for you to know your brands. Unless you have an affinity for rip-offs or were feeling particularly adventurous, be sure to read your tags before you buy, and do a once-over to make sure it doesn’t fall apart by the time you find yourself wearing them.

Patience is a virtue when it comes to thrift shopping. Hey, you might find something, you might not. It can be as tedious as searching for the Arkenstone, minus the dragon. Solemnly, we wait for the thrift-gods to bestow their generosity, preferably in the perfect size and fit.

Photos courtesy of Sharmila Asha

www.bwmag.net 35

HEALTH gue kangen bangat sama lo?

still

lookin g

at

Alkaline Water

By Dr. Knott A. Kvack

(This is the second of a series of articles looking at health and medical ideas that have popped up over the last few years and what one should consider before jumping into something. Note that this article is not for consultation purposes and anything one chose to consume or subscribe to should be done after discussion with your personal physician)

S

ome say ignorance is bliss. Probably. Looking at how just about everything we eat or drink will likely result in DNA mutation or free radical damage or some kind of genetic alteration, one wonders what would be safe to consume lest Professor Xavier were to show up in his wheelchair at your doorstep, recruiting.

In my last article I began talking about acids and bases as well as the oft-heralded benefits of alkaline water to prevent cancer, reduce oxidative stress (a.k.a. free radical damage), maintain youth and cleanse internal organs, and so on. Incidentally, alkaline water also rejoices in the no less glorious names of ionised water, micro-structured water, restructured water, clustered water, antioxidant water, oxygen water, electrolyzed water and functional water.

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Let’s look at the claims. Why should one (purportedly) consume alkaline water?

Firstly - alkaline water is a powerful antioxidant, neutralising free radicals.

Free radicals are associated with diseases (including cancer) and premature aging.

My response? I talked about this at the end of my last article, All AboutThe Bases. For the BW noobs, I mentioned that some of this oxidising machines end up producing free radicals, rather than neutralising them. And some

HEALTH actually add strong bases to increase alkalinity of the water.

Secondly, it increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, leading to increased energy and increased mental alertness.

Most of the oxygen in blood is carried by red blood cells, more than 98% in fact. Only a small percentage is dissolved in the liquid part of blood (a.k.a. plasma). Yes, less than 2 percent.

Thirdly, it helps balance the body’s pH. This, too was talked about in last month’s issue.

GO AND DIG IT UP. Or visit http://issuu.com/ bandwidthstreetpress/docs/issue66. If you are reading the hard copy, don’t click on this link.

The fourth reason – the smaller size of the water molecule clusters improves the hydrating qualities of the water.

Water is absorbed molecule by molecule across cell walls, not in clusters. This whole concept of re-clustering – well, let me leave it at this – Fact: The Silver Fleece Award for Anti-Aging Quackery went to this concept. This award is given to “the product (and its producer) with the most ridiculous, outrageous, scientifically unsupported or exaggerated assertions about aging or age-related diseases.”

Number five – the fact that ionised water can penetrate cells so much more effectively gives it extraordinary detoxifying properties. Acidic metabolic wastes are flushed out of cells.

This is outright wrong. Cell walls are more repellent to ionised than unionised matter.

Allow me to remind you of an ancient beast that dwells in the recesses of high school memories named the phospholipid bilayer.

There. I said it.

Proponents of alkaline water claim that the following conditions can be treated purely on the basis of changing one’s water consumption – Asthma, Arthritis, Constipation, Diabetes (Type I and Type II), Fibromyalgia, Gout, Low energy, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoporosis.

Without looking too much into this, the sheer incongruity of this list is enough to note that something is amiss. Think snake oil.

It has also been suggested that GERD (reflux disease) can be cured with alkaline water.

The idea behind this being that the alkaline water will neutralize the acid. Sounds fair?

It’s a bit more complicated than that. There is a sphincter (now don’t you get any ideas!) at the lower end of the oesophagus (spelt esophagus in the U.S.) that keeps the acid from flowing back from the stomach. When there is sufficient acid (from swallowed food, etc.), the sphincter opens easily with only a small amount of pressure from above. However a pressure from below (even one that is 16 times larger) will not force it open. A burp or a lack of acid will cause it to open. It instantly closes again at the first sign of acid. Alkaline water messes up this balance – it generates the lack of acid coming down from above.

We must of course remember that alkaline water will probably taste different, even more pleasant. Some have described that alkaline water “tasted soft and velvety, but with a mineral aftertaste, compared with ordinary tap water.” Taste, however, as any long island iced tea fanatic will tell you, can be misleading.

And remember what I told you about how they sometimes add stuff to increase alkalinity.

Bleach-water cocktail anyone?

For some of those who have been entranced but unwilling to part with their hard-earned emolument, there have been numerous alternatives to this, with websites teaching how to recreate (or partially recreate, at least) this panacea. These range from squeezing lemons (fairly harmless, but the way), to pH drops (riskier), to alkaline bottled waters (pH 8.8, pH 9.5, etc. – watch out) in grocery stores. This could prove harmful for those hell-bent on, but lacking means of alkalizing their water supply.

In conclusion, drink up! I meant water. Your body does need water and it should be free from germs and extraneous chemicals. That’s about it. There’s really no need, however, to go and spend a ridiculous some of money on things that might not be beneficial, potentially harmful and have questionable scientific… errr… bases. www.bwmag.net 37

WELLNESS eryday. ga almost ev od by doing yo fitness go g ry in ve in is rm y te bilit method for de ght. Your flexi ve r own ei iti ei w fin th in de by tra no fit regularly ble is, there’s er can all be ing often and d bodybuild l, maybe. Trou an el e W et ?

You do runn hl ht at rig , it n. you’re fit MAN, CrossF ecific domai gend Earle So that means sult, an IRON de of their sp strongman le ard. As a re t a flop outsi According to y.’ nc across the bo ge standards, bu er em own life in an to save your Liederman, ns being able ea m s es itn ‘F fitness? e best test of ownSo what’s th ard. But as gr set the stand r all, e might have proach. Afte ng le ap al ed Ch nd s es ou Fitn a more well-r r to get where , the Head of ire de ol or qu ho re in sc d ht y ig ar An line. d second esses — m ng your base In primary an — and weakn gins by findi our strengths we stand. ndwork ysically fit be re ph he w to er ups, gauging ow ek kn se ts lay the grou , we have to from fitness ss assessmen g. That in ne fit on n iti ve nd the journey we want to go se co y ese io to total-bod fit you really are. advanced, th rd lly ca ta to to h or gt stren ginner l, how ries — from re a total be ce and for al fferent catego Whether you’ figure out, on to be fit in di these tests to ns le ea ck m it Ta t ! ss ha for w ng fitne no more faki means there’s

s s e n it F r u o y t s e T … ow fit are you??

H

f endie B y H adie A f

So,there will be 7 test that you can perform and we going to divide it into 3 section, strength, Runaround and fit head to toe.

Strength 1. The Push-Up Test Level: Beginner Focus: Muscular Endurance How It Works: For this assessment, the goal is to perform as many push-ups as possible in 60 seconds flat. To begin, set up in push-up position with hands shoulder-width apart and legs together. Lower yourself down until your chest makes contact with the ground and repeat.

Performance standards vary based on age and

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sex, but men should fall between 20 and 40 reps, while women should aim for eight to 20 push-ups to earn passing marks. To get those numbers up, try adding the wide and close grip push-up as well as incline and decline variations to your regular exercise routine.

2. One-Rep Max Level: Intermediate/Advanced Focus: Maximal Strength How It Works: After moving from bodyweight exercises into the world of free weights, the

WELLNESS one-rep max is the go-to gauge for strength.

That said, the one-rep max is not applicable for every exercise, so you can skip the all-out triceps extension or concentration curl. Instead, focus on maxing out compound exercises like barbell front or back squat, bench press, military press and deadlift. Once you’re finished testing, see how you stack up to the standard of strength used by Rob Shaul of Military Athlete, who compares strength to bodyweight to measure relative strength. After establishing a one-rep max, use these numbers to determine how much weight should be used during strength training workouts (see Overload Principle)

Run-around You’ve pumped iron, but can you get the heart pumping too? Improving the body’s ability to transport and use oxygen helps it perform more efficiently, upping endurance and overall levels of fitness. Is yourheart in the right place?

3. 200-Meter Sprint Level: Beginner/Intermediate Focus: Top-End Speed How It Works: According to strongman legend Earle Liederman, fitness means being able to save your own life in an emergency. For Liederman, that included the ability to run all-out for at least 200 meters. To test your speed, head to the track or mark out 200 meters. After a dynamic warmup, perform a series of sprints increasing intensity and length each round. Start with two 50 meters sprints before moving up to two 100 meter and two 150 meter efforts. Last up, set a stopwatch and sprint all 200 meters striving for top-end speed.

While Usain Bolt runs 200 meters in under 20 seconds, finishing in sub-30 seconds means you’re on the right track. Step up your sprint game by practicing the start, adding squats to your strength workout, and performing sprint intervals to get those fast-twitch muscle firing.

4. Two-Mile Run Level: Intermediate/Advanced Focus: Cardio Conditioning How It Works: The Army uses the two-mile run to test cardiovascular threshold. Ready to roll?

Time how long it takes you to complete eight laps on a 400-meter track (or track your stats on a GPS watch). Finishing in 12 to 14 minutes is above average, while 15 to 17 minutes is fair, and more than 17 minutes is considered below average. Hate running? Read these 25 tips to get you excited to lace up.

Fit from Head to Toe Think cardio and weights are two separate beasts?

This last batch of fitness assessments rolls strength, cardio and athleticism into one. Do you have what it takes?

5. CrossFit Baseline WOD Level: Beginner/Intermediate Focus: Total-Body Fitness How It Works: A chipper is a series of exercises to that are completed in order, chipping away at each movement, until the entire workout is finished.

In this baseline workout, the goal is to complete a 500-meter row followed by 40 air squats, 30 sit-ups, 20 push-ups and 10 pull-ups for time. By CrossFit standards an intermediate score is 7:15 for men, and 8:30 for women. For more advanced WODs, try these 7 butt-kicking CrossFit workouts.

6. Marine Corps Fitness Test Level: Intermediate Focus: Total-Body Fitness How It Works: This fitness test includes three exercises: pull-ups, sit-ups and a three-mile run.

But don’t let that fool you. Designed to assess the strength and stamina of Marines, this test can be a humbling exercise experience. Perform as many pull-ups as possible, without dropping off of the bar, followed by two minutes of maximum sit-ups.

Last up is a three-mile run for time. For a Marine, passing this test means performing at least three pull-ups, 45 crunches and logging three miles in under 30 minutes. For those setting the bar high, a perfect score includes 100 crunches in two minutes, 20 dead-hang pull-ups and three miles in less than 18 minutes. Looking for training tips?

Look no further than Marine Maj. Dean Keck, who has scored a perfect 300 on 43 consecutive tests over the course of 20 years!

7. Operator Ugly Level: Advanced Focus: Maximal Strength and Cardio Conditioning How It Works: As the name suggests, this fitness test can be brutal. The creation of Rob Schaul from Military Athlete, “Operator Ugly” was designed for soldiers, contractors and operators (soldiers trained in guerilla fighting techniques). Combining max effort weight training (deadlift, bench press and front squat) with a series of sprints, this workout pushes the limits of human performance.

Translation: Do not try this at home.

As written by Joe Vannare dailyburn www.bwmag.net 39

TECH

A

B I T E

O F F

T H E

A P P L E

RM80 FOR A CHARGER CABLE???

By Gordon Chin

Y

es, a nightmare that all iPhone 5 (and above) users have been enduring over the past few years that the elongated and slimmed down iPhone 4 chassis was introduced to the market. With it, came Apple’s current mobile device USBbased charging and data transfer cable called Lightning. With its slim dual-sided device connector head and turbo fast USB 3.0 capabilities, no doubt this slinky, rubbery white cable lives up to its namesake.

The Lightning cable is not however, known for being the most long-lasting or economically friendly cable in the market.

With common problems such as the outer layer easily tearing, especially around the device connector end, burnt contact pins and the unavoidable (and irritating) disappearing act that Apple taught it from the factor, the Lightning cable is bound to cause some unnecessary headache for its users.

Regardless what the reason may be, every Lightning cable user, either for the iPhone, iPad or iPod, or whatever else you may use it for, will at one point or another have to buy a replacement Lightning cable - and trust me, they don’t come cheap.

Unlike other manufacturers who opt for the more common micro USB connector 40 www.bwmag.net

cable for their devices, Apple, since the beginning, has always opted to offer consumers their in-house designed cables.

This is one of Apple’s way to maintain a distinct uniqueness of their products as well as to offer consumers security and safety to some extent as well as operation smoothness when charging their mobile devices or transferring data to and from the computer.

Up until iPhone 4S, Apple has been offering the 30-pin USB cable, which was quickly and successfully replicated by countless manufacturers - either certified or noncertified. Realising that the replacement cable market is as big as their mobile product market, Apple decided to eradicate illegal reproduction of their cables entirely by introducing the Lightning cable.

TECH

The new cable features a security chip inside every single cable and every iDevice designed to operate with the Lightning cable was programmed to detect this security chip before allowing any operation with the cable to continue.

However, stopping counterfeiting was not Apple’s way of sucking more blood out of their consumers, but to offer a serious and reliable way of ensuring optimum operation of their devices, avoiding as much as possible any unwanted damages or even health risks to their consumers.

How many times have you heard stories about phones exploding while charging?

11 times out of 10, they would involve cloned or non-apple cables.

Throughout the years, Apple has trusted many brands to produce auxiliary products for their iDevices such as docks, speakers and many other iDevice-based equipment which requires connectivity between the device and Apple’s products.

This has led Apple to launch a programme called Made For Apple or Made For i (MFI), which allows certified third-party companies to produce products that can be used with Apple’s products.

brands were given access to produce the safety chip installed in Lightning cables to be incorporated with their products.

This also means that the certified companies can now produce certified or MFI Lightning cables and offer Apple iDevices options when it comes to buying replacement cables.

So the next time you are thinking of getting a new cable for your iPhone 6 or iPad Air, forget about the cheapo China made cables which costs less than a pack of Marlboro and just head on to authorise Apple resellers such as MacBorneo, Technocrats or Switch to get certified MFI cables and protect the safety and security of your much beloved iDevice!

My personal favourite brands are Belkin and Capdase when it comes to third party products, chargers and cables. However, do not hesitate to ask any of the store’s staff members to get more info about what are the latest and best rated products they carry.

Brands like Capdase, Belkin, Monster Beats, Bose, Sennheiser and many more www.bwmag.net 41

INTERVIEW

E .

T .

A .

B

) e y e E E e h h T T d n n aa s s n n i i a r (BB B y Ra c

h el H e

e

O

n the 4th of April, Malaysia’s fastest uprising Dj duo BATE a.k.a Ethan Curzon and Yeoh Wai Hong performed at LUSH Bar and Lounge here at Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu. Their gig was super fun packed with lots of fist pumping and body moving EDM mixed commercial songs. I caught up with the duo after their gig to get an exclusive interview for BandWidth Magazine.

How did BATE started?

BATE started in 2011 in high school. They were just ordinary friends mostly greetings and just wishing happy birthday on Facebook. Ethan was the first to Dj at Goldfish and Blink’s academy. Goldfish and Blink threw a party and Wai Hong was there as well. They decided to play together and people were saying to them “Why not be a duo and play together?” and that is when BATE was born.

Where did the name BATE came from?

The name BATE came from idk who used to work at Pestle and Mortar Clothing in Malaysia. The duo had a gig at Zouk and were desperate for a stage name. They saw a box of Pestle and Mortar and behind the box had a description which said brains and eye.

They decided to use that and added ‘The’ in brains and the eye. Thus, the name BATE was created. People often wonder who is the brain and who is the eye of BATE but to them they are both the brains and eyes of BATE. 42 www.bwmag.net

INTERVIEW What brings BATE back to KK? To the duo, KK is a chilled out area and they feel so relaxed whenever they come here. KL is so busy and ridiculous that they just want to chill out. The pair has a hectic life back in KL and are always on the go like back and forth to Penang and KL. How is the KK crowd?

BATE loves KK crowd. Performing at Whiteroom, KK Times Square last time and now LUSH, Waterfront has a different vibe for them. KK crowd supports their music and they love and appreciate it. KK crowd is different from the crowd in Penang and KL. For instance, they test out their playlist in this 3 states and it’s just different for them. Most important is that they love it when the crowd sings along the songs that they play to and move around to the music. They love energy from the crowd. On this recent trip, they went to Sunset Bar and enjoyed the breeze and breathtaking view of the sunset.

What genre is BATE? Progressive house is what BATE is all about as well as trance. Wai Hong prefers hip hop and commercial from the likes of Ed Sheeran and Taylor swift said Ethan jokingly, while Ethan prefers techno. As BATE, they prefer EDM (electronic dance music). Their playlists consists of EDM and commercial songs mixed together.

Who has BATE opened for?

They have opened for Deadmau5 at Future Music Festival Asia 2013, F1 Sepang after party with Calvin Harris, Tiesto at clublife and many more. On April this month, BATE will be opening up for number 24 in DJ Mag Top 100 DJ’s 2014 Andrew Rayel and Melbourne’s underground dance music star Joel Fletcher and Thirst 2015 R3hab and Dash Berlin.

BATE and Nbil have a new track that they will be premiering at Thirst 2015 called Evoke and we can expect it to be banging.

To learn more about BATE or want to catch them spin live, you can find them on facebook. com/WeAreBate or on their personal instagram ethancurzon and yeohwaihong. www.bwmag.net 43

TURBO

5 5

EAKING AKES

By Gordon Chin

Just as your fuel efficiency will vary depending on where and how you drive, same goes with the lifespan of brake pads (or linings), the friction material that gets pressed against a metal disc or drum to stop your vehicle.

I

f you drive only 10,000km a year but it’s mainly in a crowded urban area such as Kota Kinabalu and Penampang, you will need to replace brake pads more often than someone who drives 30,000km a year from Tawau to Sandakan. You use your brakes a lot more in city driving than on a rural highway.

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut schedule that tells you when it’s time to replace the brakes, so you need to rely on your ears and the advice of an experienced automotive technician. Most vehicles should have their tires rotated at least every six months, and that is a good time to have the brakes inspected, as well.

A mechanic can check the thickness of the pads and the condition of the brake hardware to spot wear.

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Many cars have built-in wear sensors that scrape against a brake disc when the linings needed replacing. The driver will hear an annoying screeching sound when they apply the brakes (or when the brakes are released on some vehicles).

Those sensors aren’t on every vehicle, so drivers should listen for squeaks, squeals, grinding (often a sign that brake pads are entirely gone) and other noises that indicate wear. Some minor noises can be eliminated by cleaning the brakes, but persistent, prominent noises usually mean parts are worn. Other signs are pulsations through the brake pedal, longer stopping distances, or when you apply the brakes your foot goes down further, closer to the floor. Because brake linings wear gradually, you may not notice the demise in performance, so that’s where the experienced eye of a mechanic can help.

TURBO

All cars have a brake warning light that comes on for a few seconds every time you start your car. If it comes on while driving, that probably means your brake system is low on fluid because of a leak or a problem with the brake master cylinder. Note that this is not the same warning light that comes on when you apply the hand- or footoperated parking brake.

All cars and light trucks also have front disc brakes. Most have rear discs, as well, though some lower-priced cars still come with rear drum brakes. With discs, it has been common practice to just replace the brake pads and resurface the rotors on a lathe if needed so the surface is even and smooth.

In recent years, however, more automakers have switched to rotors that are lighter and thinner to reduce weight and save money. Discs used to last through two or three resurfacings, but don’t be surprised if when it’s time to replace the pads you’re told you also need new rotors. The current ones may not have enough material to be shaved off in resurfacing and may not be as durable as those from, say, 10 or more years ago. In addition, repair shops are reluctant to resurface rotors because it adds time to a job and the quality of the work can vary by who does it and how good they are. Instead, it is faster, easier and more profitable for repair shops to just install new rotors along with new pads.

www.bwmag.net 45

INDUSTRY DIRECTORY

WANT TO HAVE A SPOT HERE? CALL VEKKY STEWART AT 011 1540 1704 FOR RATES & BOOKING

WANT TO HAVE A SPOT HERE? CALL VEKKY STEWART AT 011 1540 1704 FOR RATES & BOOKING